Old Sako Value

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

I am the proud owner off a beautiful early 50's bolt action Sako rifle built on a Mauser action. I bought the gun in about 1976 from the man who bought it, and brought it back from Germany when he was in the service. When I bought the rifle he gave me a half a box of shells with it. With the exception of maybe a box that I have put through it, that is all the use the gun has had. It is a 98% gun. Currently I have a 2-7X Leupold on it. these guns were only made in 270W and 30-06. Mine is 30-06. European cheek piece stock. A magnum version was made in 300H&H and 375 H&H. I believe production of this model ended in 1961

Any idea on current value less the scope???

Sorry, no pic at the moment

Thanks
Pete

22hipower · Sep 23, 2018

I'm not aware of any long action Sako made before 1961 but that doesn't mean there isn't one. Their rifles before 1960 were primarily L46/L461 in 222 Remington. The L61R came out about 1961 for long action cartridges. If you provide the serial number and other info (e.g. the model stamping like L61R on the receiver) we can probably provide a bit more information. Really need pictures to help with value although I'd guess $1000 or so if in really nice condition.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Bakebfr480 · Sep 23, 2018

Who knows without some pics!

Bakebfr480 · Sep 23, 2018

You say Mauser action.......98 Mauser?

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

Bakebfr480 said:
You say Mauser action.......98 Mauser?

Yes, a Mauser 98 action. I believe they were called a SAKO High Power, with production stopping in 1960. They were made for about 10 years.

Without pulling it out of the stock, on the top of the barrel below the scope, it is stamped 30-06, close to the receiver ring. On the left of the BBL near the receiver ring, it says SAKO. On the right side of the barrel very small print, it says Made in Finland. The only number on the bbl is 107570. I believe this series started around 100000.

22hipower · Sep 23, 2018

The "High Powers" of that period (starting in 1960) were Browning rifles. The Sako element was that early ones used Sako actions which may be where the confusion is coming from. See this article:

A Blast From the Past: Browning FN High Power Bolt-Action | Field & Stream

I don't find anything on a long action 100,000 serial number from before 1960; the serial number should be on the action, not on the barrel, or perhaps both. Sako had that number but it would have been on an L461 action (short action, probably 222 Rem) from 1962. The L61R long action rifles started in 1962 at 1 and ran to 91,000 in 1973 followed up by much higher numbers in later years until Sako went to their AI,II,III,V long actions. Pictures might help.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

22hipower said:
The "High Powers" of that period (starting in 1960) were Browning rifles. The Sako element was that early ones used Sako actions which may be where the confusion is coming from. See this article:

A Blast From the Past: Browning FN High Power Bolt-Action | Field & Stream

I don't find anything on a long action 100,000 serial number from before 1960; the serial number should be on the action, not on the barrel, or perhaps both. Sako had that number but it would have been on an L461 action (short action, probably 222 Rem) from 1962. The L61R long action rifles started in 1962 at 1 and ran to 91,000 in 1973 followed up by much higher numbers in later years until Sako went to their AI,II,III,V long actions. Pictures might help.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I beg to respectfully differ. Please see pics, and Google Sako High Power. My rifle was made in 270 & 30-06. There was a magnum version also. In 40 years, I have only seen one other like it. The serial number is on the left side of the bbl

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

"""The "High Powers" of that period (starting in 1960) were Browning rifles. The Sako element was that early ones used Sako actions which may be where the confusion is coming from. See this article:"""

I have a 30-06 Browning Safari Grade built on an FN Mauser action. These are not the same guns

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

Sako High-Power Mauser Sporting Rifle

EMP3 · Sep 23, 2018

If it's an authentic Sako, it's one of the best of not the best factory production rifles ever. I'd keep it and put it to its intended use: big game hunting.

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

EMP3 said:
If it's an authentic Sako, it's one of the best of not the best factory production rifles ever. I'd keep it and put it to its intended use: big game hunting.

Yes, it is a true SAKO. The ones like mine were in 270 and 30-06. The magnum version was 300 H&H, and 375 H&H. I wish I could find a matching magnum version

Pisgah · Sep 23, 2018

FN Mauser-actioned rifles of this type were extremely common in the '50s and '60s. Probably the majority of them were imported under brand names of the big retailers like Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward. My best shooting/hunting buddy has a sizeable collection of them amassed over the past 30 years, and all are marked inconspicuously somewhere with the makers' names -- Sako, Mauser, Heym, FN, Husqvarna and others -- while being obviously marked with the retailers' brands. They are without exception excellent rifles of the old school, real steel and walnut, a bit heavy by today's standards but of heirloom quality.

I couldn't venture a guess on the price of one not "disguised" with a retailer's brand, but my friend has never spent over $300 for any of his, even the last one purchased (a Heym) six months ago.

