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First time on the board. What do you think of this old L46 I just listed on Gunbroker? The board has told me that only 5600 were made and most stayed in Finland. Is this as rare an item as I am led to believe?
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L46 Left Side Safety 1950 vintage
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Sako Collectors Club Discussion Forum
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WASP,
Thanks for your candid assessment of this rifle. I don't want to misrepresent my items, so I will probably let the auction expire and not relist. I would appreciate any guidance regarding what this rifle is so I can put out a new listing with more accurate information.
Hitower
Thanks for your candid assessment of this rifle. I don't want to misrepresent my items, so I will probably let the auction expire and not relist. I would appreciate any guidance regarding what this rifle is so I can put out a new listing with more accurate information.
Hitower
Hitower I would just say that I have never seen a L46 Sako with a barrel stamping on the side of the barrel, especially an early one. Look at the stamp and it does not appear to be a factory stamp. Furthermore the clip is not marked with the caliber. Its either a aftermarket clip or ???? I am not saying anything but I have never seen an L46 so marked and not marked. I have been collecting Sakos for over two decades and have owned or shot almost every variety and currently have over 20 L46s in my collection. I do appreciate your attempt to not mis represent your rifle. Now heres the kicker.......Sako is notorious for having examples "pop up" from history that defie the known examples. Who knows, maybe your rifle is such a specimen.
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I'm not all that well-schooled in the L-46 series, but I looked the photos on Gunbroker over pretty closely and I'm not certain that the gun is not original, perhaps except for the clip. And a replacement clip certainly isn't unusual in a nearly 60 year-old gun.
All of the Sakos I'm familiar with have been caliber-marked on the top of the barrel just in front of the receiver ring. This one is not, and it is clear that the stamp is hand-done. However, Sako was also hand stamping the receivers in those days as you can see by the serial number on this one. Also, the ramp front sight certainly looks like a factory Sako sight. Of course, a new barrel could have had the sight removed from the factory barrel and sweated on, but this would be unusual. Bottom line is, I wouldn't swear that it is NOT a factory barrel. Besides, it is clearly not a .22 Hornet barrel rechambered (missing the Sako caliber mark), and it would be unusual to burn out a factory .218 barrel, even in 60 years of shooting, so that makes its being a replacement somewhat questionable.
I would suggest removing the metal from the stock and looking for tell-tale markings on the underside of the barrel -- old caliber stamps, proof marks, etc.
The gun could be a well-smithed rebarrel, which would make it not a collector but still a desireable example of a very early Sako, nonetheless. Or it could be an example of the very early, somewhat individually-made L46's. The one thing you can say is that it has the rare left side safety, which for that reason alone makes it a very desireable find.
It is difficult to tell from the photos, but I'm thinking that the stock is the flame-stained beechwood of the very early models rather than the walnut that replaced it. Is this correct? Examples of 7x33's are rare as hen's teeth, but all I've ever seen of them have the beechwood stocks.
All of the Sakos I'm familiar with have been caliber-marked on the top of the barrel just in front of the receiver ring. This one is not, and it is clear that the stamp is hand-done. However, Sako was also hand stamping the receivers in those days as you can see by the serial number on this one. Also, the ramp front sight certainly looks like a factory Sako sight. Of course, a new barrel could have had the sight removed from the factory barrel and sweated on, but this would be unusual. Bottom line is, I wouldn't swear that it is NOT a factory barrel. Besides, it is clearly not a .22 Hornet barrel rechambered (missing the Sako caliber mark), and it would be unusual to burn out a factory .218 barrel, even in 60 years of shooting, so that makes its being a replacement somewhat questionable.
I would suggest removing the metal from the stock and looking for tell-tale markings on the underside of the barrel -- old caliber stamps, proof marks, etc.
The gun could be a well-smithed rebarrel, which would make it not a collector but still a desireable example of a very early Sako, nonetheless. Or it could be an example of the very early, somewhat individually-made L46's. The one thing you can say is that it has the rare left side safety, which for that reason alone makes it a very desireable find.
It is difficult to tell from the photos, but I'm thinking that the stock is the flame-stained beechwood of the very early models rather than the walnut that replaced it. Is this correct? Examples of 7x33's are rare as hen's teeth, but all I've ever seen of them have the beechwood stocks.
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Deferring to the Sako experts, I have ended this auction until I can properly describe the item. Knowing that the original owner was a collector, I feel that he would not have been changing out parts without a good reason. If he had changed the barrel, I would think that he would have been smart enough to save the original in his "parts".
Thanks for your help.
Hitower
Thanks for your help.
Hitower
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SCR,
Yes, the stock is unusually dark compared to the beautiful blond wood on the old Forrester Deluxe Sporter I have. Don't know my wood types very well, but you are probably correct.
Also, thanks for giving me hope that the barrel can be original. I will remove the stock this weekend and see what I find.
Did the stamp on the top of the barrel tell you anything?
Thanks,
Hitower
Yes, the stock is unusually dark compared to the beautiful blond wood on the old Forrester Deluxe Sporter I have. Don't know my wood types very well, but you are probably correct.
