Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pre-Garcia Sakos?

I see these mentioned frequently. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and don't remember any Sakos before the Garcia days.

When did Garcia begin importing Sakos And why are they considered to be lesser rifles?

1972.

Many think that having "Imported by Garcia Corp" on the barrel made it less than desirable compared to the ones prior that did not have that stamp.

IIRC, they were first imported around '66, but I might be wrong on that date.......the 1st one I bought was in '68, a brand new 338 Win Finnbear Deluxe with Bofors stamped barrel.

MM

Sample rifle was Sako Finland from 50s with barrel marking .375 Magnum. It had commercial FN Mauser action, medium weight barrel with 100m, 200m rear sights and stock very similar to late 50s Model 70. It handled better than later made Sakos and Mauser action is preferable to later Sako actions. Since I had no use for .375 H&H a member of Accurate Relaoding picked it up.

Pre-Garcia.....love em. If a rifle can be sexy, that's one right there!

Another good one I have seen was mini actioned Woodsman or similar name. Anyhow wonderful little rifle, but I could never buy one because of half a dozen I have seen over the years were all chambered for that stupid ,222 Remington round. Wish I could find one in .22 Hornet or .223 than I could feel good about buying one.

Man, that factory hooded rear sight was a work of art and marvel of engineering.

Huh??!!

Please pm me when you find any more stupid woodsman (forester) vixen .222's. Thanks man

My "Stupid .222 Remington round" Sako Vixen.

I have't seen one in over a year. I'm almost certain last one I have seen had Mannlicher stock. If I find one or something else worthy of buying like old Zbrojovka Brno Fox Mini Mauser you will be the first to know.

LOL , a very good friend of mine has that gun and it will never be pried from his hands.

Any Of the two-lug Sakos are fine, accurate, rifles. The newer ones, at least the Model 75s are too, I believe, but I have no experience with them. Based on what I've read here, there are some issues with the 85s regarding ejection and with getting them repaired.

I purchased a .223 Vixen, a Garcia import, about 1972 for $257. It was an excellent rifle, but the stock edges were a little sharp and the grip a little too tight for me. I mounted a Lyman 8X scope in Redfield bases and rings as I knew nothing about ringmounts that fit directly on the dovetails. It was quite accurate, considering my reloading skills, and functioned flawlesly. I foolishly traded it off for something I thought I wanted more (turns out I didn't).

Last summer, I purchased a circa 1965 Bofors Steel-marked .243 Forester online. It's a bit worn around the edges, but the bore is good, and it's a fine shooter. It came with a factory peep sight, which I sold, and now wears a VX-2 2-7 in Leupold ringmounts. I carried it during our rifle season and shot a spike buck with it. It's quickly become my go-to deer rifle, largely because it carries and fits me so well.

Comparing the two, the .223 was a lot shinier and had a better-looking trigger guard and floor-plate. The stocks are styled almost identically, but as mentioned, the .223 seemed a lot sharper on the edges. It also had a free-floated barrel. Garcia or not, I would be happy to have it back.

Anyway, if you're looking for a really nice, blued-and-walnut rifle, either vintage would be well worth pursuing and paying the price for. The Bofors guns are somewhat more collectable, but as shooters, either will do just fine.

Fire guru Shrapnel is the main Sako man here, I believe, at least when it comes to .222 magnums.

Sako has to be the best made production rifle you can get your hands on. They were built by craftsmen and hand fitted to perfection. I say were, as I wouldn't even consider owning a new Sako.

The pre-Garcia is an era of rifle making that appeals to the real rifleman. The Garcia era guns carried on with that tradition until around the early 70's, when they did some changes that weren't accepted well by the Sako shooters.

Bofors Steel is regarded as some of the best barrel steel you can get, and Sako used it until around 1973. There is a ton of information not known about Sako and I don't want to add to that confusion, but if you want the best rifle from a production facility, a pre-Garcia in any chambering will be the choice.

This is a list of models, serial numbers and years of production. It isn't the complete build history of Sakos, but it does show some models and years they were produced...


Model Change First date First number

Last number Last date


P54 12.08.1954 20001 44052 24.05.1972
P72 09.02.1972 00101 03246 09.05.1974
M78 Stamp change P72==>M78 12.06.1979 711755 719490 15.08.1983
M78 Hornet 18.12.1979 712716 713685
L46 ja L469 25.09.1946 1 57000 25.09.1962
L461 26.09.1962 57001 134252 27.12.1973
L461 Numbering change 09.05.1974 134253 156953 30.09.1977
L461 Stamp change L461==>AI 30.09.1979 156954
L461 Change of the rear part of the receiver 03.05.1982 174331 179589 08.01.1985
L461 Action manufactured by CNC-machines 09.08.1985 179701
L461 Two part trigger guard 08.03.1989 187382 191580 28.01.1991
L461 PPC Numbers mixed with L461 03.11.1987 183762 191245 04.01.1991
L461 PPC Special numbering in cal. 6 mm PPC 03.08.1987 A-001 C-180 15.02.1990
L461 PPC Special numbering in cal. 22 PPC 10.08.1987 A-001 A-553 15.04.1988
L461 Common numbering 05.02.1991 800049 823847 19.05.1992
S491 Change of model and stamp AI==>S491 25.08.1992 827162
L57 14.01.1957 1 10090 09.10.1959
L579 29.01.1960 10091 118961 15.02.1973
L579 Special numbering 24.05.1973 1 310
L579 Numbering change 09.05.1974 300001 327115 27.12.1977
L579 Stamp change L579 ==>AI 03.11.197 327116
L579 Change of the rear part of the receiver 03.05.1982 351081 359880 28.12.1984
L579 Action manufactured by CNC-machines 22.05.1985 360001 372629 27.06.1989
L579 Two part trigger guard and new magazine opening 04.05.1989 380001 385127 31.01.1991
L579 Common numbering 06.02.1991 800316 821799 01.04.1992
M591 LH New model and stamp M591 18.10.1991 816120
L61R 31.01.1962 1 90954 12.09.1973

The Sako Vixen in the pic has this #97XXX.

Slavek must be synonymous with Pollock.



Travis

Sako Vixens in 222 can be sent this way.

Like to have a nickel for every woodchuck that went to Clover Heaven by way of mine or the wee little Anschutz 222........with 6X scope

Without peer as a varmint rifle/cartridge in more settled eastern places.

Who wouldn't feel good about a $2,000 Hornet?

This guy definitely needs one in 218 or 7mm Sako.....

Garcia took over importation of Sako in 1972(maybe 1971). Pre-Garcia rifle is synonymous with Pre-1972. Very similar to how gun enthusiasts designate pre-64 Winchesters from post-64. It was a time period when Sako rifles underwent some changes that were not universally accepted by Sako aficionado's.

Generally, a pre-72 (pre-Garcia) rifle, will have a 3rd locking lug at the rear of the bolt, a higher polished blue, generally a lighter more svelte stock ( pistol grip cap) and a lighter contour barrel (roughly .600" vs. .650" at muzzle) and most likely have a Bofors stamp and a fixed sling mount, no swivel. They will not have an importers mark on the barrel. Many believe their fit and finish is better. Value is very dependent on the model (deluxe or standard) and obviously condition.

Most of this matters more to collectors than hunters/shooters. The Garcia era rifles are excellent as well.

Thanks to all...

I occasionally see stuff here that gets me wondering. Hope I never get too smart to ask, as this is surely a place where answers can be had...

Well, opinions certainly!