Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako Vixen l461 Serial Number and Date of Manufacture

When researching serial numbers vs caliber vs date of manufacture, I'm finding several inconsistencies. Realizing this is not new territory, thought I'd compile information here.

Resources:
Serial Number History of Sako Rifles, Beretta, 11/18/05

MSN Sako Collectors Group (defunct)...ambering, SakoRick, hunterslife, 11/1/14


In the case of my Sako Vixen l461 222 Remington Magnum Heavy Barrel, serial number 104911 it would seem to fall between 1969-1973. Based on Sako's records 77,234 L461 rifles were made between late 1962 and the end of 1973, averaging 7023 per year.

More to come, must post before browser dumps it...

Is you barrel marked Bofors Steel on the right side?

Nope, it shouldn't be.

Vixen short action .222 mags go to about serial # 101,000 for it to be a pre-1972 model.

Does your rifle have a small round pin extending out from the left side of the bolt sleeve...if it does it is a post '72 gun.

1973 is a good guess for your rifle..

I'm not sure where to look for the small round pin. I don't see one on the bolt or receiver.

Look at the left side of the bolt sleeve, right behind the part of the handle that attaches to the bolt. In your picture I do not see one. The bolt does not have to be removed to see it. You may have a transitional gun. The pin was eventually done away with. I don't think your gun was made in the 60's. Still thinking '72 or '73.

Maybe someone can give more info. What shade is the stock color, redish? That was post '72 also.

I thought I would use Duck Duck Go to check the date of manufacture on my Sako L461 in .222 Rem Mag and guess where it directed me?…..right back to the campfire. 😁. I want to find out the twist and didn’t want to ask redundant questions of the campfire but since I’m here…..what is the twist on the same rifle as yours Kingston? I’m serial number 1129xx. Thanks everyone 👍

PS…mine is a factory Bofors heavy varmint barrel

Too bad the first link is broken.

I don't remember what I determined my twist to be. Run a patch down it. Using a sharpie, make an index mark on your rod at 12:00 about half way up or better toward the handle. Make a second mark at the back of the receiver once patch is in the lands. Push rod until rod spins the index mark back to 12:00, then mark again at back of receiver. Measure distance between start and finish marks. That's your twist.

Thanks Kingston. I’ll do that if I can’t figure it out from the literature. 👍

Sako collectors has lots of knowledgeable people.