Found this Sako History you'll find it interesting

[ricksengines]

Hi All

I found this Sako History and thought that I would post the link for all to read. This thing is vey informative and I hope that all enjoy reading it. Kudos to the author.

http://******************/forum/showthread.php?216-Sako-a-Brief-description

rick

 

[Chris Anderson]

You'll have to type it with spaces so the forum software doesn't think it a URL.

 

[ricksengines]

Try this one

http://******************/forum/showthread.php?216-Sako-a-Brief-description


rick

 

[ricksengines]

Be patient I'm still trying to get the link to work

 

[ricksengines]

You will have to knit this together to get the link.

Sorry about that chief!

I did a copy - paste of the content of the post. I had to break it into two parts because of our text limitation on the number of characters. Hopefully, everything is still readable.

rick

 

[ricksengines]

Sako - a Brief description
SAKO, Limited (Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Oy, Civil Guard Gun- and Machiningworks Ltd) is a Finnish firearm manufacturer located in Riihimäki. It is now owned by the Italian firearms holding company Beretta Holding.

Origins
In 1919, a year after Finland declared independence from the Russian Empire, the Suojeluskuntain Yliesikunnan Asepaja (Civil Guard Supreme Staff Gun Works) opened in a former Helsinki brewery to repair private arms and recondition Russian military rifles for Finnish service. The rifle repair shop became financially independent of the civil guard in 1921. The Suojeluskuntain Yliesikunnan Asepaja moved from Helsinki to an ammunition factory in Riihimäki on 1 June 1927 and reorganized as SAKO in the 1930s. Sako started exporting pistol cartridges to Sweden in the 1930s and continued manufacturing submachinegun cartridges through World War II.[1] The firearms manufacturer Tikkakoski, which owned the Tikka brand, was merged into SAKO in 1983. The Valtion Kivääritehdas (VKT) opened at Tourula, Jyväskylä in 1925 had become a part of Valmet in the 1950s and in 1987, the state-owned Valmet and SAKO fused into SAKO-VALMET, with ownership split evenly between Nokia and Valmet. After several organizational shifts in state ownership, the SAKO name remained for the privately owned gun- and cartridge-producing company located in the cities of Riihimäki and Jyväskylä (former Valmet factory in Tourula, which was later closed). The company now is owned by Beretta Holdings.

Post-World War II production
The first civilian rifle bearing the Sako name was the L42 (Luodikko [rifle] model 1942) chambered for the 7×33mm Sako cartridge, prototyped in 1942, and commercial production started after World War II. Sako developed the 7×33mm cartridge based on the 9×19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge, by making a longer case and "necking" the case down to 7 mm calibre (7.21 mm bullet diameter). This cartridge was designed for and well suited to capercaille and black grouse hunting, a popular sport in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The L46 was later denoted L461 "Vixen". The L461 has been very popular in Finland and Sweden, especially chambered for the .222 Remington cartridge and has an almost-mythical status among aficionados.[citation needed]

In 1957, Sako launched a longer action, the L57, subsequently renamed L579 "Forester". This is a "medium action" intended for the .308 Winchester and similar cartridges.

In 1961, Sako introduced the L61R "Finnbear" for the long cartridges like the .30-06, 6.5×55mm and similar.

For a short while, Sako produced a lever-action gun, the Sako Finnwolf, in .243 Winchester and .308 Winchester.

Sako has also produced a number of rimfire rifles, among those are the P72 Finnscout, the M78,the Finnfire and the Quad. The M78 was also chambered for the .22 Hornet and the .22 WMR in addition to the .22 LR.

During the 1980s (1987), Sako started using the AI/AII/AV designations (previously used for models imported to the US) for the three action lengths in Europe. The complete rifles were still designated L461/L579/L61. The bolt was given a slight cosmetic makeover, with the hammer covered by a conical shell. This visual design was also used on the later models (M4/5/691, M75, M85).

