Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako guys…

Found a couple of older Sakos today that caught my eye. I had swung by the LGS to pick up the kid a scope right at closing time.

Didn’t have a chance to really look over them both, but took a quick look down the bore of this .243 and it looked pristine. Both rifles felt really good to me.

I know nothing about Sakos and was hoping someone could shed a little light. Owner said he’d send me pics, but I didn’t receive any of the .22-250. It was more plain model, with no fore end cap, but action appeared same.

Any info is appreciated!

Here’s the .243

I have 3 sako rifles me personally I would highly recommend it great rifles all 3 of mine shoot well under an inch all factory no custom just my 2 cents

I never saw a cross bolt like that.....

That's a handsome rifle. If the price is fair I'd pounce on it.

My L579 doesn't have that cross bolt, either.

But every L579 I've ever seen has been beautiful and accurate!

I don’t even know what fair would be. Checking GB and other sites now to get an idea.

Found a lot of pics of stocks with same checkering and pattern, none have the end cap though. I’m wondering now if it was painted. Didn’t pay attention as I was in a rush.

Also, haven’t seen any brass colored cross bolts. Apparently the x bolts were standard issue for .308s in that era.

Both actions felt nice, very smooth. Will get an idea of value and if it’s a decent deal or not before I head back tomorrow after work.

Im sure the one pictured is a deluxe and the standard models do not have the forend tip. The actions are the same, the difference is the wood. I have 4 Sakos and the all shoot well. If the me buys didnt get me over the years I really only would have neede those 4 rifles. a .222 Mag; .243; 270 Win; and a .338 Mag. Mine are all standards.
Have a great day.
Jim

That's a fairly early L579. It has the S style floorplate release and swept back bolt handle. The chambering stamp is not factory. Looks like it has been rebarreled.
The fore-end tip is an add on as well as the cross bolt. It's not a Deluxe.

Keen eye rembo...you are right the chambering stamp, at least for any Sako's I've seen.

Thanks for the info!

I think I’ll pass on this one and revisit the .22-250. Not too keen on buying a rebarrelled rifle that I know nothing about. Been there, done that.

FWIW, price tag on it is $980 with scope and rings. Not sure how much wiggle room they’d have being they are selling these for an estate.

Neither does my L579 have a cross bolt.

That Sako is a bit of an odd duck. Whoever did the re-barrel certainly did a nice job on the bluing, though. I bet the rest of the work is equally as good, too, then. If someone is looking for a good shooting Sako, that one would be a good candidate, not so much if looking for a Sako in original condition.

Prices for older Sakos are all over the place. In addition to the usual dependence on condition, prices are also very cartridge specific. Plus, it seems some guns go for inexlicably high or low prices for no apparent reason.

Here's a Finnbear on 30-06 that went for $1230 with 22 bids, which appears to be a roughly average prices for this type of Sako.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/932910711

But then, here's a decent Finnbear in 270 Win that went for just $805 with two bids.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/930537146

$980 for this nicely reworked Sako seems a little high to me. Obviously, the gun has no collector value, but is probably a good shooter nonetheless. Maybe point out the non-original oddities, and offer $750 and see what they do?

JMHO

Scope and rings are worth $300 easy...puts rifle at $680...seems like a very good deal to me. The action alone is worth close to that not counting the nice wood stock.

I have a few, all accurate, great rifles. I’d hold out for an all original Sako if you are going to get interested in them.

A Sako L61 in 7X57MM sold on GB recently for $815. Never knew they made them in that caliber

Yep, not real common, possible special order.

rebarreled and and restocked

Hate to be another spoilsport with originality matter. But I believe that receiver serial number configuration reflected on your .243 is substantially altered from factory. Beyond primary digit "4", as perhaps electro-pencilled; some such? Nothing like such among my several FinnBear specimens from 1961 vintage into the "Garcia era" eighties. None of these serial numbers suggesting superficially impressed.
The striations appearing adjacent to the your SN also suggesting something going on! Potentially serious matter. Not a rifle I'd wish to fool with, much less as keeper under about any circumstance.
Perhaps one of the Sako experts here to weigh in AND if 'altered', seeming grounds for return & full refund!
Sorry but just a concerned "heads up" take
Best!
John

Yes. Those numbers have been changed All those file marks, and the 2585 pretty obviously don't match the 4. Nice looking gun but I'd stay away from it.

Yea I passed on this one after learning a bit more. Thanks for all the replies.