Episode 17: Sako Deluxe Forester and Sako Finnwolf - 243Win

[@DrBreezeAir]

I’ve been waiting for my rifled barrel rifle license for five years (weird Russian gun laws) and finally got two Sakos - my dream rifles. So good to learn more about the manufacturer. Finnish quality and attention to detail is exemplary.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for commenting and it is enlightening to know that you can obtain rifles in Russia. You will always be happy with your Sakos.

[@walterquick8649]

Love this, Sako is something I WANT, great education..... THANK YOU SIR

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you. When you are looking watch for the wood grain beauty of the stocks. I have seen some amazing ones!

[@thesheepman220]

Thank you for the history of these Sako rifles I bought a a1 about 6 mths ago in 17 rem , I do have a few 85 s one is a full stock in 30-06 I'm now after a 243 win Sako again a older model thanks again look forward to more interesting information and stories from you atvb steve from Wales in the uk

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for your comments, you have some fine rifles. I don't know the gun ownership laws in Wales, but am impressed that you have as many or more as you have mentioned. Someday, I would like to visit Wales. Roger

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for your comments and appreciation. Roger

[@paulm7448]

I've had a Sako A1 in 17 rem since about 1983. No amount of money could make me part with it.

[@jalnamoinen3841]

Thank you for the review of Sako and especially your memories about the gun fairs and the history!

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for commenting and for the compliment of this review.

[@ezzyfish]

thanks for nice video. Love the Sakos and Tikkas they are the best guns for the money!

[@rogerrule8195]

I've known several collectors of Sakos and Tikkas and they would certainly agree with you.

[@christinpolen5350]

Great introduction into older Sako. I found an l579 forester made in 1965 with borfore stamp. Best thing, it's still a tack driver. For hunting, no equal.

[@rogerrule8195]

See above, this comment was repeated.

[@msumungo]

I have a Sako 85 Varmint in .243 Win. I reload my cartridges with Lapua bullets and brass and with Vihtavuori powder. I have a Meopta 3-18x56 RD SFP (4K reticle) scope on it. This is my low light deer rig. As a Finn, I truly appreciate Your Knowledge about the history of Finnish rifles. We are both genuinely men for freedom.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for sharing your light deer rifle and scope combination, sounds like a fantastic one you gave a lot of thought to. And, thank you for your complement.

[@arttuthautanen]

I found your channel by searching information about Winchester 70. I knew always that Sako and Tikka were liked in the USA but was a little bit unsure why because you have very good domestic manufacturers.

[@rogerrule8195]

Hi Arttu, Thank you for your response. Roger

[@salninethousand2496]

I have both a Sako Hunter and Winchester Model 70 (made in the 1950s) in .30-06. Both are fantastic, but the Sako action is more compact, and generally has a bit better fit and finish. Plus, the Finnwolf as noted in this video is the finest lever action ever made.

[@brianrajala7671]

My cousin has a beautiful SAKO, dark chocolate walnut in .270 caliber. It is all you say they are, very well made and very well finished with beautiful lines.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you, Brian, for adding your input. It confirms my research and matches with every Sako rifle I've owned.

[@brianrajala7671]

RogerRule, I purchased a SAKO .300 WM Barreled Action about 35 years ago. Then I bought a really nice semi-inletted walnut stock, maybe from Bishop. A gunsmith gave me a high polished blueing job so it looks beautiful. I spent hours and hours sanding and finishing the wood.. But, in the fitting and glass bedding completed by me it does not shoot well. It is punishing to shoot and in addition it weighs a ton. It would have been better to have let SAKO put the rifle together🌞

[@FLAWLSS1]

Huge Sako Tikka fan! I’m trying to get at least 4 older Sako’s now.

[@rogerrule8195]

I wish you good luck in your journey to find them! Thank you for commenting.

[@michaelguerin56]

The engraving on the Sako Deluxe model floor plate is not only quite basic and economical, but also reflective of the Finnish attitude to heraldry. When you look at the ‘achievements of arms’ chosen by Finnish municipalities, they are refreshingly simple, compared to those of Britain, France, Germany, etcetera. NB A ‘coat of arms’ is either: a knight’s surcoat OR a herald’s tabard. Cheers from NZ🇳🇿.

[@rogerrule8195]

Michael, Thank you for this information.

[@steveokon5431]

So much info !! Well done as usual !!

[@rogerrule8195]

Steve, thank you for your kudos.

[@martinwatters2729]

Your co host is a very nice addition to your channel.

[@rogerrule8195]

Virginia does much of the technical work behind the scenes, her interest lies in the video end, not the gun end, but she does a good job and I'm thankful to have found her. And thank you for your kudos for her.

