Beetle Bailey
Member
I just received my Hunter Safety Certificate and so a friend of mine knew I needed a big game hunting rifle (I've already got a CZ 452 in .22lr and a Savage 10FP in .223 rem). While picking up his new Remington 700 CDL, he saw a rifle he thought I might be interested in. To make a long story short, I checked the rifle out today and told the sales guy "I'll take it!" I don't have the rifle yet, but will pick it up in a few weeks. Here are the details:
Sako rifle in 30-06 with no sights. Receiver marked "Sako AV" and serial number 584xxx. On the underside of the blued barrel, just forward of the fore-end, it says "imported by Stoeger, N.J." The wooden stock is checkered and has a nice grain, but is otherwise unremarkable (no fancy gold elk's head inlet into the stock). Has an old Redfield scope mounted on it (just says "Redfield 3x9") with a duplex reticle. Comes with a nice leather "cobra" sling.
The story is that the owner of the rifle is going thru a messy divorce, so he decided to put a few of his "safe queens" up for sale. In addition to the 30-06, he also put up two other beautiful Sako's, a .270 Win and a 7mm Rem. Mag. But I wanted the 30-06 .
So here are my questions:
1. Is this Sako a "pre-Garcia?" As I understand it, an importer named Garcia started bringing in the Sako's in 1972, but I don't know if this is from before that or after.
2. Does anyone know the proper model name for my rifle? "AV" (A-five)? Finnbear? Forester? Model L-579? Something else entirely?
3. Does anyone have any experience with old Redfield scopes? I noticed when looking at a lot of old hunting rifles for sale on the auctions that many seem to have been mounted with a Redfield, but I don't hear too many people singing the praises of Redfield these days. I'll probably try the scope out just to see, and if it needed replacement then I'll go with a Leupold.
4. Is it wrong to bring a nice, shiny rifle out into the field? I figure "That's what it was made for" and "It's almost criminal that the previous owner mostly left it in his safe considering the beauty of it" but I'm already hearing comments like "I'd be afraid to scratch the finish, or worse yet, get it wet" .
Thanks in advance for any helpful information or opinions.
Ken
Sako rifle in 30-06 with no sights. Receiver marked "Sako AV" and serial number 584xxx. On the underside of the blued barrel, just forward of the fore-end, it says "imported by Stoeger, N.J." The wooden stock is checkered and has a nice grain, but is otherwise unremarkable (no fancy gold elk's head inlet into the stock). Has an old Redfield scope mounted on it (just says "Redfield 3x9") with a duplex reticle. Comes with a nice leather "cobra" sling.
The story is that the owner of the rifle is going thru a messy divorce, so he decided to put a few of his "safe queens" up for sale. In addition to the 30-06, he also put up two other beautiful Sako's, a .270 Win and a 7mm Rem. Mag. But I wanted the 30-06 .
So here are my questions:
1. Is this Sako a "pre-Garcia?" As I understand it, an importer named Garcia started bringing in the Sako's in 1972, but I don't know if this is from before that or after.
2. Does anyone know the proper model name for my rifle? "AV" (A-five)? Finnbear? Forester? Model L-579? Something else entirely?
3. Does anyone have any experience with old Redfield scopes? I noticed when looking at a lot of old hunting rifles for sale on the auctions that many seem to have been mounted with a Redfield, but I don't hear too many people singing the praises of Redfield these days. I'll probably try the scope out just to see, and if it needed replacement then I'll go with a Leupold.
4. Is it wrong to bring a nice, shiny rifle out into the field? I figure "That's what it was made for" and "It's almost criminal that the previous owner mostly left it in his safe considering the beauty of it" but I'm already hearing comments like "I'd be afraid to scratch the finish, or worse yet, get it wet" .
Thanks in advance for any helpful information or opinions.
Ken