Help Me Identify This Sako Rifle?

R

RiverRider

New member
This one has very few markings:

On the left side of the action, just "AIII 540XXX" and a symbol that looks like a stylized "RV". On top of the barrel, just ahead of the receiver ring, "SAKO" and "cal..30-06". On the left side of the barrel, just in front of the receiver ring, "MADE IN FINLAND". There is an "A" stamped on the bottom of the barrel just in front of the receiver ring. There are no other markings or stamps anywhere on the rifle. The barrel is about 23-1/2" long, measured from where in mates to the action to the muzzle. The barrel measures .645" at the muzzle.

The stock has a Monte Carlo cheekpiece, and conventional checkering (not skip-line) and has a brown rubber butt pad. The fore end is square, typical of Sako. Also, the stock has recoil lug reinforcement showing on the sides---round black disks a little less than dime-sized.

I have looked in the Blue Book and cannot be sure just exactly what I have. Any help- would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-RR-

[Edited by RiverRider on 01-25-2001 at 10:16 AM]
 
I have a 1985 vintage Deluxe with the same markings except it's marked AV instead of AIII. All other markings are the same. Serial # is 570XXX.
Mine has dark wood fore end and pistol grip caps, skip line checkering, and engraved floor plate. The underside of the barrel is marked "Imp'd by Stoeger, Inc NJ" in front of the fore end.

My L461 Vixen .223 is marked "The Garcia Corp, Wash DC" on the barrel underside forward of the fore end. It's a 1977 vintage. Serial # 150XXX.

The L61R is a Finnbear .338 with straight checkering, imported by Stoeger, Serial # 523XXX. Don't know when it was made. Best We could figure from the blue book, this one's worth about $700 or so.

The muzzles on both the .30-06 and the .338 measure .645. The varmint barrel measures .740.

Maybe yours is an early 1980's vintage? Yours should have a marking on the underside of the barrel in front of the fore end. That will help date it too.

Hope that helps a little.

Bottom Gun
 
Bottom Gun, I've taken the barreled action out of the stock three times, and there's STILL nothing stamped on the bottom of the barrel! ;)

(except an "A" just forward of the action!)

Thanks for the info, however. I guess my rifle is an early eighties edition. That's more than I knew a while ago.

Question: I was under the impression that the designators AI, AII, and AIII indicate the action length. My AIII is in .30-06, but I am hearing of and seeing Sako AVs in .30-06. ANd I never have heard of an AIV (yet!).Did they change up the scheme at some point?

The more I look at information on Sakos, the more confused I get!
 
The difference in the AIII and AV is the length of the tang. I have a pair of .375s one of which is an AIII. The only difference between the actions is the longer tang area on the newer rifle. The older rifle has a heavier barrel as well. Sakos are terrific rifles. Rob
 
Rob, am I correct in assuming that the AI, AII, AIII, and AV are all members of the "A" series actions? Did they quit making just the AIII in favor of the AV, or did the AV replace all three of the others?

As I understand it (or NOT), first came the L series actions, then the A series, and then the M series. Is this correct?

The odd thing is, I am under the impression that the M75 is what Sako is producing currently. How is action length denoted in this series?

As I look through an OLD "Gun Trader's Guide" (printed in 1981), I am seeing Sako rifles being referred to as "Vixen", "Forrester", Model 72, Model 74, and the like. Were these all based on the "L" series actions?

Thanks for helping me out here!

-RR-
 
So, you are going to make me work at this. L indicates the length of the action, I don't remember exactly how. My wife's old Bofors steel .308 is an L579 action. I seem to recall that the last 2 digits are the length in millimeters. The AIII was replaced by the AV. I know nothing about the new 75 actions but as I recall there were 4 action lengths in use at one time: .22 Hornet, 222/223, 308 class, 30'06/magnums. You really need a Sako collector to answer some of these questions. I love Sako products. Rob
 
Thanks Rob. Sorry to have made you work! ;)

I have news about this, from another board exclusively for Sako enthusiasts. I am told my rifle is a "Finnbear in AIII configuration", and that the iron sights are rather unusual.
Hmmm...okay!
 
River Rider,

May I have the address of the board for Sako nuts? I confess to being one and I'd like to check it out.

Thanks!

BG
 
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