[@martinwatters2729]

Rodger you are the JACK O' CONNER of our era. Keep up the good work you do so well.

[@rogerrule8195]

Wow, you are putting me in great company, but I do not deserve it, but thank you very much.

[@8d4o0c4]

Thank you for such an in-depth introduction to the Sako FinnWolf, it is beautiful! I love lever-action rifles and this is now on my list... I wonder whether they are easier to find in Europe than in the US?

[@rogerrule8195]

I do not know anything about Sako's distribution process in other countries. Since they were made in American cartiridges, I believe Sako was aiming more at an American market, but that is only a guess on my part. Good luck finding one, they are great guns -- I've been fortunate to own two. Roger

[@8d4o0c4]

Thank you, Roger.

[@The_Austin_Doell]

I love my 85 Kodiak in 375 H&H. A friend of mine recently got a L461 Vixen in 222 Rem, consistent quality.

[@rogerrule8195]

Yes, over the years I have owned more than a dozen Sakos and each and every one of them were built with amazing quality. Roger

[@stephenland9361]

Yes, the proper Finnish pronunciation is "Sock-o", as in the sock on your foot. My family hosted a Finnish exchange student one year and she corrected my mispronunciation. That said, I don't own a SAKO rifle but I do love my Parker-Hale .243 Win. And the name is spelled in all capitals. It refers to, "Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Oy" which in Finnish means, "Civil Guard Gun and Machining Works Ltd".

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for clarifying, for my excuse of the pronunciation, please read my reply to Sandra Lawrence below.

[@stephenland9361]

@@rogerrule8195 And yet again, I was both right and wrong. I never get tired of that! Your reply to Sandra Lawrence took me way, way back to a particular high school class in French (?1970) where the teacher told us to use common English pronunciations of foreign words, particularly cities and places when speaking English. When speaking French, do as the French do. So, if over here we usually pronounce SAKO as a word and not spell it out as an acronym, then pronounce it with a long 'a'.

[@brianrajala7671]

As I understand it, SAKO is an acronym, so I cannot think either pronunciation is wrong.

[@markvaughn8096]

I wanted to thank you for the history on the Sako VL63... I was curious to its history... I own one that I bought back in the early 70s and have hung onto it all these years... I noted 3 difference on mine.. 1 mine does NOT have the Magazine exposed out the bottom of the stock as yours does.. Mine is very flush and flat following the contour of the stock... 2 Mine does not have the cheek pad on the stock.... 3 my stock is orange in color much like your Bolt action ... Other than that they look very much alike... Can you possibly comment on these Differences and possibly what my rifle is worth today???? Like I said I bought it second hand in a gun shop but it looks like new.. I personally put less than 8 rounds through it.... At the time I used a Marlin 336 in 30-30 for deer hunting and The sako was going to replace it but I for personal reasons I gave up the sport but do still own both my Marlin 336- 30-30 and the Sako in 308....

[@rogerrule8195]

The Sako collectors can add something here, I'm sure. I think your gun was a re-manufacture in a limited number several years after the original manufacture stopped. I've been told you can tell those by the absence of the cheek piece allowing Sako to sell them equally to left-handed shooters.

[@rogerrule8195]

And thank you for your kudo about the history.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

Cool 😎 I’m looking for an L461 deluxe in 222 to go with my L579 243. Also I have an interesting rifle called an Ithaca lsa-55 made by tikka I believe in Finland in the late 60s. It’s a 308 and rivals the same sako quality of the era. She’s a beauty and a tack driver. Thanks for sharing your rifles with us.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for your comments, I have a friend that has collected several Tikka-made rifles and he has been thrilled with them.

[@walterdebres]

I have an LSA-55 chambered in 22-250 rem. NFS.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

@@walterdebres I got one in 22-250 as well and it shoots lights out! Also not for sale.

[@magicdaveable]

I have a Finnwolf .308. Spectacular rifle. The very best lever action rifle on the planet.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you David, I feel the same way about my .243 Roger

[@jamesportenier6081]

Great video

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you so much. I get some thumbs down but other gun guys have told me anyone who puts out a video on guns will get thumbs down from the gun control crowd.

[@alcidestappero4350]

Espectacular Rifle un lujo de arma !!!!!

[@rogerrule8195]

Gracias!

[@Canada-gs3jc]

Love the channel. Upload more video Please, I just subscribed.

[@rogerrule8195]

I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting out another video. I just finished another book, Bill Tilghman and the Original Wild Bunch, which has taken much of my time for research. But, thank you for you kind remarks.

