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Hello! I am a new member and thank you for having me.i have what i belive is a m 74 super.has any one else heard of this.and how can i use the ser.# to track info.such has model,year.and how or were would one locate a manul.
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M74 super
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Sako Collectors Club Discussion Forum
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The "M74 Super" was a designation that Garcia used for its standard grade Sako rifles for a couple of years starting in about 1974. It was to differentiate them from the M72, a slightly downgraded rifle with no checkering on the upper surfaces of the scope mounting dovetails and equipped with an open rear sight (erroneously believed by Garcia to be better for the American market.)
The "M74 Super" also used the regular designations "Finnbear", "Forester", and "Vixen" for the long, medium, and short action guns, respectively. Most M74's had a fairly dark reddish stock with no grip cap or contrasting fore end. They also used detachable sling studs instead of fixed swivels.
Your gun, if a Model 74 Super, should have the Garcia Corp. import mark on the underside of the barrel.
The "M74 Super" also used the regular designations "Finnbear", "Forester", and "Vixen" for the long, medium, and short action guns, respectively. Most M74's had a fairly dark reddish stock with no grip cap or contrasting fore end. They also used detachable sling studs instead of fixed swivels.
Your gun, if a Model 74 Super, should have the Garcia Corp. import mark on the underside of the barrel.
deergoose
Sako-addicted
If you have a medium action Forester, the serial number could be over 300,000. What caliber do you have?
DeerGoose
DeerGoose
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If you go to page 3 of the pictures section, there are some pics of my super. It's NIB so if yours looks like mine, then it's a Super. The Super also had a subtle swept back bolt handle while the other Garcia versions were straight.....from the ones I've seen. The super is one of my favorites......beautiful work. Regards, Rick.
kaindog45
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have a really good picture of an M74 Super? I found one listed in a local shopper magazine in PA for $825. It has a few extras as well. Anyway, the magazine is black and white text with no pics, so I'd like to see one before I go through the trouble of contacting the seller. I don't really want to waste the sellers time and my own by going to look at it and possibly not being interested in it. I've looked all over the net for a pic but had no luck, but I did find this old thread.
Thanks
Thanks
kaindog45,
It's basically similar to an L61R (short and long actions). Found this manual digging through the site. Should give you more than a good idea, and a reference to ask the seller questions.
M74Manual.pdf (395.0KB)
S-A
It's basically similar to an L61R (short and long actions). Found this manual digging through the site. Should give you more than a good idea, and a reference to ask the seller questions.
M74Manual.pdf (395.0KB)
S-A
kaindog45
Well-Known Member
Thanks sala-ampuja.
I found that manual on Sako's website. Its helpful as far as the specifications are concered but I'd still like to see a color photo of this model if anyone has one to share. The add mentions a "tiger-stripe" like pattern in the wood. That has me thinking that it looks like an early classic model. If thats the case then i'm all over it. Also according to the seller, the rifle has less than 150 rounds through it. Thats not bad considering the rifle is about 30+ years old.
I found that manual on Sako's website. Its helpful as far as the specifications are concered but I'd still like to see a color photo of this model if anyone has one to share. The add mentions a "tiger-stripe" like pattern in the wood. That has me thinking that it looks like an early classic model. If thats the case then i'm all over it. Also according to the seller, the rifle has less than 150 rounds through it. Thats not bad considering the rifle is about 30+ years old.
Kaindog
Maybe you should contact the seller and see if he can email you some good quality photos.
I don't have a M74, but my understanding is that they are undistinguishable from any other Garcia era rifle, with the exception of the M-72. I believe the M74 only appears on the hang tag and on the box. Perhaps that may be part of the extras the seller was refering to. I think in announceing the M74, sako was trying to distance it from the M72.
Luck Dick
Maybe you should contact the seller and see if he can email you some good quality photos.
I don't have a M74, but my understanding is that they are undistinguishable from any other Garcia era rifle, with the exception of the M-72. I believe the M74 only appears on the hang tag and on the box. Perhaps that may be part of the extras the seller was refering to. I think in announceing the M74, sako was trying to distance it from the M72.
Luck Dick
kaindog45
Well-Known Member
hayseed51,
From your experience does the asking price sound high, low or just about right? I'm new to the Sako world and pretty much everything I know about Sako's in general I learend from this site. Also, are these rifles on the rare / scarce side or is it pretty much just a run of the mill L61R with a diferent name? As far as the extras mentioned, it comes with 7 boxes of 30-06 ammo and a 3x9 redfield wide angle scope, which are probably as old as the gun itself. The condition is listed as like new.
Thanks
From your experience does the asking price sound high, low or just about right? I'm new to the Sako world and pretty much everything I know about Sako's in general I learend from this site. Also, are these rifles on the rare / scarce side or is it pretty much just a run of the mill L61R with a diferent name? As far as the extras mentioned, it comes with 7 boxes of 30-06 ammo and a 3x9 redfield wide angle scope, which are probably as old as the gun itself. The condition is listed as like new.
Thanks
- Admin
- #11
The price sounds very reasonable since it includes a scope worth $100 to $150, scope mounts of unknown description which could be worth as much as $75, and perhaps a hundred dollars of ammunition. That puts the " as new" gun at about $600 by itself, which anyone will admit is an attractive price (hell, they're asking significantly more than that for a pedestrian Remington 700!)
