I purchased a Sako LH 338 WM a few months ago at an estate auction and am trying to better identify what I got! Its my first Sako, so don't know alot about different models. Its a Finnbear and I think Deluxe (has engraved floorplate). Stampings say: Sako AV LH and Ser. # is 6319xx. Is this a L61R action? What is meant by Pre-Garcia and is this one? Is there anywhere I can check as to date of manufacture? The rifle in in like new condition. Sorry for the stupid questions, but don't know much about Sako's; only that its a beautiful rifle!

It's a A5 action made well after the Garcia era..If it has skip line checkering , a forend & grip cap, it's a deluxe. Ith is probably worth around $1,000

Thanks Tom; it fits your description of the deluxe. I paid $450 for it and new it was a steal! It looks new and shoots great. Thinking of putting synthetic stock on it for hunt in Alaska since it has pressure point in wood stock. Obviously will keep the original stock. Any idea where I could get decent synthetic (LH) for a one time hunt?

quote:

Originally posted by Coltchris:
... What is meant by Pre-Garcia and is this one? Is there anywhere I can check as to date of manufacture?

Sounds like a gem you got yourself there.

"Pre-Garcia" indicates a rifle made before Sako changed their US importer to the Garcia company (the fishing people). During the period of Garcia acting as US importer, supposedly quite a few simplifications were implemented in the Sako product line: fewer action sizes and some claim quality problems as well. Eventually Stoeger took over the US import again, and things seemed to clear themselves up. Is it a real concern whether a rifle is pre-Garcia, Garcia or post-Garcia?? I don't know. It is sometimes hard to identify a gun's manufacturing date as pre-Garcia parts were used during the Garcia era etc. I personally think great Sakos were made in all eras.

If you want to try to establish manufacturing date of your rifle, there are a couple of good resources.
1) There is the Sako Collectors' Club. This a membership only forum, but it does not cost anything to sign up.
2) I got a kind reply from Sako regarding manufacturing year of an L461 I recently acquired, after I wrote to the mail address: **Export_.Info**@sako.fi.

Btw, my first rifle was an AV in .30-06. It was the plain Jane model, and I always coveted the idea of the "Deluxe" model. But even my old Sako is as smooth as anything and has always shot well.

- mike

I have brown precision & Borden Rimrock stocks on my sako's..either are nice

hmo: Thanks for the information; already joined the forum you suggested. Still can't find out year of manufacture! I'll keep trying; I'm guessing about 1988-1992.

tom: Thank you also for help; I assume your re-stocked rifles are RH. I need LH and think that may be a problem unless spending alot more money!

McMillan makes a LH stock for your rifle.
I don't know what their retail price is. I bought another McMillan stock from Rick Bin at 24HourCampfire a year ago and was happy with his price then.

Nice buy on that Sako!

- stu

Thanks Stu; haven't made up my mind what I'm going to do yet!