[@JARNAMO]

KIITOS!!! IN FINLAND!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

[@rogerrule8195]

You are welcome! Thank you for commenting. Roger

[@rogerrule8195]

You are Welcome, Sako deserves nothing less!

[@rickbattle5706]

outstanding video, great information. Many thanks. :-)

[@rogerrule8195]

Hi Rick, Thank you very much for your gracious comment. Roger

[@JBSDCA]

Thank you for posting this detailed video. Regarding the Finnwolf - are there any restrictions on the ammo that can be used with this rifle? I know that for some lever action rifles it is important to use blunt bullets or the Hornady LEVERevolution with the soft tip. Since the cartridges aren’t stored in-line it seems any cartridge should be safe.

[@rogerrule8195]

Yep, you are correct. I have not found any one brand or bullet type that works smoother than any other, when it comes to this gun. Another gun might have some idiosyncrasy that would cause it to be affected differently, but not the case of this gun demonstrated here.

[@chipsterb4946]

I had been under the mistaken impression that the Browning BLR was a unique lever action design. It has a rack & pinion mechanism, a detachable box magazine, and the bolt lugs engage with the rear of the barrel. However, it was introduced in 1967 or 1968. Clearly the BLR took its inspiration from the Sako Finnwolf. I am not knocking the BLR in any way. I own one in .308 Winchester, and it is an excellent rifle. Looking at the parts diagrams, the BLR mechanism appears to have fewer parts and be more robust. The underside of the bolt itself is the rack, and there is a single pinion. That said, I would dearly love to find a Sako Finnwolf in good operating condition.

[@rogerrule8195]

It would appear that way. Thank you for your comment.

[@walterdebres]

Sako made rifles for Browning in the late 50's through the 60's The High Power series and North Americanized the Finwolf design leveractions

[@chipsterb4946]

@@walterdebres Browning High Power rifles were made in Belgium, not Finland.

[@walterdebres]

@chipsterb4946 I didn't say that they were made in Finland!

[@niluac1345]

Great video! Do you have any experience or opinion regarding sakos with a mannlicher stock? Did that style of stock greatly take away from their accuracy?

[@rogerrule8195]

I do not have any experience with them, but because of the many Sako's I've owned and because of my experiences with them, I would not hesitate to buy one with the Mannlicher stock. I typically have always wanted the others because of their longer barrels. I can say every Sako owner I've known was very proud of his or her rifle's accuracy, regardless of the style of the rifle.

[@michaelstrauch8865]

Simple answer is: No, it didn't make it inaccurate. The fullstocks are also great accurate rifles.

[@DMX-PAT]

So what's the deal on pre-Bofros steel Sako's, ie pre-Garcia's I've done some reading and by that I mean forums where people make claims and came across fairly convincing evidence that they used the same steel up until 74 despite dropping the Bofors stamp. Moreover do you notice any difference in the pre-Garcia Barrels? I'm looking into getting a couple and I would really like to hear your thoughts regarding the older Sakos and weather there's any difference between the Stoeger era A-1/A-II's and pre-Garcias...

[@rogerrule8195]

I was told that the pre-Garcia bolt actions have a 3rd locking lug that was dropped. I have never verified this for myself, but that might be a good starting point to research if you are trying to find out. Also, if it is the case, you might make a determination if the 3rd lug was ever really needed in the first place.

[@klaytonbarnhart4615]

Does anyone have any information on the finnwolf deluxe models?

[@rogerrule8195]

As far as I know, the Finnwolf was made in two periods, one had a cheek piece, the other did not. There may be other differences but I was never told one was considered the deluxe. Maybe the Sako Club can shed more light on this, thank you for replying.

[@jamesrickerby2756]

Got Dakotan’s FULL stock, look like lee Enfield, in 243 most accurate rifle I have had, puts 5 into a British standard postage stamp, at 100, or 200 yards. NP. Scope 4 to 12 magnification. Better scopes are now available but not better rifles.

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for your comment, sounds like you have a very accurate rifle.

[@four4bman979]

As always, great review! I found a Browning Sako from the late 1960s I'm thinking about purchasing. What are your thoughts on the Browning Sako?

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for your comment. I have owned several Browning Sako's in both Safari and Medallion grades. The calibers were .22-250 and a .243, but all were great guns. That action was the perfect size for those cartridges which did not need the full standard size action of the FN Mauser.

[@kurtisnicholson125]

I have a bolt action deluxe Bofors Steel 308 Forester .I got it from my grandfather .

[@rogerrule8195]

You have a very nice gun. I would bet it is extremely accurate.

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

Fingers crossed I'm bidding on one now.

[@Berserkr01]

Why is the magazine of the Finnwolf/Win 88 positioned so further from the trigger guard than in the Winchester 1895? The shorter is the receiver the more well balanced is the rifle!

