Another SAKO question (Early AII Forester L579) serial number and value...

M

Matt74

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Hi,

Picked up another SAKO this week. Never owned a Sako before, now have had two find their way to me this past month. Marked L579 on action, 308 Winchester caliber. A very light rifle, I believe the fellow said it weighed about 5 3/4 lbs. He said it was a Forester Sporter, though Forester is not written on the gun. Gun is minimum 95% overall condition, few handling marks here and there. The serial number is 85,185. I was wondering when it was made (from what I can see 60s or early 70s?) and a rough value. The bore is like new and see they even serialized the bolt to the rifle. Seems like a quality rifle.
Here are some photos:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsm7cUQc9
Thanks,
Matt
 
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My Father bought a L579 in 1970 South Africa when we lived there. The 308 Forester was a dud and never shot straight until I had a Lothar Walther barrel fitted. I am pretty sure the original forester had open sights as standard. The L579 is a nice lightweight action but bolt cam angles seem to need a lot of force to #### the action, at least on mine which means one has to hold the rifle well to cycle and firing position is mostly moved. In that respect I prefer a T3 or even remmy.
I recon Howa copied some design features of this action.
Overall lovely rifle if the barrel shoots and mag feeds.
edi
 
It's a great buy in the $600-$800 range. Those are fair prices but it's still a lot of rifle. The action is worth $500 easily.
 
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Thanks guys. I did notice that before I went to bed last night as I was taking another look at the gun. I do not know how I did not see it when I took it on trade yesterday morning, but it is easy to miss things sometimes in the heat of the deal, lol. Yeah, the only marking on the barrel is th caliber marking. I don't know Sakos, but know enough to know the manufacturers name and model should be on there! The caliber is written is script, Cal 308 Winch. It must have been done by a professional the bluing matches perfectly and there is not a mark. Maybe done long time ago. Wonder how long ago it was done and what type of barrel it is. The bore is mint, man I bet it would shoot great. Rest of the gun is correct, bolt is serialed to the gun, Sako hard rubber buttplate. Any ideas who would have made the barrel? The gun is very light too, lighter barrel, make someone a great hunting rifle.
Matt
 
QykOTLW.jpg


My reciever is stamped L57 put together by NAACO in Canada ( same reciever ) the bolt shrouds and Safty I've seen on L579 are like this one

Love your gun ,I don't think you could match the quality of it for under $1000 IMO
Custom bbl and bolt shroud and Safty ? Done very nice !
I tried finding out where NAACO sourced there bbls and failed ( maybe sako blanks ? )
I think the NAACO ones were L57 only no 9
 
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Tuff way to learn a lesson, but regardless, she is a thing worthy of packing in the bush.
Beauty always seems to nawk our guard down a wee bit.

Thanks for the thread Matt.
 
Yes, not the first time. Lost my pants on the first two Winchester I ever bought. But, always something learned!
You think the safety, etc, was redone too? The safety and shroud looks the same as others on other early ones i looked at in photos on line today. This gun was made before 1972, I think - think - late 60s.
Pulled the bolt back this morning, very, very smooth actions.
Matt
 
Thanks for all the info guys. I spoke to the guy I got the gun from today. He had no idea the rifle had been rebarreled. Nice fellow, and I believe him. Found out who the original owner was, as this fellow had taken it on a trade from a friend of his. It was his friends main hunting rifle for a long time and the friend is a Sako fanatic come to find out. So, that fellow would have known about the rebarrel for sure, before trading it to the guy I got it from. Will have to see if I can get in touch with the original owner and see if I can find out more about the gun. High quality job. May have been like that when he got it too, who knows, looks like it was done long ago.
Thanks for all the advice.
 
Thanks Rob and Pat Brennan. I did post there about the rifle, only one gentleman responded so far, but confirmed the rebarrel. Seems pretty clear. Just need to figure out a fair price on my end to try to get back what I can out of it. Make someone a fine hunting rifle. Thank you!
Matt
 
While it might not be a Collector it just may be a great shooter.
Take her to the Dance and giver s twirl.
Meaning take her hunting and cut some tags.
You learned a valuable lesson gained some knowledge and go look for an original knowing what you know now should be a bit easier.
Looks like a fine rifle done well.
Rob
 
Hi Rob,
I took this rifle in a deal from a fellow where I sold a real nice deluxe rifle to him, and did trading on a few others, the trading was part of getting him to buy my other one. Horse trading. He was asking $1350 for the Sako in the deal. Seemed like a fine rifle and I thought that might be ok knowing how high these Sakos seem to go. It is a fine rifle, just rebarreled come to find out, Lol. As for hunting, if I get time to hunt this Fall (young family makes it hard sometimes) i plan to head back to NS to do some deer hunting with Dad. Deer are non existent it seems where he lives, but I go to spend time with him. I already have a Winchester 71 348 I like to carry in thick stuff, and have a Ruger ultra light in 250 Savage which I love to carry for stuff a bit farther out. I dont really have need for another bolt rifle for the hunt, so will try to find it a new home at some point with someone who will get it out on the hunt. It would be a pleasure to carry though, it is a very light and quick pointing rifle. I know I won't get my money back, and that is ok as I have always believed it all evens out in the end, but would like to try to get it in the hands of someone who will appreciate it, and get good use of it, fill those tags!
Thanks,
Matt
 
Thanks for the help guys. Sold it for almost $800. Very accurate rifle. Would have kept it, but just does not fit my hunting needs.
Thanks again, I really appreciate the input.
Matt
 
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I did not have the chance to shoot it myself. I was able to get in touch with the original owner. He hunted with the gun for 20 years, said it was extremely accurate, never got into detail though. He was happy to have it back. He has 32 other Sakos.
Matt
 
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