Anyone familiar with Sako rifles?

Steave · Jun 18, 2010

My mother-in-law has asked me to sell a couple of guns that belonged to my father-in-law, who passed away in March, one of these is a Sako Finnbear Deluxe in .30-06. I'm trying to determine a fair price to ask for this, and in doing my research I have found references to pre-'72 rifles, pre-Garcia rifles, etc.; I know very little about Sako's and am pretty much lost on this subject. The rifle in question was imported by Firearms International, Washington, DC and is in the 46,000 SN range.

Are any of you guys up on Sako rifles or know of a good forum where I can ask some questions and/or list this for sale? I know I could just throw it up on gunbroker, but would really prefer to determine exactly what I have, determine a fair price and list it.

Thanks much for any and all info!

n4zov · Jun 19, 2010

Sako produces top quality rifles. Sakos imported by Firearms International go back quite a few years to probably the 1960's long before Garcia and later Beretta began importing them. You will find most of the older Sakos selling in the $700-1000 range unless they are deluxe models or Mannlicher style full stock models.

JohnK · Jun 19, 2010

Absolutely FINE rifles, rank right up there with anything.

I owned four, only still have a .222 Rem Mag.Vixen, I bought in 1968. I think I will have it buried with me.

The "pre" whatever rifles were, I think, Vixen (short action), Forester (medium action), and Finnbear (long action.

All of mine were/are, superbly accurate, with adjustable triggers, and real Bofors steel, and fine dense walnut.

ElToro · Jun 19, 2010

sounds like nice pre garcia (very desirable!) finnbear
also on the action will be code L61, L46 etc. that will also help narrow down the range. when hit wikipedia etc. for exact time range when these were made. try here for a more narrow range date
http://www.sako.fi/pdf/datatables/SakoOldmodelsNumbering.pdf my dads 68 vintage pre garcia finnbear in 30-06 will stand with any Win 70 or rem 700 and the wood is nicer. "bofoers" (sp?). barrels stands for some acronym of Finnish industrial group. but anyway, some of the best factory barrels ever made in the history of gunmaking. one of my serious blunders of gun collecting was passing on a vixen in .223 with leupold glass for <600. cant even find that rifle for under<1k

if you must sell, the prices given so far are reasonable, search gunbroker and the other auction sites for recent closed sales of similar. im sure there a sako forum somewhere on the interweb...

also, if your MIL needs the cash, thats understandable, but maybe you give her the 750 and you can keep for future family members. " this was grandpas favorite sako hunting rifle" I know i am deeply honored to own the rifles taht were possessed by grandfathers and uncles. its really the only thing that i can hold that brings me really close to them. especially the men that passed before i was born. im not a fan of selling family guns

n4zov · Jun 19, 2010

Bofors refers to the Swedish made steel used in Sako barrels. Bofors is a very big and old Swedish company that has been making weapons, armor, and a jillion other armament related things for several hundred years. I suppose that in Europe having Bofors made steel in a barrel is viewed as a big positive although I don't know if it is really superior to any other steel makers products. The Bofors designed 40mm anti-aircraft gun used on virtually every U.S. boat and ship during WW2 is probably the Bofors weapon most Americans are familiar with.

Steave · Jun 19, 2010

Thanks for all the info, guys, it is most appreciated. She really doesn't need the cash, but she doesn't need the rifle either. I would keep the rifle if I had any interest and while I know Sako's are excellent quality rifles, I have no interest in keeping this one; she let family members who were interested go through his guns and this is one of the few left.

It is a Deluxe model, L461R. I knew he had it, but never saw it until he passed away, he always told me he never shot the gun, he bought it new, so it is unfired, unfortunately, it has a kinda nasty scratch on one side of the butt.

ElToro, years ago I had a Vixen in .222, great little rifle, wish I still had it!

Thanks again for the info!

CW Spook · Jun 19, 2010

Sounds like a nice rifle. All of my Sako's are WWII vintage M39's.

oldman45 · Jun 20, 2010

I have two of them. One in .270 and one in 30-06. Both are beautiful rifles that would bring a high price if I were to sell and I am not. Their bolt action movements is as good as they come and scopes mount directly to the rifle without needing mounts.

Anyone familiar with Sako rifles?

Steave

Absent Comrade

n4zov

US Veteran

JohnK

US Veteran

ElToro

Member

n4zov

US Veteran

Steave

Absent Comrade

CW Spook

US Veteran

oldman45

Member

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