My Sako knowledge is fairly limited, so bear with me. I picked up this Finnbear at an estate auction recently. It's in very good shape, but when I got home and started researching the serial number I noticed something that I thought was contradictory. My understanding is that the SN on this L61R connotes a manufacture date somewhere mid 60's, at least before 1973.
Didn't Garcia start importation after 1973? The barrel shows Garcia so if that's correct the only thing I can assume is that it was re-barreled at some point. Correct?
The blueing on the barrel doesn't seem to match the receiver in the sunlight, but I've had barrels change color at different rates over time than the receiver so I'm not sure that is evidence enough.
Thoughts?
Didn't Garcia start importation after 1973? The barrel shows Garcia so if that's correct the only thing I can assume is that it was re-barreled at some point. Correct?
The blueing on the barrel doesn't seem to match the receiver in the sunlight, but I've had barrels change color at different rates over time than the receiver so I'm not sure that is evidence enough.
Thoughts?