prosper said:
Tikka used to be the Finnish state arsenal. A state company, if you will. IIRC, Beretta owns both Sako and Tikka now
The correct history:
Established in 1893, Tikka originally manufactured gun parts for European governments, mainly Russia. Sako (a Finnish acronym for what translates to "Arms and Engineering Workshop of the Civil Guard") was established in 1919 where, in an old brewery in Helsinki, it refurbished old military rifles for the Finnish National Guard as part of an effort to arm and establish Finland as its own nation.
In 1921 Sako became financially independent and widely recognized for its staff's passionate ability to repair broken down military arms. In 1927, when it actually became officially known as Sako, it moved to Riihimaki and began manufacturing rifles for the Russian Army. After World War II, Sako turned its efforts toward manufacturing sporting rifles for European hunters.
"The first Sako that made it to America, in 1947, was ordered by Ambercrombi & Fitch," says Tom Leoni, Sako product marketing manager. "It was one ugly rifle. It sold for $60, but it was a tack-driver. And Sako's reputation for building a fine shooting piece escalated from there."
In 1983 Sako purchased Tikka, which had been manufacturing sporting rifles for 25 years. In 1989, the Tikka plant was moved from its home town, Tikkakosken, to the Sako plant in Riihimaki, and since then the two rifles have been built by the same craftsmen and with the same machinery and tools. Today Tikka is not a separate company, rather a Sako product.
Which brings us back to manufacturing ideology: Tikka rifles are essentially a lower price-point version of a Sako, yet they feature the same quality barrels and craftsmanship that have built a lasting reputation for fine accuracy."