Quoted:
From what I've seen it's a  

It
draws on my answers to some questions asked here over the years but by
no means is this definitive! Especially for Canadian SKS: your prices
and import marks and number of rare examples/collectibles will differ
from the U.S.





There are so many exceptions and nothing is written in stone with regard to Russian SKS's.





          +++++++++





Question: "How much is my SKS worth?”





My
understanding is that Russian SKS's generally fall into two separate
pricing categories: shootables and collectibles, and here's how I mark
those distinctions -





The vast majority of Russian SKS’s for sale
are refurbs - let's say 95%. And the fact is these value-priced milsurp
rifles are actually in excellent mechanical shape (often better than the
non-refurb ones) and for less money. They were built and used, then at
some later point went in to the factory or another facility for a
refurbishment process.





[This meant any combination of whatever
was needed: new stocks (usually laminated, usually with a second cross
bolt at the wrist); new black paint/enamel over the old blueing; new
replacement barrels; possibly a replacement rear sight (in-the-white
metal, not blued); new springs; perhaps a new magazine and floorplate;
new gas tubes; pistons, bayonets; butt plates, etc.]





These
"refurb" SKS's were professionally overhauled to like-new condition, and
a refurbed Russian SKS rifle not only costs less than a collectible one
outright but you won't be decreasing its value as much by shooting and
enjoying them.


>Note that Refurbs are very often listed for sale
as ‘mint’ and ‘unfired’ and 'new' or ‘new-in-box’. But be careful to
understand what that means. These are not in the same demand as
collectible SKS’s and should not cost as much. These days (2010) I think
an all-complete, excellent condition refurb should run about $350-$400
in the U.S. While refurbs in excellent condition but with obvious
lined-out old serial numbers, or mismatched serials, or missing some
part such as bayonet or sling ...these can trade around $300+. And the
"beaters" (the well-used and stock-dinged refurbs) may sell even below
$300.





Refurbs can be identified several ways:





1) They MAY have a special refurb mark on the receiver cover: either a square with a diagonal line through the middle [/]  or a diamond <> or a diamond with line <|>  or cross <+>
 If any of these marks are present (check the right side of the stock
for the square stamp, too) then it surely is a refurb Russian. But even
if none of these marks is found it could still be a refurb!





I'd guess that about 1/2 of known refurbs I've seen actually have no 'refurb stamp'.





A
first time buyer might be told that a Russian SKS for sale "is not a
refurb because there is no refurb stamp" and believes it, despite other
definite signs of refurb. And the seller may value it like an
"as-issued" SKS ...but it isn't.





2) Refurb paint: another
clue to refurbs is that all bolt carriers were finished in-the-white.
So, if one has been painted over black then that rifle definitely went
in for a refurb no matter what the seller tells you. I think the same
goes for bayonets - if painted blue or black then it's a replacement,
likely during a refurb.





Aside from the obvious painted bolt
carrier and blade bayonet, the presence of subtle shades of refurb paint
can easily be overlooked: might cover a new barrel or an old gas tube,
making one shinier than the other; or perhaps on a replacement magazine
that looks just a tad darker than the rest of the rifle's metal; or on a
worn down butt plate, making it look new, where no one thinks to look.
There are several variations of refurb black paint -from matte to
krinkle to shiny barbeque. It's an area that really deserves more study.
Somewhere, someone knows which facilities used what paint in their
re-arsenal process - but it's all obscure to us now.





3) Note that in addition to the stamped serial numbers, you will find on many parts of an as-issued original Russian several hand stenciled (electro-pen) serial numbers.
These are not evidence of a refurb if you discover them on the gas
tube, on the gas piston, on the underside of the rear sight, and on
other components of the rifle where the metal is either too thin for the
stamping machine, or is on a tight radius curve, or is a very small
irregular part. However, hand stenciled numbers on the magazine bottom
or the trigger guard where the serials are factory stamped, does indicate a forced match replacement part, and therefore a refurb Russian SKS.





4) SKS stocks
are virtually definitive regarding whether it's a refurb or a
non-refurb, and really help to establish a rifle's fair price. This is a
long topic:





Virtually all of the original production stocks were
made of Russian ('Arctic') Birch hardwood with an orangey/reddish/brown
shellac over a bold swirling wood pattern. And since most Russians are
refurbs, the vast majority of these original stocks were lost - being
replaced at some point with new hardwood stocks and in later years with
the laminated ones.





