Sako production dates from the old Sako Collectors Club

[L61R]

 

[Gvit]

This file seems to be corrupted. Any chance of re-posting it?

 

[tslans]

Dates From Old Site? & Sako.fi

This file seems to be corrupted. Any chance of re-posting it?

Try these two files:

tslans

 

[browtinehunter]

Hello;

I have acquired a L61R Action only in the Blue three lug bolt
with a serial # 359xx and I am wondering the Production Date

Tom

 

[gunner620]

Hello;

I have acquired a L61R Action only in the Blue three lug bolt
with a serial # 359xx and I am wondering the Production Date

Tom

My best guess 1968/1969

 

[gunner620]

My best guess 1968/1969

 

[blackjack]

My best guess 1968/1969

 

[blackjack]

Hello Sako Lovers,

Can any one tell me when the L461 & L579 started to use the Shrouded bolt?
I have seen a L461 .222 rem. No. 148990 with a shrouded bolt & a L461 HB .222 Rem. No. 153502 with the usual type of L461 bold with out shroud.

Now the No. 148990 is earlier with shroud, and the No. 1535o2 is later with
out shroud! How strange.

I always thought that the Shrouded bolt was used on the A1 & A2?

Regards Blackjack AKA Mike The Limey

 

[stonecreek]

Like nearly all Sako transitions, the shrouded bolt occurred over a period of time. I think it was 1978-79 when Stoeger announced the "new" A-series actions. This was little other than a marketing ploy (as American companies think they have to introduce "new and improved" products to keep them selling.) It appears that the switch to the A-series was much more Stoeger's idea than Sako's, but because of its volume the American Sako distributor has always been the tail that wags the dog. Sako continued to use the L-designations internally for many years after the presumed switch. For a long time even the box labels of A-series guns came labelled with L-designations.

It happened that Sako started converting to the (presumably safer) shrouded bolt about the same time that Stoeger was pressuring for a name change. Sako had lots of completed receivers already stamped with the L-designation when they began making shrouded bolts. As a result, nearly everything which came out of the factory up until around 1980 had the L-designation on the receiver, and some of those also had the shrouded bolts.

Eventually, Sako ran out of the L-stamped receivers and their production rifles all had receivers stamped with the A-designation (it appears that some L-designated receivers were shipped up until about 1980-81). It does appear that Sako used up all of the unshrouded bolts before it released any A-designated receivers, so you'll find L-rifles with shrouded bolts but no A-rifles with unshrouded bolts.

There have been a number of threads through the years on the differences between L's and A's. If you'll do a search I think you'll find that there was a lot of mixing and matching and that individual rifles in the two series vary in small features according to which parts were available when they were assembled.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

Now the No. 148990 is earlier with shroud, and the No. 1535o2 is later with
out shroud! How strange.

Regards Blackjack AKA Mike The Limey

Sako did not build rifles in sequential order of the serial numbers so one can not assume a rifle with a higher serial number was made after the lower number. There are many confirmed (factory hang tags) cases where rifles numbered many thousands higher have left the factory up to two years before the lower number. This is quite common & not strange for Sakos. It could also just be a case of what bolt they grabbed out of a bin to make these rifles during a transition period.

 

[blackjack]

Stonecreek & Paulsonconstruction I thank you for your reply. The L461 & A1 bolt handles are very different in thier shape. Are we saying that the Shrouded L461 bolt handles were the same as the un-shrouded bolt handles? or are we saying that the shrouded bolt handles were A1 in thier shape. Also are the L461 & A1 bolts interchangable?

Regards Blackjack AKA Mike The Limey

 

[stonecreek]

You are correct that the "A-I" bolt handle is a bit longer than the earlier L461 bolt handle. Not having seen enough examples, I can't say if the longer handle is present on all shrouded bolts or if it was an independent alteration. I suspect that the shroud and the longer handle are pretty consistent with one another, but with Sako you never know.

