Is this rifle worth spending $12000 on? Will it ever become that collectors item everyone dreaming about? Or, should I only spend $1600-2000 one a nice item of the older standard Sako Safari?? Help me out please!!

This particularly anniversary model is number #200122 (that would be #21 of the series of 80). It has a nice wood quality. New in the box.

Sako Safari

That's not a $12,000 dollar rifle in my opinion. But, I would rather shoot them than collect them.

Buy this one Champlins and use the rest of the money for a safari.

Regards,

Terry

I'm with Terry on this, that 80th Anniversary model is not worth anywhere near $12000. Personally, I'd prefer a nice custom-fit double or controlled-round feed bolt-action if DG is on the menu.

George

Here are some pictures of the actual rifle that I want to buy.






The Anniversary model come all standard with leather case and Swarovski PV-I 1.25-4x24 (Illuminated Circle Dot) in Sako qucikmount. The scope and mount cost appx. $1800 and $500 for the leather case with assesories. That would make the gun cost $9300.

http://www.sako.fi/custom_shop_80.html

That certainly is a nice rifle. But, in my opinion, you are paying approximately $3,000 just because it is collectable. But many people enjoy collecting limited editions, I am just comparing it to how much it would cost to buy a nice custom working gun.

Regards,

Terry

It depends if you want to shoot it or look at it. To shoot it, you are wasting your money. The only way it retains value the purchase price value, or grows in value is as a collectors item, which means it needs to remain un=shot. If you have the dough to by a $ 12K rifle and hunt with them w/o regard to the resulting value, buy it and go hunting. Enjoy.

If it twer me, I would spend that kind of money on a Searcy double, which will only grow in value, even if it is hunted.

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Originally posted by Mighty Joe:
...If it twer me, I would spend that kind of money on a Searcy double, which will only grow in value, even if it is hunted.

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I already have a double, it is not a Searcy but at Krieghoff in 470NE.
http://www.blinkskudd.net/images/privat/Sjefen.jpg

Tomjac

I was much younger I used to love the look of the old Sako Safari illustrated by T Carr in the Champlins add. But these days I would not want it because it looks like a copy of a H&H rifle but with the wrong sort of action. In other words I think that style of rifle should be on some sort of Mauser action. We change with times

I think one of the problems with the 1 of 80 Sakos is it unfortunately coincides with what is seen as a cheapening of Sako, that is the Sako 75 and especially the detachable recoil lug. There is probably at least some similarity here between the Pre 64 Model 70 and the current Model 70.

Pesonally, I see that rifle as a rifle that is for someone who is very keen on Sakos and already has a few Sakos such as the Sako Deluxes etc.

Like all factory rifles, whether they be Winchester, Weatherby etc. you will always get "more gun" for the same dollars from a custom gunsmith. However, some people, and I am one of them simply prefer to high end factory rifles.

You said that the rifle itself is $9300US. That is not really that much if we put it into comparable company. For example, Weatherbys pre pakaged "custom shop" rifles run around $7000US and if you use their Build a Custom gun you won't have much trouble reaching $15000US.

Winchesters top listed Custom Shop rifle is $4600US and I suppose they do other things that would take that much higher.

So if you prefer the high end factory rifle to the high end gunsmith made gun and you are a Sako man then I would get it BUT I would not get it on the basis of it becoming a collectors item with investment value.

If you look at guns and cars quite often those that have gone up in value were quite often not all that much in their day. With rifles two come to mind. Pre 64s in 375, especially Super Grade and Wbys made on Mausers in 220 Rocket (and Improved 220 Swift wildcat) Remember that the Pre 64 M70 375 was introduced so the "working man" could afford a 375.

Lastly and from a resale point of view I am not familiar enough with Sakos to know their full range of activities. Do they make other rifles that move up in price from the Sako Deluxe through a range of rifles that increase in price to perhaps at half or more of the price of the rifle you are looking at.

The reason I ask that question is resale of that rifle might very well depend on a Sako enthusiast buying it and if Sako don't have rifles that go much above the Sako Deluxe in pricing then the market might not be there for a rifle at that level.

Mike

While the stock is very pretty, I think the grain through the wrist is at a bit of a wrong angle for strength.

I'd worry about this stock breaking at the wrist if subjected to a fall.

I would even be concerned with severe recoil (i.e. 458 Win Mag., but not .375 H&H recoil). I guess from looking at the action that this is a .375 H&H perhaps?

Perhaps one of our more knowledgable stockmakers might comment...

I also think that if you hunt with it and scratch it, you have lost all the potential Sako "collectors edition" value and will lose your shirt.

Just my opinion -- worth twice what you paid for it!

jpb

I sold my Sako Safari in .375H&H to Cabela's a couple years ago, which they sold, and now I see it is back in the store (Kansas City) but it is probably considerably less than the $2395 that Champlin wants for theirs.

It was extremely accurate, has a dark piece of figured wood, and was a well-fitting rifle. I just didn't want a 10 lb. .375.

It has a few handling marks on it now, and the rear sight blade is missing, but it might be gotten cheap if someone is looking for one.

tomjac,

It's your money of course, but since you asked our opinions, mine will stand, even if the rifle will cost 'only' $9300.

