Montgomery Wards Western Field by Sako anyone?

[Sodbuster]

I saw a rifle in .243 at the local shop the other day. It's stamped with the Sako name and action number. The top of the barrel is stamped Ward's Western Field. I know Colt and Sears also sold some rifles using the Sako action. Does anyone have any experience with these store brand Sakos, good or bad? This particular specimen is quite nice looking with a great trigger: its gunsmith owner has it priced to sell at $600 in order to help finance his Africa safari trip. Any thoughts on the Western Field brand and this price? Thanks.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like a good deal for a Sako Sako but the Western Field trademark is not going to do the dollar value any good. If it has a Sako barrel it will likely be a fine shooter.

 

[rangerruck]

proly a rare bird quite actually. some of the wards, and sears stuff is quite rare, and pricey. I had a post ww2 parker hale, stamped J.C. Penny's. Very nice.

 

[JohnBT]

I googled up the following. It was not dated, so who knows about the price.
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"What is the age and value of a Wards Western Field Model EJN 750 243 cal with a Sako L57 no 2544 action and mounted Weaver scope K4 60C marked US Pat No 2949818 El Paso Texas US?


First answer by CountryGunsmith. Last edit by CountryGunsmith. Contributor trust: 228 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]

Answer

Will be valued more for it's use as a shooter rather than as a collectable Sako. Value would be in the $350-$450 range.

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Compare it to this Sako that sold for $775.

www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80388359

 

[Ash]

The common wisdom that store brand stampings reduce value is going by the way-side. I have seen plenty of JC Higgins FN Mausers going for near $500, Mauser 3000 stamped Western Field, ditto. It seems that, price-wise, the store-brand rifles are at parity with their name-brand marked counterparts. In some cases, they are actually coming in at a higher price.

In many cases, the Store Brand marking is the rare marking for a certain firearm. It wouldn't surprise me that in 20 years, someone will post on the super-ether-net (or what ever the internet will be at that point) that they just got a super rare Western Field-marked SAKO, the rarest variant, and their collector friends will drool...

Ash

 

[Essex County]

I owned one back in the '70's. L57 action in .243. The barrel bluing was much duller than the action. Accuracy was nothing to write home about. I should have kept it for the action alone....Essex

 

[Sodbuster]

Thanks to ALL for the replies, the time you've taken to post is appreciated. I stopped by the store again tonight, it must be much like your old one, EC. It is an L57 also, and comes with Sako scope mounts and rings. And it is the model number you posted, JBT. Think I'm gonna pass.