[[Note to collectors - a very few, very late
Tula's were made with original production laminated stocks. These were
introduced very late in 1955 or possibly '56, but there just aren't
enough examples to draw firm generalities about them. Mostly, their
laminated wood is covered with the factory red lacquer and the pattern
is a real nice combination; all those I've seen have the tiny
inspector's cartouches around the forward cross bolt; and these stocks
often have just one row of stampings: the serial number.]]





Anyway,
an original hardwood stock in excellent condition, with all its
original shellac and little inspection stamps are desirable for any
collector. And they indicate a non-refurb rifle. I have not ever once
seen a refurb Russian SKS -a known refurb- with its original stock still
on it. My rule: If it wears an original production stock then the SKS
has not been through refurb and may be a collectible one (subject to its
overall condition, completeness, rarity of year, beauty...).





Now, here's how to identify that original stock:





Virtually
all original production stocks (from both Tula and Izhevsk) have three
rows of markings on the left side: the arsenal stamp, the year 'r', and
the serial number (with both Cyrillic letters and Roman numerals). There
will be no XXXX's over old serial numbers on an original,
non-refurbished stock. And original hardwood stocks almost always have
just one cross bolt, with lightly stamped inspector's cartouches around
it. This design was later found to be weak, cracks formed behind the
receiver at the wrist, and so the later-made laminated replacement
stocks usually have two cross bolts.





If your Russian SKS stock
is laminated then there's an overwhelming likelihood it's a replacement
for an original hardwood stock. This is true even if its serial number
matches the rifle's because most replacement stocks were stamped (or
renumbered in the case of a reused stock) to match its rifle during the
refurb process.





[[*There is that very small chance that your
laminated Russian stock is one of the rare late-production,
original-issue ones from 1955/6, and if so it almost certainly sits on
an as-issued, non-refurb Tula collectable.]]





Both hardwood and
laminated stocks were used for replacements during refurb (so you'll see
laminated stocks on every year produced). Once-used hardwood stocks
were reserialed and used to refurb, at first, later switching over to
the new laminated stocks that were serialed to the new rifle. You can
tell that some SKS's were refurbed twice since some of the hardwood (and
a few laminated replacement) stocks have two rows of XXXXX's above a
correct serial number.





Laminated stocks are a bit heavier, denser
and sturdier and have two cross bolts. Also, laminated replacement
stocks are generally lighter in color/finish [unless they are those rare
late variants of the original production line]. As for value
differences when purchasing a shooter-type SKS refurb... Well, folks
don't seem to value one above the other; either a replacement hardwood
stock with XXXX'd out numbers, or a replacement laminated stock - they
all seem to sell at about the same price.  





Personally, I’d opt
for laminated durability on a shooter SKS, certainly on a beater SKS,
but some prefer the more authentic early '50's look with dark red
'soviet' shellac.





         +++++++++





Now, after you know what category the Russian falls into, there's always bargaining:





I'd
start deducting for the rifle’s use and overall condition, especially
the stock. Deduct about $35 if it's missing the bayonet; say $10 for a
missing cleaning rod; maybe $15 for a missing cleaning kit. You should
add more for an original SKS sling - and if it is a year-dated sling
with a hammer&sickle emblem, then much more; but I'd add nothing for
an AK sling which are common on refurbs.





Generally speaking
aftermarket parts like a scope mount and polymer stock do not increase
the value of a Russian SKS, and will subtract severely from the price of
a collectible Russian - because it is then no longer in "as-issued"
guise.





         +++++++++





Izhevsk-made SKS’s only
came out in 1953 and 1954, and so are more scarce. No other difference.
Collectors who want to fill out all production years will likely pay
more for an Izhevsk. Their arsenal stamp on the receiver cover is an
arrow in a triangle, in a circle. The Tula's are an arrow in a
star. And if there is no arsenal stamp on top then it's a late 1955/6
Tula, and should instead have a rather small star on the left side of
the receiver following the serial number.





By the way, if you see
a serial number is on the right side of the receiver, that's an import
company addition. It says: "Made in Russia, serial #CCCP12345" -or
something. That's added after importation for marketing and I think
detracts from a collector-grade example because it's 1) not original and
2) garish. But this would not lessen the price any on a shooter/beater
refurbed SKS. The three U.S. importer's marks were NHM, KBI and CAI, and
get more discreet in that order.





