New Member with Sako Question

[uscg1984]

I am a new member. I have a question about an older model Sako I recently purchased and this site came highly recommended as a resource for information.

I recently purchased an older model Sako Finnbear and I am trying to determine if this rifle is a "pre Garcia," or "pre 1972" model. The barrel is stamped "Bofors Steel" and the serial number is in the 24,000 range. Is that enough to determine its age, or are there other signs I should look for?

Additionally, the gun is topped with a Kahles 3-12X56 scope that looks like it could be the same vintage as the gun. Anybody know anything about older Kahles scopes?

 

[JohnBT]

I was going to just say yes, but decided I better come up with some serial number ranges. The Finnbear is a long action.

John

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From the 4th post in this thread: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach...e+Sako+"pre+Garcia,"&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us


"Pre '72 is really the correct term to use. Garcia Corp. became the importer of Sako after Firearms International. Garcia wanted to compete price wise with Rem. & Win. so they asked Sako to make a 72 series of rifles. Not all that many were made. The wood is usually very red in color, the tops of the dovetails will be smooth, there will be a Phillips head screw in the pistol grip cap and the blue is different in color than the Pre 1972 rifles. The checkering will be skip line.
They were less expensive however many or most still shot as well. All of the Sako bbls. have been made in the same bbl. making machine (cold hammer forged) for all these years. That same machine is being used today.

Ser. numbers for Pre 72 rifles are:
Small Action (L461) 1 thru approx 110,000
Med. Action (L579) 1 thru approx 110,000

Lg. Action (L61R) 1 thru approx 65,000

The 72's will also have a small pin on left rear of the bolt. It is to keep the bolt guide from being turned 180 degrees and put into the action. If you do so you block the bolt stop and when you open the bolt and pull it back it will come out of the action and you will hold two parts of a rifle!"

 

[carnaby]

According to this page at the Beretta site, a 24000 serial number would place your rifle in the 1954-1972 range. P54 is it?

Is that correct?

 

[ssgrock3]

I am guessing it is an L61r? if so then you should definately be pre-72 with that serial number. but see for yourself as you have the rifle.....http://sako.fi/pdf/datatables/SakoOldmodelsNumbering.pdf

 

[ssgrock3]

I got one with serial starting with 33XXX and believe it to be a pregarcia gun.

 

[Runningman]

It sounds like it is a Pre Garcia. What I look for when spotting a pre Garcia on the Finnbear is the bolt will have a 3rd Safety lug toward the back of the bolt. Much like the Mauser 98 action.

I actually use a 30-06 Finnbear Garcia for my hunting rifle. Its a very good shooter. The importer "The Garcia Corp" is etched on the bottom of the barrel under the stock. Its does not show up well. have to look at it under a light.

The wood is usually very red in color, the tops of the dovetails will be smooth,

FWIW, My Finnbear Garcia wood is not anywhere near red in color. The top of the dovetail is not smooth.

The biggest issue with Garcia Sakos is the receiver metal is not polished out well. The bluing on the receiver and the barrel are not the same color. They don't have the nice deep bluing look like the Pre Garcia.