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

Pisgah said:
FN Mauser-actioned rifles of this type were extremely common in the '50s and '60s. Probably the majority of them were imported under brand names of the big retailers like Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward. My best shooting/hunting buddy has a sizeable collection of them amassed over the past 30 years, and all are marked inconspicuously somewhere with the makers' names -- Sako, Mauser, Heym, FN, Husqvarna and others -- while being obviously marked with the retailers' brands. They are without exception excellent rifles of the old school, real steel and walnut, a bit heavy by today's standards but of heirloom quality.

I couldn't venture a guess on the price of one not "disguised" with a retailer's brand, but my friend has never spent over $300 for any of his, even the last one purchased (a Heym) six months ago.

Thank you for the information. I do know the history of this gun. It was bought in Germany and brought back here I believe in 54/55. This gun is marked SAKO. if you look at the links i provided, you will see they were made by Sako. Without going to manufacturers like say Cooper, this is as nice a rifle as you will find. Yes a bit heavy by today's standards, but then again this is not a pencil taper, short bbl, and plastic stocked gun. I am sure it is worth well over 300.00

22hipower · Sep 23, 2018

Enjoy the rifle, the FN actions were/are great but they were not made by Sako. The barrel is Sako, as marked, but the rifle could have been put together by anyone who could get Sako barrels, FN actions and make a stock. I have a couple High Powers built by Browning (barrel and stock, with Sako actions). As mentioned above, various manufacturers big and small, built these rifles. Do you have a picture of the left side of the action? That should tell us who built the rifle. If Sako built the entire rifle it should have Sako and a model number/sn stamped there. If no Sako stamp, could have been anyone. Either way, nice rifle, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Narragansett · Sep 23, 2018

22hipower said:
Enjoy the rifle, the FN actions were/are great but they were not made by Sako. The barrel is Sako, as marked, but the rifle could have been put together by anyone who could get Sako barrels, FN actions and make a stock. I have a couple High Powers built by Browning (barrel and stock, with Sako actions). As mentioned above, various manufacturers big and small, built these rifles. Do you have a picture of the left side of the action? That should tell us who built the rifle. If Sako built the entire rifle it should have Sako and a model number/sn stamped there. If no Sako stamp, could have been anyone. Either way, nice rifle, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Got what you are saying. These are guns before sako made their own action. They bought Mauser actions and barreled them and sold them as sako. I have a heavy barrel browning safari rifle in 222 with a sako action. I am going to contact sako directly. I am sure it is a sako not made for a distributor. One of the links I provided has one for sale and you can see it says sako and where the serial number is. The other link is an article on them. But like I said I am going to sako directly. Thank you for your input. This rifle is gorgeous and reeks quality. Pete

alwslate · Sep 24, 2018

OP you are correct, I believe your rifle is a Sako which was built on the
commercial FN 98 action before Sako built their own long actions. A
former coworker and sometimes hunting companion, now gone, had a
Sako .270 rifle that had an FN mauser 98 action. He served in the Korean
war and probably bought his rifle overseas and brought it back but I'm not sure. He also had an early Sako sporter in .222 Rem. I have what
may be a first year Sako L61 in .338 Win mag. It has a 4 digit serial
number and from what I have read 1962 was probably the first year
the L61 was offered in the US.
From what I have seen on GB the pre Browning FN sporters don't
bring as much as the Browning FNs do but sell for a good bit more than
the FN actioned guns like the JC Higgins. Just a guess but I think your
rifle is probably worth around $800 or so.

Narragansett · Sep 24, 2018

alwslate said:
OP you are correct, I believe your rifle is a Sako which was built on the
commercial FN 98 action before Sako built their own long actions. A
former coworker and sometimes hunting companion, now gone, had a
Sako .270 rifle that had an FN mauser 98 action. He served in the Korean
war and probably bought his rifle overseas and brought it back but I'm not sure. He also had an early Sako sporter in .222 Rem. I have what
may be a first year Sako L61 in .338 Win mag. It has a 4 digit serial
number and from what I have read 1962 was probably the first year
the L61 was offered in the US.
From what I have seen on GB the pre Browning FN sporters don't
bring as much as the Browning FNs do but sell for a good bit more than
the FN actioned guns like the JC Higgins. Just a guess but I think your
rifle is probably worth around $800 or so.

Agreed. This is when sako built rifles before they made actions. I have heard numbers like 800 to 1000 dollars. It is not worth selling. The quality that i see in today's rifles, cannot duplicate this rifle.

silentflyer · Sep 24, 2018

Ah, dark blue and wood, what's not to like....

Narragansett · Sep 24, 2018

silentflyer said:
Ah, dark blue and wood, what's not to like....

I measured it, the bluing is 26'' deep. Just a nice job

Texas Star · Sep 24, 2018

I graduated HS in 1962. We had a Finnish exchange student who told me he hunted moose with a Sako. I bet it was one of these FN-actioned ones.

Old Sako Value

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