L-46
Well-Known Member
So little is known about the P54 outside of Finland,
A fun little rifle which has enjoyed vast popularity bringing meat to the table, plinking jam tins, and even competition biathlon. Production started in 1954 and ceased when the P-72 was introduced. The first serial number produced was 20001 and i have seen numbers up to about 44xxx.
The 'P' is short for 'Pienois-kivaarit' or 'Small-Rifle'. Not being fluent in Finnish i hope my translation is close.
I have over the years wanted to learn what i could about this little 'P' rifle. I bought my first P54 back 25 years ago from a leading gun shop in Sydney. The store owner did not know what he was selling, he called it a 'finnfire', the model stamp was hidden by the scope mount, but he knew it was a Sako and worth alot!
It was high on the wall in the old shop with all the rifles that were keepers for the family dynasty. It was only a keen eye and perseverance that parted that little Sako out of his tight grip!
They were imported to most countries that imported the Sako centre fire rifles, Australia imported the odd one but not many. With most rimfire sales here, at the time, they where going to browning pumps and autos and the Brno/CZ repeaters. I can only imagine that the price of a P54 was higher than the average rimfire also. Browning autos had the market cornered when you had a rabbit plague, and believe me we have had Rabbit plagues here, and Brno was well know for a crisp trigger and great accuracy. The P54 had neither of these attributes.
Sako was by no means a leader in the Finnish rifle market, playing small brother to larger companies like Valmet and Tikka. At the time, decisions were birthed from a strong German influence. Prior to 1930 the Finnish civil guard 'P' rifles where imported. The accepted trigger for military and hunting rifles was a two stage trigger.
I do not want to say much more, and let you see for your self the beauty and variations of this early Sako!
The rifles are shown from lowest serial number at the bottom 205xx, to the top at 41xxx.
Both Domestic and Export stocks can be seen clearly, funnily enough the domestic stocks are common in most countries, so it may never be known as whether the stocks are standard and deluxe grades!
These rifles gathered briefly for a photo shoot, a one off, and are now nestled back at home with some of our members and Sako enthusiasts 'Downunder'.
L-46
A fun little rifle which has enjoyed vast popularity bringing meat to the table, plinking jam tins, and even competition biathlon. Production started in 1954 and ceased when the P-72 was introduced. The first serial number produced was 20001 and i have seen numbers up to about 44xxx.
The 'P' is short for 'Pienois-kivaarit' or 'Small-Rifle'. Not being fluent in Finnish i hope my translation is close.
I have over the years wanted to learn what i could about this little 'P' rifle. I bought my first P54 back 25 years ago from a leading gun shop in Sydney. The store owner did not know what he was selling, he called it a 'finnfire', the model stamp was hidden by the scope mount, but he knew it was a Sako and worth alot!
It was high on the wall in the old shop with all the rifles that were keepers for the family dynasty. It was only a keen eye and perseverance that parted that little Sako out of his tight grip!
They were imported to most countries that imported the Sako centre fire rifles, Australia imported the odd one but not many. With most rimfire sales here, at the time, they where going to browning pumps and autos and the Brno/CZ repeaters. I can only imagine that the price of a P54 was higher than the average rimfire also. Browning autos had the market cornered when you had a rabbit plague, and believe me we have had Rabbit plagues here, and Brno was well know for a crisp trigger and great accuracy. The P54 had neither of these attributes.
Sako was by no means a leader in the Finnish rifle market, playing small brother to larger companies like Valmet and Tikka. At the time, decisions were birthed from a strong German influence. Prior to 1930 the Finnish civil guard 'P' rifles where imported. The accepted trigger for military and hunting rifles was a two stage trigger.
I do not want to say much more, and let you see for your self the beauty and variations of this early Sako!
The rifles are shown from lowest serial number at the bottom 205xx, to the top at 41xxx.
Both Domestic and Export stocks can be seen clearly, funnily enough the domestic stocks are common in most countries, so it may never be known as whether the stocks are standard and deluxe grades!
These rifles gathered briefly for a photo shoot, a one off, and are now nestled back at home with some of our members and Sako enthusiasts 'Downunder'.
L-46