Sako question

Turf

Turf

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I am trying to help my brother sell his Sako and the problem is this. I know nothing at all about the Sako line, and there is very little to go on in the way of markings.

He received it in the mid 70's so it is not a model 75 ('97) I believe. It is marked SAKO cal. 30-06 on top of the barrel. On the left side of the receiver it is marked with the serial # beginning A III 566### followed by a couple of runes. I think it might be an L61 but I am not sure so I leave it up to you Sako gurus:) . Here are some pics.

sako3LargeWebview.jpg

sako2LargeWebview.jpg

sako1LargeWebview.jpg


Any help at all including an approximate value would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. It's condition is >90% as he very rarely used it and the scope is a Bausch & Lomb 4 X 42
 
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I have a Sako in 270 that looks similar... I get confused on the models though so you need an expert. I Like the wood on your rifle ... mine is in high gloss (which I don't care for).. yours seems not be and is very nice looking. I like the straight grain too. One small but important point is that the rings shown are the earlier Sako rings with windage adjustment and are a very nice addition - they are well regarded and in demand.

The scope is very good as well..was one of the 4x produced that was long enough between the bells to mount on a long action Sako. That B&L was very good optically and mechanically/// little heavy though but durable.

I imagine that this is a hefty rig but knowing the standards set by Sako back then it is likely a very very accurate firearm...in a calibre that will handle 95% of Canadian hunting.

I am no expert on the prices of these but would would want to give you $500 if I was trying to buy it and would be looking for at least $1150 if I was selling it! ... I guess nearer the top would be a good.

The rings should get you a $100 (+/-) The scope about $175-200 (worth more in my opinion but some folks think that only Leupold makes a good hunting scope) and the rifle should easily bring $800 - 1000. The package about 1150.. my uneducated guess. Would be a heck of a buy for a new hunter at $1150 too. AP
 
Sweet Sako

MMmmmmm, nice rifle! Looks a lot like the AV I have two of, both very accurate shooters which handle well. Are you sure the serial # isn't A III as these are about the same vintage and the same action as AV. L61R is the earlier 3 lug action and without the downsweep at the end of the bolt. The one pictured looks better than 90% from here. My price guess would be in the $800 range.
I also like the buckskin tablecloth with the big bullet hole, 45-70?
 
Sasquatch said:
My guess would be in the $800 - $900 range.
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So the Good condition L579 Forester in .308 with Optiloks (and a crappy Tasco 4x40 scope to be replaced by a Leup) for $650.00 was a good price? :)

Yeah, Turf, I'm no Sako expert but I think that is an L-61 Finnbear (in great shape!) Very nice gun and I think around $1200.00 including the rings and B&L scope is a fair asking price.

So, tell your bro I'll trade him even for a beat up pre-81 BLR in .358 Win! :D
 
Many thanks for the replies guys and Algonquin you're right, the serial number does start with A III. I had a brain fart when I was typing out the description. I suggeted to him to start at $1150.00 for the whole package and work from there. Unfortunately trades cannot be entertained. Thanks again for all your help.
 
I am pretty sure that is an L691. They are nice rifles. My friend has one in a .270 and an L691 Magnum in .300 Win Mag.
 
looks like you have an AIII model. Very similiar to the older L61R. Difference in the bolt shroud. L61R's are open like a Rem 700, A series are closed.Nice rifle.

The AV is just an AIII with a magnum bolt face,same length.
The L691 has a removeable recoil lug like a Tikka T3, and of course they are marked L691 on the receiver.
 
Rembo said:
looks like you have an AIII model. Very similiar to the older L61R. Difference in the bolt shroud. L61R's are open like a Rem 700, A series are closed.Nice rifle.

The AV is just an AIII with a magnum bolt face,same length.
The L691 has a removeable recoil lug like a Tikka T3, and of course they are marked L691 on the receiver.
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Nice..school us some more please!

What was the chronological order ot these Sako models?
 
1899 said:
Nice..school us some more please!

What was the chronological order ot these Sako models?
Click to expand...

I'm no Sako eggspurt by any stretch but I've sorta figured out some of it...I think:D

Mid 50's-Sako intro's the L46 to NA, in 222 and 22 Hornet, I think...also the L57 in 308 based rounds. These two models had a wing type safety on the bolt and the L46 had a detachable mag. These models were changed slightly in the late 50's to the L461 and the L579. In the late fifties Sako dropped the large caliber rifles thay had built on Mauser actions and intro'd the L61R, a long action for the 30-06 type rounds and the belted magnums.These have side sliding safetys and the L46 lost the detachable mag. Sometime in the late 60's or early 70's the models were changed again, the L461 became the AI and the L579 became the AII, the L61R became the AIII, with standard bolt face and the AV, with magnum boltface.Changes were minor with the most noticeable being the bolt shroud. Although I've seen early A series rifles with the older open style shroud. There were two different styles od floorplate latches on Sakos in this period. One like a Model 70 which is the most common, and I've seen them with a release inside the trigger guard, like a Ruger M77. I don't know how this correlates to the model changes.

There was a short lived series in the mid 90's , in between the production of the A series and the current Model 75. This was the L491, L591 and L691. These were all the same receiver and bolt diameter, made in three different lengths. These have a removeable recoil lug like the Sako TRG-S and the Tikka T3.

that's all I pretend to know and I'm not sure how accurate it is.
I'm sure there are guys here who know about Sako's than I do.
Let's hear from them:)
 
Sako who??

Sako chronological sequence seems difficult to find. Arma Fennica by Timo Hyytinen is the apparent best source for model information but at around $100 per copy most of us don't read the Finnish nor have a copy. What do we do? Join a group like this (CGN) and learn where and when we can.
The L579 Foresters and L61R Finnbears are of about mid 60's to about '72 vintage with the Foresters being short actions and Finnbears long and magnum. After this things seem to get complicated for a while and that's where I hope to gain some better understanding.
I have an AV in .30-06 and in .270 so I wonder about this designation being for the magnums. These are all sweet handling rifles possessing surprising accuracy
and the balance will win over most anyone who likes bolt action hunting rifles.

Anyway, I am thinking the asking price of the rifle in question might be just about right.
 
Algonquin said:
Sako chronological sequence seems difficult to find. Arma Fennica by Timo Hyytinen is the apparent best source for model information but at around $100 per copy most of us don't read the Finnish nor have a copy. What do we do? Join a group like this (CGN) and learn where and when we can.
The L579 Foresters and L61R Finnbears are of about mid 60's to about '72 vintage with the Foresters being short actions and Finnbears long and magnum. After this things seem to get complicated for a while and that's where I hope to gain some better understanding.
I have an AV in .30-06 and in .270 so I wonder about this designation being for the magnums. These are all sweet handling rifles possessing surprising accuracy
and the balance will win over most anyone who likes bolt action hunting rifles.

Anyway, I am thinking the asking price of the rifle in question might be just about right.
Click to expand...

more info....good stuff. So, you have AV's in standard cartridges:) ...I was under the impression the AIII was .473" bolt face and the AV was .532"...proved me worng. Sakos are tough to get information on. There were a few esoteric models also , like the Model 72 , which I've read, was an "economy" (imagine, an economy Sako:confused: ) without the dovetails, (like the Sako actions that Browning used)...as well as another model number that escapes me at the moment, and I've lent out my Frank DeHaas "Bolt Action Rifles".......I like Sako bolt actions and I've owned about 10 of them, none at present...:(
 
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