Also, thanks for giving me hope that the barrel can be original. I will remove the stock this weekend and see what I find.
Did the stamp on the top of the barrel tell you anything?
Thanks,
Hitower
deergoose
Sako-addicted
Reading this thread has really sparked my curiosity. If you can, please post all of your available pics and we should be able to identify what you have. I did not see the your listing on the web, I was sidetracked for the last week or so.
DeerGoose
DeerGoose
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DG,
It will now show in closed auctions - number 98963424
I had 20 or so pictures there, including the left side safety, all visible barrel markings and of course, the matching SN on action and bolt. Let me know what you think. After I remove the metal from the stock this weekend, I will let you Sako gurus know what I find.
Hitower
DeerGoose wrote:
It will now show in closed auctions - number 98963424
I had 20 or so pictures there, including the left side safety, all visible barrel markings and of course, the matching SN on action and bolt. Let me know what you think. After I remove the metal from the stock this weekend, I will let you Sako gurus know what I find.
Hitower
DeerGoose wrote:
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Well, I looked at it and it seems good and odd. There are good points and iffy points. The 218 bee is iffy but may be correct. The buttplate looks good. The clip is a repro but no big deal. I don't think a gunsmith could have done such a good job fitting the front sight back on so perfectly. I'll go with a probably factory rifle and the Mauser style safety is iffy but probably correct. Why would anyone change the safety? There would be signs of the stock being altered too. It has a Beach stock which was standard on those old rifles. I would represent the rifle as a rare rifle caliber and state it is reasonable to assume it is a factory correct rifle with no examples known to compare it to. I would bid on it as I like strange rifles. Good luck and regards, Rick.
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Mismatched numbers are one thing, but the normal roll stamp on the barrel shank is another. I think that I am in the "maybe" camp, and here is why.
1. The barrel contour is very close to several early L46s that I own. I would call it near to an original as it could get.
2. The front sight is definitely original, but could have been brazed onto an after market barrel by a competent smith. It could also be a Hornet barrel with the shank turned down..... except for that Griffins head stamp on top!
3. The caliber stamp isn't typical Sako, but there could be several possibilities on this - it was one of the first Bees off the line and made it out before the normal barrel shank roll mark. It was a Hornet that was sent back and re-chambered at the factory. The Griffins head on top of the barrel shank adds to its authenticity. I say this because it looks like in pic #11 there are two inspection stamps. Maybe the other is another Griffins head I can not tell. If it is a second inspectors stamp then it could be a factory re-chamber.
4. Flamed artic birch stocks were standard on these early rifles. The one pictured looks very nice.
5. If it had a Bee stamped clip that would be a definite plus.
6. Muzzle looks like the typical Sako flat cut with the slight crown they put on all rifles.
7. Safety - from the pictures it looks like it drops down much flatter than any I have. When mine are in the firing position the safety points almost straight out and when in the safe position fold up toward the bolt body. Something seems not right with this one.
I am torn. A few things "not" Sako, but several that are. Might just be one of those rare guns that everyone needs to add to the collection! Interesting and thanks for sharing.
1. The barrel contour is very close to several early L46s that I own. I would call it near to an original as it could get.
2. The front sight is definitely original, but could have been brazed onto an after market barrel by a competent smith. It could also be a Hornet barrel with the shank turned down..... except for that Griffins head stamp on top!
3. The caliber stamp isn't typical Sako, but there could be several possibilities on this - it was one of the first Bees off the line and made it out before the normal barrel shank roll mark. It was a Hornet that was sent back and re-chambered at the factory. The Griffins head on top of the barrel shank adds to its authenticity. I say this because it looks like in pic #11 there are two inspection stamps. Maybe the other is another Griffins head I can not tell. If it is a second inspectors stamp then it could be a factory re-chamber.
4. Flamed artic birch stocks were standard on these early rifles. The one pictured looks very nice.
5. If it had a Bee stamped clip that would be a definite plus.
6. Muzzle looks like the typical Sako flat cut with the slight crown they put on all rifles.
7. Safety - from the pictures it looks like it drops down much flatter than any I have. When mine are in the firing position the safety points almost straight out and when in the safe position fold up toward the bolt body. Something seems not right with this one.
I am torn. A few things "not" Sako, but several that are. Might just be one of those rare guns that everyone needs to add to the collection! Interesting and thanks for sharing.
deergoose
Sako-addicted
I did look at the pics, HiTower. Could the barrel have been turned on the rifle, the front sight re-brazed, and the new caliber stamping (.218 Bee) placed on the barrel?
Taking the action out of the stock may reveal the real chambering of the barrel if indeed a factory re-chambering. The proof at the top of the barrel looks authentic to me. Could it have been on the bottom of the barrel at one time? Note that barrels in that timeframe would not have been stamped Bofors Steel.
very interesting.
DeerGoose
Taking the action out of the stock may reveal the real chambering of the barrel if indeed a factory re-chambering. The proof at the top of the barrel looks authentic to me. Could it have been on the bottom of the barrel at one time? Note that barrels in that timeframe would not have been stamped Bofors Steel.
very interesting.
DeerGoose
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