This rifle is priced as if it were already a valuable collector's item. As nice as it is, you could take a standard Sako and embellish it to the same level, and still have a hell of a lot of cash left over.

George

It's a beautiful but very expensive rifle. If you want it and can afford it for your personal rifle it would be a lovely thing to have.
I think that buying it for potential resale would be a mistake. Sako thinks that there are only 80 people in the world that would buy one - if they thought they could sell 1000 they would have made 1000. I think that it would be a difficult rifle to resale because of a very limited market for them. There isn't a tremendous number of people who can or would spend that much money on a rifle and how many of them are Sako collectors?.......DJ

Tomjac

I would never spend that kind of money on a Sako

Take a look at the used sako safari's. If your problem is 12000$ burning in your pocket, a magnum mauser will ease the pain

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Hi Tom, If this is the gun Mr Rolf Åberg has in his shop in Lyngdal I have seen it first hand and handeld it. I I think definitvly that it is a waste of money. I do the finish on the stock better my self, that was aktually ordinary finish standard. not a 12000 finish. I did a quick brows on the Westley richards site and there I could get a new bolt rifle for 14600$ What a william wvans rifle would be I do not know but they build nice rifles too. If I had the money you have I would bye a second hand London rifle and hunt for the rest. the 505 gibbs by gibbs at champlin would be my choice if this was my budget on guns. But if I could afford 12000$ on a gun I would probably have a great income and would be pretty whelthy. I would vaited some years and earned some more money and when the my wallet said ok I would go for a brand new Purdey Bolt at 20000£. Then you can begin of thinking about resale value and collectors items. Just my opinion tom. I would not have bouth that gun for that price. The only thing I can se that is spesial with it is the look of the stock (I know the fitting of the stock it top notch) and the gun case and the fact that it is a limited ed. But the stock in that Price range is not that good. Take a look at the rifle stocksblanks at gunstockblanks.co.uk. If a custum sako would be my goal. I would bye a blank here and a standard sako 75 deluxe and let vågsland do a superb stockwork on it. It would probably get a better finish fittet to your messurements. and lots of money left to hunt with Please let us know you do.

It is one of them yes. Which one you held I not sure.

I agree with you all. This gun isn’t worth $12k if you look on parts and finish. It is properly not worth half the price as well. But I was looking on this rifle from a collector’s point of view. But it is properly not worth that ether.

BTW I did find a notch close to the wrist. It is a small one, but it is not any good..

Thanks you all for all the feedback.

Tom,

I would not buy any rifle on a collectors basis if invstment return was the basis of it being a collectors piece.

I disagree with the others on the value of the rifle, which you said is actually $9300 net of the scope and case.

Factory rifle always have, currently and always will cost more than gunsmith rifles for the same level of rifle but the high end factory rifle has a different type of attraction.

In that context $9300 is not that high. H&H will cost twice that and Deluxe wood is an option and the detachable mounts are $5000 . Purdey will be worse and this is H&H and Purdey's junk end.

Weatherby's custom shop will burn up $9300 quicker than you can blink.

But for the dollars a gunsmith rifle will produce a much better gun but for many people a less desirable gun.

Mike

Tom,

FWIW, with that kind of money, I'd rather buy a Magnum Mauser made by Ritterbursch, R.Johannsen or Prechtl. No way would I pay that much for a Sako.

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Originally posted by ErikD:
Tom,

FWIW, with that kind of money, I'd rather buy a Magnum Mauser made by Ritterbursch, R.Johannsen or Prechtl. No way would I pay that much for a Sako.

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Erik..... I drive a Land Cruiser not a Land Rover...

As I stated above, I did ask from a collector’s point of view.

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Erik..... I drive a Land Cruiser not a Land Rover...

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If it's a HZJ78/79 with a 4.2L TD, I'm impressed. If it's a regular LC, I won't be impressed, but I'll admit that it's a very good choice!

My thoughts still stand re. that Sako even as a potential collectors item, because I don't think it'll be a good investment. Sorry!

Btw, I believe VÃ¥gsland still has a "100 year, 1898-1998 anniversary" Mag Mauser. It might be a better investment for you if you're looking for stuff like that.

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Originally posted by ErikD:
If it's a HZJ78/79 with a 4.2L TD, I'm impressed. If it's a regular LC, I won't be impressed, but I'll admit that it's a very good choice!

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Regular...

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Originally posted by ErikD:
Btw, I believe VÃ¥gsland still has a "100 year, 1898-1998 anniversary" Mag Mauser. It might be a better investment for you if you're looking for stuff like that.

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Yes, he still have the 100th Anniversary. It's a 375H&H with standard figured stock. Not exhibithion.

I'm not considering the Sako any more.. I did find a small notch tru the wisth. It might not be any big deal, but for a rifle close to 100000NOK it shall be perfect.

I own three Sako Safari grade rifles. They are all very accurate and excellent working rifles. They are not even in the league of a Ritterbusch type gun. I think if you are interested in spending $10,000 plus for your main safari rifle I would spend it on a custom gun such as a Ritterbusch. Remember this is a guy that makes his own actions to match the caliber you select. No Sako is going to have that kind of detail work.