The L579 could be delivered with detachable magazine although the default was a hinged floorplate.

From 1987 to 1992 a version of the short (Vixen) action was produced for the .22 PPC and 6mm PPC cartridges, when Sako introduced these former wildcat cartridges as commercial cartridges, denoted ".22 PPC USA" and "6mm PPC USA" to avoid confusion with the specialized bench rest cartridges which required a "tight neck" chamber. These actions are the same external dimensions, and have the same bolt diameter as the 222 Remington, 222 Rem. Magnum, 223 Rem. cartridge actions. Only the bolt face recess was enlarged to suit the PPC case.

In 1992, the first of the "newer" Sakos, the 591, was introduced as a replacement for the L579. Shortly after, the 491 and the 691 were launched. These rifles (491/591/691) are not as highly regarded as the L461/L579/L61R and according to folklore, the quality of the workmanship is slightly inferior for the 491/591/691. They featured a separate recoil lug, also found on the 75, and a Tikka trigger assembly. However, these rifles were available in left-hand configuration both as a medium action (591) and long action (691)

In 1997, Sako launched the M75, named for Sako's 75th anniversary. The 75 was externally similar to previous Sako models, but the construction was radically different featuring three symmetrical locking lugs and a detachable magazine.

Before the 75, Sako hunting rifles (except the L46 and the L579) did not have detachable magazines, but a hinged floorplate with the lock placed on the front of the trigger guard.

Sako's latest (and current) model, the M85, was introduced in 2006.

Current production
Sako 85 centerfire rifle. This is a premium hunting rifle available in many configurations and calibers from 204 Ruger through 416 Rem Mag.

Sako Quad rimfire rifle. This rifle is available in a variety of configurations and has interchangeable barrels in calibers .17HM2, .17HMR, .22 Long Rifle, and .22 WMR.

Sako TRG centerfire rifle. This is a long-range sniper rifle geared toward law enforcement and military use.

Sako A7 centerfire rifle. This is Sako's mid-price-range hunting rifle, filling the gap between their premium line of Sako 85 hunting rifles, and their value line of Tikka T3 hunting rifles. The A7 combines different features from the Sako 85 and the Tikka T3, along with a unique in-line detachable magazine design, and is currently (2010) available only with a synthetic stock, in combination with either a blued chromoly or stainless steel barrelled action.
Current production[edit]

Sako 85 centerfire rifle. This is a premium hunting rifle available in many configurations and calibers from 204 Ruger through 416 Rem Mag.

Sako Quad rimfire rifle. This rifle is available in a variety of configurations and has interchangeable barrels in calibers .17HM2, .17HMR, .22 Long Rifle, and .22 WMR.

Sako TRG centerfire rifle. This is a long-range sniper rifle geared toward law enforcement and military use.

Sako A7 centerfire rifle. This is Sako's mid-price-range hunting rifle, filling the gap between their premium line of Sako 85 hunting rifles, and their value line of Tikka T3 hunting rifles. The A7 combines different features from the Sako 85 and the Tikka T3, along with a unique in-line detachable magazine design, and is currently (2010) available only with a synthetic stock, in combination with either a blued chromoly or stainless steel barrelled action.

Sako model history (Europe)

 

[ricksengines]

