Came across an nice gun today. A Sako L579 Forester,.308. Guns was in very nice condition,maybe 95% except pad replaced w/ Decelerator. Still had hood on front site. Bofors marked barrel,serial # 48098. I think it is a 1964 model.Pre-Garcia? Did they offer a deluxe model? It has the inlay in the grip cap and antelope engraving on the magazine and trigger guard like the deluxe AV I have. Any comments on these guns? Value?

No comment on the value, except a hunting partner many years ago had a Sako very similar (circ.1968) in .243, pretty badly beat up due to shipping it home from service in Germany with some salted roe deer hides...

I can imagine what it looked like new i.e. the one you are considering....

Varmint caliber versions like the one you saw go for $1000+ at the winter gun shows around here in NW OH.

I owned one for a short time in 243, should have kept it. Nice handling guns. Take a look at GB, last time I checked they were ranging $850-$1100

The model you describe is indeed a deluxe. Bofors barrels seem to preffered by the most descriminating of Sako owners. Still well within the era to be considered among Sako's best efforts, and considered among most, to be one of the top production hunting rifles ever built.
With the buttpad swap, the rifle could be anywhere from $800.00 at the lowest, to $1100 at the highest.

R.

IMHO One of the best rifles ever made. If it says Bofors Steel, I doubt it's a Garcia model, but you can be sure by looking under the barrel next to the forend. I'd personally prefer to find a non-deluxe, but that's just me. Super accurate rifles.

Bofors predates Garcia.The pad replaced knocks the resale down a little (for collectors).The old original pads were subject to crushing, they were too soft.
Fairly common in 308.
I would offer $800 for it(and probably not get it for that).If I did I would then go to confession.
$800-1100.is the current value.As said $1100 would be ALL original(pad).

Thanks for all the input. It sure was a nice handling gun,lighter than my AV or M75. Never owned a .308.Now the big decision,what to buy the wife,FIRST!

I have one in .243. The heavy barrel model. Very, very accurate. Nice rifle. I got mine at Gander for $600. I will keep it forever.