Sakos/Tikkas branded by other gun makers

[paulsonconstruction]

Put together a list, from info gathered on the forum & other places, of rifles with Sako/Tikka actions but marketed under a different brand. Not sure if everything is correct or complete. Feel free to correct or add any information you have. Any info about models, variations, modifications, etc. would be welcome.
Anshutz- no confirmation, just rumor
Beretta- 501 & 502 (L579 & L61R)
Browning- Medallion, Olympian, Safari (L461 & L579) L61R? High Power?
Colt- Coltsman (L46, L461, L57, L579, L61R)
Dickson-Howa - Golden Bear (L61R) Copy?
Flaig's- no data ?
Grendal- sniper/target type Action?
H&R- 317, 330, 340 & FN Variations?
Holland & Holland- (L61R) only 500 to 600 made?
Ithaca- LSA 55 & 65 (Tikka)
JC Higgins- 52 (L46) Sold @ Sears?
Karl Mayer- no data ?
Lazzeroni- no data ?
Magnum Research- Mountain Eagle- (L61R)
Marlin- 322 & 422 (L46)
Montgomery Wards- EIN 750 (L57)
North American- Grizzly (L57 or L579?)
North American Shooting Systems- Canada, model?, Custom? no data
O'Brien- (L461) ??
Winslow- no data ?
With all the vast knowledge of the forum possibly a complete list with all the variations could be complied & added to the archives, if the admins could find a place for it.

 

[bloorooster]

This is gonna be a good Thread....great idea paulsonconstruction! I think the Mountain Eagle (Magnum Research) was built on the Sako 691 actions I could be wrong and often am!:bigsmile3:-Bloo

 

[stonecreek]

Paulson:

Our leader, JimL61R, sent me a photo of an Anschutz a short while back, so you can count that one confirmed. I also believe that Bloo is correct that the Magnum Research used the L691 action. I believe that Lazzaroni used only the TRG-s action, but they used both the long and the short (I often forget that there was a short).

You are correct that the Browning "Safari" series was sometimes called the " High Power", but very few people use that term as it is confusing with their 9mm pistol which was routinely called the "High Power".

As mentioned on another thread, the Imperial Cartridge Company (I think that was their name) of Canada had a proprietary line of cartridges that was virtually identical to the RUM line, with their bodies being only slightly smaller; in fact the same diameter as the Ruger magnum line at .532", or the same size as the rim and belt on a belted case. Imperial mostly sold rechambering jobs, reamers, brass, and ammunition, but I believe that they did offer pre-built rifles using either the L61R/A-V or more likely the L691 action.

The North American Arms Grizzly was imported to/made in Canada. I know they are for real because I saw a stock for one on ebay a few months ago (fits an L579) with their logo on the buttplate.

Except for Jim's reference to them, I'm completely clueless on Karl Mayer and Grendel.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

Stone:
Do you know what action/actions the Anshutz used? Can I assume that the Browning Medallion, Olympian, & Safari were the L461, L579, & L61R respectively? Could North American Shooting Systems (Canada) be tied to the Imperial Cartridge Co.? The NASS I know of was chambered for 7mm Imperial Magnum, which is like a 7mm RUM. Thanks!

 

[stonecreek]

So far as I know, Anschutz used only the short action, and I don't recall if it was the L46 or L461. I think they only offered it chambered in .222. When they brought out their own .222-sized action, they stopped using Sakos. By the way, although the craftsmanship on Anschutz is always excellent, owners of the Anschuz-actioned .222 are warned to keep loads within SAAMI limits as it has a rather weak locking system much like a rimfire action.

I think you are correct that NASS was the company that developed the Imperial line, not some company with the name "Imperial" in its title as I speculated.

Browning only used the L461 and L579 on its "High Power" bolt rifles. It's long action calibers were on the FN action (and a few early .308's and .243's were built on a small ring FN and are highly sought after). The names didn't represent different rifles or action lengths, they represented grades. The base grade was "Safari", the embellished grade was " Medallion", and the ultimate grade was "Olympian". All actions and calibers, even the HB versions, were available in all three grades.

I thought of one more possiblity: American Hunting Rifles may have used the long Sako action in their early days (they now use the large and strong but somewhat crude CZ 550). Their cartridges originally were the line developed by Ken Howell and were basically .30-06-head sized cases stretched from 2.5" to about 2.85", thus the long magazine of the L691 would have held them very nicely. Nothing on their current website mentions the Sako actions, but they have changed ownership in recent years and moved away from the Howell cartridges toward mega thunder-belchers marketed to armchair would-be "dangerous" game hunters.

 

[barretcreek]

I have a Browning Safari .222 which is a Belgian proofed small Sako action, without dovetails. I also have a deluxe grade Dickson Howa Golden Bear which is in mint condition except for one small nick in the finish on the comb-operator error. I have had Colt Coltsman .223 in my hands and at one time I owned an L57 with a Monkey Wards marked 12 groove barrel in .243. Nice piece of French walnut on that one.

I have a question. Is the LSA 55 the same as a Tikka 595 or a different action? I have a line on a .222 but I am a little wary because of the availability of spare magazines and other parts.

 

[paulsonconstruction]

barretcreek:
The LSA 55 is different from the 595. The 595 shares the same mag as it's predecessor, the 558, but not with the 55. The newer T3's are based on the long action regardless of caliber, so I doubt those mags will work in the 595 either.

 

[barretcreek]

Thank you. I am impressed by the LSA 55 I have seen, but the parts availability, especially magazines, has me wary.