Introduced Model Chambered for Comments
1942 L42 7×33mm Sako
1946 L46 5.6×35mmR, .22 Hornet, .218 Bee, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .25-20 Win, 7×33mm Sako, .32-20 Win Detachable magazine
1954? P54/P54T .22LR
195? M98 .270 Win, .30-06, .300 H&H, 8×60mm, 9.3×62mm, .375 H&H, ? FN M98 action, Sako stock and barrel
1957 L57 .243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win Fixed magazine
1959 L579 Forester .22-250, .243 Win, .308 Win Fixed magazine, later in production detachable as option
1961 L461 Vixen .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .223 Rem, 7×33mm Sako? Fixed magazine
1961 L61R Finnbear .264 Win, .270 Win, 30-06 Three locking lugs: Two in front and one on the rear end of the bolt
1961 L61R Finnbear Magnum 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 H&H, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H Three locking lugs: Two in front and one on the rear end of the bolt
1963 VL63 Finnwolf .243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win, .358 Win Lever-action
1972 L61R Finnbear .25-06 Rem, 6.5×55mm, .270 Win, 7×64mm, .30-06, 9.3×62mm Two locking lugs in front
1972 L61R Finnbear Magnum 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H Two locking lugs in front
1972 P72 Finnscout .22LR
1974? Sako M74 Super .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22-250, .243 Win, .308 Win, .25-06, .270 Win, .30-06, .264 Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 H&H, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H
1975 P75 .22 Hornet
1978 M78 Finnscout .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet
1979/80 AI/L461 .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .223 Rem Also available as single-shot action
1987 AI/L461 PPC .22 PPC USA, 6mm PPC USA Also available as single-shot action
1979/80 AII/L579 .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 7mm-08, .308 Win Also available as single-shot action
1979/80 AIII early version of the AV, short tang
1979/80 AIV
1979/80 AV/L61R .25-06 Rem, 6.5×55, .270 Win, 7×64, .30-06, 9.3×62mm Long tang
1979/80 AV Mag/L61R Magnum 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag .458 Win Mag has been produced on special order
1982? VL63 Finnwolf Sako Collectors Association .243 Win, .308 Win Lever-action
1988 M579 SM (Super Match) .308 Win
1989 TRG-21 .308 Win Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1989 TRG-41 .300 Win Mag?, .338 Lapua Mag Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1992 M591 Left hand .22-250, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win
1993 S491 .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22 PPC USA, 6mm PPC USA
1993 M591 .22-250, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Wiän
1993 L691 .25-06, 6.5×55mm, .270 Win, 7×64, .280 Rem, .30-06, 9.3×62mm
1993 L691 Mag .270 Wby, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Wby, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .340 Wby, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag
1995? M995 TRG-S .25-06, 6.5×55mm, .270 Win, .280 Rem, 7×64mm, .308 Win, .30-06, 9.3×62mm Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1995? M995 TRG-S Magnum .270 Wby, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Wby, 7mm STW, 7.21mm Firebird, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, 7.82mm Warbird, .30-378 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .340 Wby, .338 Lapua Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 I .222 Rem, .223 Rem Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 II .22 PPC USA, 6mm PPC USA Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 III .22-250, .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 SM .270 WSM, .300WSM Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 IV .25-06, 6.5×55mm, .270 Win, 7×64mm, .30-06, 9.3×62, 9.3×66mm Sako Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1997 Sako M75 V 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1999 TRG-22 .260 Rem (as of 2011), .308 Win Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
1999 TRG-42 .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua Mag Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2001 Sako M75 V Safari anniversary model .375 H&H Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2001 Sako Finnfire P94S .22LR
2006? Sako Quad .17 Mach 2, .17 HMR, .22LR, .22 WMR Interchangeable barrels
2006 Sako M85 XS .204 Ruger, .222 Remington, .223 Remington Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2006 Sako M85 S .22-250, .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, .338 Federal Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2006 Sako M85 SM .270 WSM, 7mm WSM, .300 WSM Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2006 Sako M85 M .25-06, 6.5×55mm, .270 Win, 7×64mm, .30-06, 9.3×62mm, 9.3×66mm Sako Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2006 Sako M85 L 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H Mag Three locking lugs in front, detachable magazine
2011 Sako TRG M10 .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua Mag User configurable multi caliber modular sniper system
2014 Sako Finnfire II .17 HMR, .22LR

Models A-series actions
L461/AI L461/AI PPC L579/AII L61R/AV L61R Mag/AV Mag
Hunter X X X X X
Deluxe X X X X
Super Deluxe X X X X
Laminated X X X X
Varmint X X X
Target X X X
Carbine X X X
Handy X X
Handy Fiber X
Battue X X X
Classic X X X
Fiberclass X X
Safari X