[@rogerrule8195]

Probably because John Moses Browning designed the Winchester 1895 and he didn't design either the Sako Finnwolf nor the Winchester Model 88. But, I'm sure it has more to do with the detachable clip magazine on the latter two. Thank you for your input. Roger

[@magicdaveable]

They might look similar but the Sako Finnwolf is in a completely different class from the Win. 88. I have owned both. I still have the Finnwolf but not the Win. 88.

[@Lixfeldt]

Hello Roger ... I have a deluxe Forester an old L57 that looks like yours...I'm thinking the difference in the L579 is just the safety that was changed...is that true...I know mine is up top and rolls forward and back...which might be a bit odd, but works

[@rogerrule8195]

Hi Cary, first thank you for your inquiry. I am not an expert on Sakos so I would only be guessing like you if I tried to give you a definitive answer. There is a blog for Sako collectors and I would be several of those folks could tell you exactly what the difference or differences are between the L57 and L579.

[@kennethbailey2616]

Say-ko rolls off the American tongue much easier than Sock-o. :)

[@rogerrule8195]

Yes, even though I know it is incorrect, I still say SAYco, probably because I have been calling it that since my first Sako rifle in the '60s.

[@ottoman1755]

Where to buy a sako…. Like trying to find a needle in…..

[@rogerrule8195]

Go to the Home page of GunsInternational.com and look for the general listing of Sako rifles. Click on that and you can sort by price lowest to highest, or by newest, etc. The first time look through every one, and then later, change the preference to "newest" and check in on the general listing frequently. You'll find them, that's how I found mine.

[@bankerlies6121]

She got him all wound up

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you for participating.

[@domsileo1145]

Finnwolf are so hard to find in great condition…get ready to pay high money for a great one…..

[@rogerrule8195]

I was fortunate to find this one in mint condition -- and I was in the hunt for one for a long time, so I know what you mean! Thanks for your comment.

[@tunnelrat1439]

Hey Roger ...Would it be possible for me to paypal some funds to you and get a signed copy of a riflemans rifle ? I really appreciate your work and spot on research....Thank You Sir....

[@JoyDancer1000]

How would you like to have the original, number 1, limited edition, leather bound in case, perfect condition...signed with a message to his wife...?

[@jessejenkins3088]

How much is a sako a2 243 worth

[@rogerrule8195]

There are many factors that enter into it, such as which exact model, originality, and condition. Your best bet is to go to a website like www.gunsinternational.com and do a filtered advanced search. You can select caliber 243, and select Sako Rifles as a category. If you know the model name you are looking for, you can type that in the box that shows "key words." Thank you for replying. Roger

[@pilotbarusarao8728]

कितने मिटर दूर जाती है ये राईफल कितने बोर लिवर है

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you (I think).

[@magicdaveable]

Too bad the Finnwolf is no longer in the Sako Catalog. The Finnwolf in 260 Rem. would be a spectacular rifle. I really don't like .243. .264 is a better caliber.

[@rogerrule8195]

Hi David, I agree that it is too bad the Finnwolf is no longer in the model line. And I agree that one in .260 Rem would be an excellent deer rifle. As to the .243, it has its following and it has earned its place in history. It just matters what your purpose is and what the game size is, as to which cartridge you choose,

[@christianrussell9900]

Your scope is wiggling on your gun!

[@rogerrule8195]

Thank you, that's because I just set it on the rifle for the easy demonstration to remove. I had to tighten it down after the episode and re-sight in the rifle.

[@nicholashelms2395]

I have a forester in 308 thats was handed down to me from my grandpa

[@rogerrule8195]

Hi The Young Republican, thanks for sharing, your grandpa gave you a very nice rifle.

[@Edward-ci8yl]

Sako looks like a weatherby copy 😮

[@rogerrule8195]

Look up the history and you will be surprised at who copied who. At this same time, as Sako's Deluxe and Weatherby's Mark V, Browning's Safari was offered with similar looks with their first Medallion and the Olympic. It was a popular look in the sixties! And there were more copies of this look than these mentioned.

[@Eaxcmob]

☺😍

[@rogerrule8195]

Very nice, thank you Pekka.

[@07kymmie]

What

[@christinpolen5350]

Great introduction into older Sako. I found an l579 forester made in 1965 with borfore stamp. Best thing, it's still a tack driver. For hunting, no equal.

[@rogerrule8195]

Yep, they continued using that steel but had to discontinue inscribing them as such, if I understand it right. Thank you for your comment. Roger

[@davidhenzler4817]

Bofors steel, a long lasting barrel alloy