As Hayseed has said, the M74 was essentially just an L61R Finnbear with a different designation on the box; you will not find that model designation anywhere on the gun itself. The M74 differed from the M72 in that the checkering was restored to the top of the scope dovetails and rear bolt flat, and it usually did not come with the rear sight of the M72. The stock should have a glossy lacquered finish and most had a fairly dark reddish stain. Wood on these can vary from fairly plain to very nice, but all are quite decent. The blue is not quite as polished as the pre-Garcia Finnbears, but it is nicer than the run-of-the-mill Remchester or Savage.
As Hayseed has said, the M74 was essentially just an L61R Finnbear with a different designation on the box; you will not find that model designation anywhere on the gun itself. The M74 differed from the M72 in that the checkering was restored to the top of the scope dovetails and rear bolt flat, and it usually did not come with the rear sight of the M72. The stock should have a glossy lacquered finish and most had a fairly dark reddish stain. Wood on these can vary from fairly plain to very nice, but all are quite decent. The blue is not quite as polished as the pre-Garcia Finnbears, but it is nicer than the run-of-the-mill Remchester or Savage.
Kaindog -
Agree with Stonecreek's good evaluation. While I think Sako did give themselves a black eye with the short-lived M72, the whole 'pre-Garcia' mentality that ensued is blown out of proportion, in my opinion. If you had 3 rifles laying side by side - a 'pre Garcia standard grade, a M72, and a M74 or later Garcia - you could tell the difference. Likely just a glance would identify the M72. The 'pre' and the M74 would take a closer look. Checkering panels, swivels, contours of stock and barrel very slightly different,and the big thing is the time consuming polishing before blueing. I think they would likely all shoot about the same, which is to say very, very well...
While 30-06 may well be the most versatile big game chambering, it is also the most common, so doesn't command extra dollars.
As Stonecreek said, if you start comparing a rifle like this for 600 bucks to what else you can buy for that money, they start looking very attractive. Amazing, really. I'm not sure that it would quite qualify as a 'steal', but certainly a very attractive price, if the condition is as advertised. Know that everybody's defination of 'like new' is not the same.
If you go forward with the rifle, best not to think of it as a treasured 'safe queen'. Know that you don't have the ultimate Sako in most people's book anyway. Still, I'd be suprised if it didn't become your new best friend in the field. Don't know what you're used to, but Sako sets the bar pretty high.
Best luck, and keep us informed.
Dick
Agree with Stonecreek's good evaluation. While I think Sako did give themselves a black eye with the short-lived M72, the whole 'pre-Garcia' mentality that ensued is blown out of proportion, in my opinion. If you had 3 rifles laying side by side - a 'pre Garcia standard grade, a M72, and a M74 or later Garcia - you could tell the difference. Likely just a glance would identify the M72. The 'pre' and the M74 would take a closer look. Checkering panels, swivels, contours of stock and barrel very slightly different,and the big thing is the time consuming polishing before blueing. I think they would likely all shoot about the same, which is to say very, very well...
While 30-06 may well be the most versatile big game chambering, it is also the most common, so doesn't command extra dollars.
As Stonecreek said, if you start comparing a rifle like this for 600 bucks to what else you can buy for that money, they start looking very attractive. Amazing, really. I'm not sure that it would quite qualify as a 'steal', but certainly a very attractive price, if the condition is as advertised. Know that everybody's defination of 'like new' is not the same.
If you go forward with the rifle, best not to think of it as a treasured 'safe queen'. Know that you don't have the ultimate Sako in most people's book anyway. Still, I'd be suprised if it didn't become your new best friend in the field. Don't know what you're used to, but Sako sets the bar pretty high.
Best luck, and keep us informed.
Dick
kaindog45
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys.
I have to admit I got excited when I saw it was listed as M74 Super, eventhough I don't know too much about these rifles. I pretty much got visions of a rare find at a steal. But I figured better to ask the pros before I jumped right on it. I will contact the guy and look at it in person, its not that far of a drive. I'm not the type to take adavantage of someone but times are tough and cash in hand talks, so I might be able to get it a little cheaper. I'd probably sell the scope anyway, I have a nice Leupold Vari XIII that would probably go nice on it.
As far as what I'm used to, I used to think "Remington 700 or nothing!" but after owning a new tikka T3 S/S in 6.5x55 and an NIB Finnbear 30-06 Mfg'd around '93, I won't own anything else. Plus I like the fact that Sako's and some Tikka's don't flood the market and it puts the fun in tryin to find them.
Anyway I will post pics if I buy this thing.
Thanks again for your input!
I have to admit I got excited when I saw it was listed as M74 Super, eventhough I don't know too much about these rifles. I pretty much got visions of a rare find at a steal. But I figured better to ask the pros before I jumped right on it. I will contact the guy and look at it in person, its not that far of a drive. I'm not the type to take adavantage of someone but times are tough and cash in hand talks, so I might be able to get it a little cheaper. I'd probably sell the scope anyway, I have a nice Leupold Vari XIII that would probably go nice on it.
As far as what I'm used to, I used to think "Remington 700 or nothing!" but after owning a new tikka T3 S/S in 6.5x55 and an NIB Finnbear 30-06 Mfg'd around '93, I won't own anything else. Plus I like the fact that Sako's and some Tikka's don't flood the market and it puts the fun in tryin to find them.
Anyway I will post pics if I buy this thing.
Thanks again for your input!