Let me say that whether you
get a collectible or a shooter grade - these were all very well made
semi-autos; the actions are quite rugged and in fact overbuilt for the
7.62x39 cartridge. This Stalin-approved design is still the parade rifle
carried in Red Square today.





I'm going to insert here a caveat on the SKS design: two safety notes that may be unknown to new owners. 1]
the safety lever when ON merely blocks the trigger from depressing. It
does NOT block the sear from moving. Whenever you have a loaded SKS,
even with the safety ON, a good jar or jolt or dropping the rifle can
result in a discharge. 2] Russians made from late 1950 onward
were the variant that omitted the firing pin spring, and it's
free-floating. A free-floating pin will dent the primer each time it
loads a round after firing. This is not a problem with milsurp Russian
ammo because they have hard military style primers, but when using
modern commercial ammo with soft primers there can be dangerous mishaps.






There are many reports on this forum of slam fires and even
full-auto discharges of all rounds in the magazine. If either of these
issues concern you, please look into Murray's and Kivaari's services on
the commercial pages of this forum.





In my own opinion, the
Russian SKS's made at Tula and Izhevsk in the 1950's are more finely
crafted and finished than those from other countries afterward; some on
this board consider Izhevsk to have made the finest Simonovs ever. But,
because of the flood of inexpensive Chinese and Yugo models on the gun
market, all the Russians are priced artificially low in order to be
competitive, and really are a solid shooting value. Enjoy them as fine
historical trophies from the Cold War and, in certain condition, as
worthy collectibles whose value keeps rising reliably.





         +++++++++





My own understanding of terms commonly used to sell Russian SKS's:





as-issued
: Maybe 5% of Russians for sale now, or less, and the collector's
prize. A rifle virtually the way it came off the production line at Tula
or Izhevsk. All the serials match. All the parts are original. No
refurbishment marking. Complete and nothing missing. Excellent condition
overall (with the typical exception of heavy wear and missing bluing on
the buttplate alone). These usually show some gentle handling, with
small and very light scratching. These do appear their age and have not
been refurbished. [You know, it's only the refurbs that appear to be
"like new".]





non-refurb : implies it is an as-issued
Russian but really without the full commitment. Means there are no
refurb marks, no obvious replacement parts, no refurb black paint, and
the serials all match. But the rifle may not be complete. In fact, the
previous owner might have turned a "non-refurb" into his bubba project
using plastic high-cap magazines or drilling for a scope mount. So,
while it might not have been sent in for refurb back in the U.S.S.R.,
who knows what you're holding with this vague description?





refurb/re-arsenalled
: 95% of all Russian SKS's. Has been back to the factory or one of the
SKS refurb facilities before import to the U.S. It might have a refurb
stamp (or it might not), parts were replaced and therefore serials might
not match, paint might have been applied to some metal, the stock is
almost certainly a replacement. These are very easy to spot and
differentiate from as-issued Russian SKS's.





all-original/all-matching
: This is not the best way to describe a Russian SKS. I am dubious when
I hear these terms because replacement laminated stocks on refurbs are
often numbered to match the rifle, and this confuses amateur sellers and
buyers who think it is an original laminated stock, seeing no XXXXX's.
Ideally, these terms means there are no apparent replacement parts
-which therefore implies a non-refurb. And it may even be in as-issued
condition but don't hold your breath.





unfired/new-in-box :
these are important terms usually referring to mint status on
collectible firearms and are totally misapplied to imported milsurp
weapons. Here, these terms indicate only that after importation (and
packaging) the rifles have never been shot. These terms are very often
applied to non-collectible refurb "shooter" Russians. [Remember that a
refurb actually does look brand spanking new out of the box because the
refurb process brought the Russian SKS up to excellent mechanical
condition and new appearance.] Reading "unfired" in an ad simply does
not mean it hasn't already been issued, seen use and abuse, and then
been refurbished, then exported, and repackaged.





un-issued/non-issued
: meaningless to me. I've never met an imported milsurp Russian SKS
that was actually unissued. I think here they mean to indicate
"unfired/new-in-box", as above.





                                         -caveat emptor-