I don't have much experience with lever action rifles, having shot mostly bolts for the last 40 years, so I thought I'd ask you experts about these.

I picked up an absolutely NIB set of Sako lever action rifles, .243 and .308, made for the Sako Collector's Association back in 1982 or '83. They have a single digit number out of a run of 175 pairs. And they're . . . niiiiice! Figured walnut with an oil finish, gold filled lettering, lusterous blue, etc.

I'm more of a shooter than collector and am wondering how these rifles are regarded as shooters. I'm also wondering if I should market them instead of shooting them and thus convert them into some Sako bolt-actions, of which I am a kind-of collector. Comments would be appreciated.

Oh they were absolutely sweet rifles that is for sure. I know of one person that owns one in 243 and he would not part with it regardless of situation.