Models 4/5/691 series actions
Hunter, Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Laminated, Varmint, Carbine, Classic

Models M75 series actions

I (Short) III (Medium) SM (Short magnum) IV (Long) V (Magnum)
Hunter X X X X X
Hunter Stainless X X X X
Hunter left hand X
Laminated stainless X X X X X
Deluxe X X X X X
Synthetic stainless X X X X
Finnlight X X X X
Varmint X X X
Varmint Laminated Stainless X X

Sako Finnlight in .243 Winchester
Models M85 series actions

Hunter, Laminated Stainless, Synthetic Stainless, Finnlight, Bavarian, Bavarian Carbine, Varmint, Brown Bear, Black Bear, Kodiak, Grizzly, Long Range

 

[tripledeuce]

Would love to find a Wolf in .358 Win.

 

[deersako]

That is a former member’s site, banned long ago. All that information has been cobbled together from here and books such as
Arma Fennica.

I would not give him the time of day.

 

[icebear]

That's basically an older version of the Wikipedia entry for Sako.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAKO

 

[ricksengines]

Sorry. I knew nothing of the author's background. I just found the info interesting and wanted to share what I found with our members.

Our illustrious leadership saw fit to delete the thread anyway. I don't think that was really necessary.

rick

 

[L61R]

The thing is, this lowlife scumbag, copies and steals info from SCC, pieces it together and presents it as facts. His facts.

And we shouldn’t delete it?

I urge all of you to read the posts above with great care. It is no a verified truth.

Jim

 

[MDJ]

Is there any verifiable source that shows the history? I would like to put together some rifles with parts that would be as appropriate as possible (hope that makes sense).

 

[L61R]

Hey all!

Some thread archeaology here but I stumbled across this one by chance.

One thing I forgot to post is, the Wikipedia model history stems from a guy I had some interactions with maybe 15-16 years ago, or something like it.

He asked me about the general history and models and I wrote it all down, from the top of my head and very quickly just as a favour to him.

Lo and behold when the dousche posted it on Wikipedia the day after and bragged about it on some other forums, pretending to be some Sako expert or at least taking credit for it.

Well well, such is the world.

The summary is not all bad but must be interpreted with caution as there are many omissions and variations, transition models etc etc etc.

It’ Sako after all! Say no more!

Jim

 

[stonecreek]

he summary is not all bad but must be interpreted with caution as there are many omissions and variations, transition models etc etc etc.

Thanks for noting that, Jim!

There's a lot of misinformation floating around on the internet on Sako due to the kind of circumstance you outlined. Sometimes someone will ask me something like "When did the round plunger replace the "s"-shaped lever on the magazine release?" My response might be something like "Well, it was not exactly, but maybe about the same time as the plastic grip cap was dropped". The next thing I know someone is saying that the two things happened at exactly the same time and a rifle in question with a grip cap and a plunger release has to be a fake or a bitsa. NO. I never said that.

This is one of the reasons that we've strongly discouraged people from posting the old set of hang tag data collected by the Sako Collectors Association. Now that we have the factory records from that era and know that the serial numbers were NOT chronological, the existence of the hang tag data just confuses people into believing something which is not true.

 

[South Pender]

I'm a little confused. I guess I don't know the history of this guy's shenanigans. Can we trust the info in the Wiki article that icebear posted or is it too tainted/incomplete?

Edit. I just re-read Jim's post above and am wondering whether the Wiki article posted earlier by icebear is the same one mentioned by Jim in Post #14 and, as a result, probably untrustworthy.

 

[icebear]

Can we trust the info in the Wiki article that icebear posted or is it too tainted/incomplete?

