The very first Sako/Tikka collaboration

[gangsterofboats]

It was in the late 1920s for production of the m/28 rifle for the Civil Guard. Here is a completely original example that was issued to Lauri Siitari of the Mikkeli Parish Civil Guard. He was a 1928 Civil Guard rifle champion.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

Very cool rifle. What's "the rest of the story"??

 

[gangsterofboats]

Very cool rifle. What's "the rest of the story"??

It was the new rifle adopted by the Civil Guard in 1928. Most of the rifles had barrels made on a contract with SIG in Switzerland but Tikka solicited a contract with Sako and provided about 5k barrels as well, making for the first collaboration between Sako and Tikka. The rifle was researched in the Finnish national archives using the serial number and Civil Guard district number on the rifle. Of note, Mikkeli is where Mannerheim kept his headquarters in both the Winter War and Continuation War. He was the supreme commander of Finnish forces in the wars.

 

[pecosbill]

Didn't the civil guard purchase their own weapons, which musta been pricey for outdoorsman and hunters like Simo Hayha.

 

[gangsterofboats]

Didn't the civil guard purchase their own weapons, which musta been pricey for outdoorsman and hunters like Simo Hayha.

Not exactly, some who had means could cover part of the cost of their rifle through a program but most were state funded. I do have one m/28-30 whose owner was a wealthy farmer and he paid to have it made, and later carried it to war in both the Winter War and Continuation War. He was combat engineer.

 

[stonecreek]

The Sako Model 581 was perhaps the first sporting rifle on which Sako and Tikka collaborated. It was essentially a Tikka design and was produced by both companies and sold under their respective names. I can't recall the model name/number under which it was sold by Tikka, but it had six forward locking lugs and used the parallel Tikka scope dovetails. Medium length action for .243 and .308.

 

[icebear]

The Sako Model 581 was perhaps the first sporting rifle on which Sako and Tikka collaborated. It was essentially a Tikka design and was produced by both companies and sold under their respective names. I can't recall the model name/number under which it was sold by Tikka, but it had six forward locking lugs and used the parallel Tikka scope dovetails. Medium length action for .243 and .308.

According to Arma Fennica, the Sako L581 was originally designed by Tikka. 50 prototypes were built in 1982. When Sako took over Tikka, it became a joint project. The rifles were made at Tikkakoski and marketed as the Tikka 551 and 555, and Sako L581. A total of 1777 rifles were made from December 1982 through December 1983, all in .308 or .243. I believe most were marked as Tikka, but I am not sure of that. There are very few in the United States. So far I have found no information as to what might be the difference between the Tikka 551 and 555. Illustrations in the book show only the target version of the jointly branded rifle.

 

[mattimoose]

It was in the late 1920s for production of the m/28 rifle for the Civil Guard. Here is a completely original example that was issued to Lauri Siitari of the Mikkeli Parish Civil Guard. He was a 1928 Civil Guard rifle champion.

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Nice pics, I am intrigued by back sight