 

[David Henzler]

Like nearly all Sako transitions, the shrouded bolt occurred over a period of time. I think it was 1978-79 when Stoeger announced the "new" A-series actions. This was little other than a marketing ploy (as American companies think they have to introduce "new and improved" products to keep them selling.) It appears that the switch to the A-series was much more Stoeger's idea than Sako's, but because of its volume the American Sako distributor has always been the tail that wags the dog. Sako continued to use the L-designations internally for many years after the presumed switch. For a long time even the box labels of A-series guns came labelled with L-designations.

It happened that Sako started converting to the (presumably safer) shrouded bolt about the same time that Stoeger was pressuring for a name change. Sako had lots of completed receivers already stamped with the L-designation when they began making shrouded bolts. As a result, nearly everything which came out of the factory up until around 1980 had the L-designation on the receiver, and some of those also had the shrouded bolts.

Eventually, Sako ran out of the L-stamped receivers and their production rifles all had receivers stamped with the A-designation (it appears that some L-designated receivers were shipped up until about 1980-81). It does appear that Sako used up all of the unshrouded bolts before it released any A-designated receivers, so you'll find L-rifles with shrouded bolts but no A-rifles with unshrouded bolts.

There have been a number of threads through the years on the differences between L's and A's. If you'll do a search I think you'll find that there was a lot of mixing and matching and that individual rifles in the two series vary in small features according to which parts were available when they were assembled.

I remember these days... all of the SAKO people I knew were rushing to buy the last of the old stuff before it was out of stock. The shrouded bolt doesn't look bad, only different. ;o)

 

[South Pender]

Can anyone tell me when A1 Action SN. 183127 would have been made?

 

[paulsonconstruction]

SN 183127 would have been shortly after the conversion to CNC machining. 1986 is probably a good guess. I have an AI with a 183000ish SN & the hang tag is dated 1986.

 

[South Pender]

SN 183127 would have been shortly after the conversion to CNC machining. 1986 is probably a good guess. I have an AI with a 183000ish SN & the hang tag is dated 1986.

Thanks so much for this. What a great forum this is--really knowledgeable Sako fans!

 

[Larry Valentine]

I just bought a Sako Forester in .243 It has Bofors steel and Luepold VARI - X 2 3 x9 scope. It is marked L579 No. 65817.
This is my first Sako and I wonder what it is worth and when it was made.
It appears to be in excellent shape. The previous owner had several hundred guns and I doubt it's been fired very much.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

The "Bofors" barrel tell us it's 1968 or prior. The serial number tells us probably not before 1966. That's about as close as I can guess. It takes more than a sentence saying "I have a Sako 243 with a Leupold scope" to determine it's value. The earlier Sakos with the "Bofors" barrels have a following that is willing to pay a slight premium for them. Whether it is a Standard, Deluxe, Mannlincher, or Varmint configuration also has a bearing as well as condition. Take some time to research the vast amount of info about the L579 here on this forum & you will realize the question "What's it worth?" is impossible to answer from a one sentence description via the internet. Besides, it seems to me that you just establish it's value when you bought it. Willing buyer, willing seller, transaction concluded = market value!!

 

[Larry Valentine]

Thanks for the info. I'm new to guns in general.That was my first post. I don't know how to tell if it's Standard, Deluxe,Varmint config. or what. I'm thrilled to have the rifle. I was just wondering if 1,100 was a fair price.

 

[scottbitterman]

A Deluxe will have a rose wood fortip engraved floor plate and trigger guard along with rosewood cap on the pistol grip.A standard from this era should have a black cap on the pistol grip. A varmit will have a heavy barrel heavier stock with the checkering done on the underside of the forearm as well.1100 would be at the top of the price range i would pay for a standard grade with 3x9 leupold. the rings if sako originals will add up as well. scope 250 or so rings 150 or so so you have about 700 in the bare gun not bad if its really nice but pictures would help a lot