I posted that link to show that the previously posted article was a version of the Wikipedia article, not to suggest that the Wikipedia article was definitive or accurate. I do not know how much of the Wikipedia article is correct and I do not vouch for its truth. While I sometimes use Wikipedia for a quick lookup on bographical, geographical or historical matters, I don't use it as a cited source and I have found that its firearms articles in particular are often inaccurate or misleading.

 

[sakojim]

If I may be so bold, I would like to state my two cents worth. It has been definitely proven that the Sako factory produced rifles out of sequential order and also shipped them to different parts of our planet on non corresponding dates.
They also shipped many non typical rifles that had non corresponding parts that were assembled from both old and updated stock. The importers of Sako rifles did have an influence on the rifles sent to the USA. Sako also produced many 'presentation' rifles for special orders. It has been stated that the factory also built custom orders for a short time. Therefore as we have found, there were many anomalies in the production of Sako rifles. It is interesting to find them.
There are many ways to describe the different objectives of Sako collectors. Anywhere from rarity to color of grain or caliber. It has become very interesting to see what some folks consider a collection. So be it, because that adds interest.
Personally, I have always desired the oldest quality models in excellent to new condition and the calibers to suit the game that I hunted. Some more than others to lower the cost of hand-loading for best performance. To each his own.
As a final preference, I would not trade the quality of one old Sako for two new ones of equal caliber from those available today. The only bad part about collecting are the scam artists that prey on the unwary. Sakojim.

 

[L61R]

I'm a little confused. I guess I don't know the history of this guy's shenanigans. Can we trust the info in the Wiki article that icebear posted or is it too tainted/incomplete?

Edit. I just re-read Jim's post above and am wondering whether the Wiki article posted earlier by icebear is the same one mentioned by Jim in Post #14 and, as a result, probably untrustworthy.

Like many posts on Wikipedia this one posted above, is not all bad or completely untrustworthy.

Nor is it the (complete) thruth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I have been collecting Sakos and mainly Sako history since 20 years or so. I also have collected a heap of catalogs from many parts of the world so I can try to learn and understand about all the different versions of Sako and all the models etc.

What I have learned so far is that there is no truth. To take the red pill, from the 1999 movie Matrix, and be able to reach true Sako Satyagraha would mean you would have to check every rifle made from the start until late 90’s I guess.

At that time the bean counters, spaghetthi eaters or whatever you want to call them had implemented state of the art CAD machinery and streamlined the production away from three action lengths and from basically very much more of handcrafted rifles, to modern made much more expensive rifles. Still good ones though, no doubt about that!

But I digress, sorry!

To put it more simply.

At the introduction of the first serial
made Sakos in 1946, L46 and P46, they were handmade with some machines.

Ten years later, they built a new investment casting foundry which helped them to improve their serial production. The cast trigger guard assembly on the L46 as an example.

It then continued over the years, with Firearms International as one major and driving force which helped Sako implement new calibers, models and maybe even a more American way of marketing and doing business.

What I am trying to say is that there are so many “specials” and “anomalies” out there that it is really hard to write a really comprehensive model history.

One good example is the A1 Classic in .222Rem I used to own, and the A1 .17HMR Classic I’ve seen.

At the time, many “collectors” said they were custom and most likely not Sako.
But I have found them in just one or maybe two catalogs I own. From the then Swedish importer.

Or the Sako-Mauser in 8x57IS never ever listed in any catalogue I own or have seen, anywhere. Yet I know of at least two factory made
Sako-Mauser or Hi-Power as it was called in the US of A.

But then again, there are a few other models listed in official catalogs that no one has ever seen, so….

Plus add the fact that at the time, employees, special customers, importers, competition shooters and many others could put in special orders.

The model list posted above, gives you a basic but decent overview of the Sako model history.
But it is far from the whole truth and/or the only truth.

So many variables missing.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Jim

 

[South Pender]

Great, Jim. I'll print out the Wiki article, but consider it just a rough history with many omissions and possibly some inaccuracies.