I have the lever rifle pair I've been wanting! UPDATED PICS

[mod71alaska]

This is a pair of pre-Gracia Sako Finnwolfs with the early 4 round mags. The top one is a .243 Win with a 7X Leupold scope; the bottom a .308 with a Sako rear peep sight and "Bofors Steel" barrel. Both are original and in 99% condition. The .243 was the hardest to find and arrived today! I'm a happy camper!!! Here are pics. I will try to take better pics tomorrow in the daylight. I just couldn't wait! I also have 3 extra original Finnwolf mags and extra rear peep sights, both of which are interchangeable between the .243 and .308. The Finnwolf mags are almost impossible to find anymore...actually harder to find than the rifles...so I am extremely fortunate to have the extras.





Here are some better daylight photos:

The Finnwolf has mounting bases on the top of the receiver for either a rear peep sight or scope rings. The aperture on these Sako rear peep sights rotates for 100 and 200 meter ranges. There is no rear sight on the barrel. The .243 with the Leupold scope also has an original rear peep sight with it.


The metal on the Sako Finnwolf from this period is polished mirror smooth. The blueing is deep and dark. To my eye these rifles are simply beautiful! The lever action Sako Finnwolf also has the reputation for "bolt action" accuracy. I can't wait to find out!




My rifle collection and (affordable) "wish list" is one rifle short of being complete and that rifle is coming next week. Absolutely totally bad timing $$$wise, but I couldn't pass it up. It's another one I've been looking for for a long time. Stand-by for more pics next week. It's also time again to go into the safe and sell some to make room AND get gas money for the boat! I'll post these in the Forum classifieds. Everyone have a great weekend! Victor

[Chuck 100 yd]

WOW, very nice rifles, Congrats!!

[pokey]

nice, interesting wood on that top rifle.
would you call that quilting?

[dbateman]

oh that is fine lookin pair of rifles thanks for the pics
but you could of put a warning..cos i just ruined my keyboard

[kimwcook]

Very nice. I've never seen one in person.

[AJMD429]

They're much prettier than the other 'round-belly' leverguns I've seen (Savages and Rugers); I like the idea of a one-piece stock and box magazine AND a lever action, especially for the 'rifle' chamberings. Pretty sweet.

[awp101]

A fine pair indeed and perhaps the crown jewels of many collections...

[RKrodle]

WOW!!! Nice Rifles, I've wanted a Finnwolf for a long time. Congrats.

[Griff]

WOW! Those are NICE!

[BigSky56]

Either one would make a nice saddle gun for elk & mulies. danny

[mod71alaska]

nice, interesting wood on that top rifle.
would you call that quilting?

The top rifle has some appearance of "quilting" in the stock with the fiddleback figure in the wood.

[Blaine]

Couple of nice truck guns.....

[Pete44ru]

I just love to see a plan come together - I hope you really enjoy them, Victor !

.

[MikeS.]

Beautiful rifles, thanks for sharing.

[jazman]

Just flat beautiful, congrats on finding them.

[Ysabel Kid]

Excellent! Congratulations Victor!!!

[KirkD]

Beautiful rifles in outstanding condition. Congratulations on your acquisition. Very nice.

[AJMD429]

That's a fascinating rear sight on the one rifle. What is it? How's it work?

[Pete44ru]

Incase Victor doesn't login for awhile, Doc, I'll step in (apologies, Victor).

The sight's a proprietary Sako clip-on peep, meant to mount atop the rear Sako tapered dovetail.
It appears as a sculptured block from a distance, but has knobs/screws in the top/side for zeroing in the normal manner.
What isn't normal, is that the aperture is slightly off-center, and the aperture is "twistable", with two stops: one marked "100yds" and one marked "200yds" - so that a quick field adjustment can be made.

They're VERY nice - It's too bad they won't easily fit other rifles, as they come up F/S every once in awhile.

.

[WinM71]

Very nice rifles Victor, I've always liked the Finnwolf but never owned one.

Those Sako peep sights are very pricey items, particularly the earlier type like the one you have on the .308. The later style is easier to find, they generally go for $50 to $75, usually at the high end of that range. Here's one for sale on ebay:http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Orig-Sako-R ... 7C294%3A50

The early style goes for $100 to $125 when you see it (and it's been years since I've seen one), which is very seldom. I know I've got a nice one around somewhere but I haven't dug it out for years so it'd take some scrounging to find it.

[rjohns94]

simply fantastic!! congrats. I am very happy for you.

[AJMD429]

Thanks for the sight info. If I had just a few minor things (1-the extra time, 2-the machining tools, and what was the other one, oh yes - 3-any actual SKILLS at such things ) I'd love to design and build different peep sights. I'd like to make them fit aside or be part of quick-detatch scope mounts, so you could use the scope when needed but have already ready-to-go high quality peeps (vs. afterthought 'backup' ones) there for use during the 90% of the day you may not need a scope.

[salvo]

Beautiful rifles Victor and congrats on locating such fine examples for your collection! Now what is coming next week, I gottsta know

[mod71alaska]

That's a fascinating rear sight on the one rifle. What is it? How's it work?

Doc,

There are three basic designs of Sako rear peep sights that I am familiar with:

The early model (left in the photo below) was one of 2 "L" shaped versions. It has a larger diopter that rotates for 100 and 200M which often was completely round and was knurled.

The second version (middle sight in photo) has a slightly smaller diopter that rotates for 100 and 200M. This one usually has a flat side milled on the outside of the diopter at the 100 and 200M mark.

The last model (on the right) was almost like an enclosed version that looked like a tube with the end pointing toward the muzzle cut at an angle on the top quarter of the the tube.

The bases of these peep sights clip to the Sako receiver dovetail similar to how an integrated ring/base attaches to a grooved receiver.

All three sights were high gloss to match the high luster blue of the early Sako rifles.

The earlier 2 peep sights (left and middle) in mint condition will run $150 or more, the later version on the right about half that.

I like the middle sight the best.

[big bear]

WOW,beautiful rifles. I once( sold for tuition ) had a Sako mannlicher 308 carbine with a Sako peep sight that didn't look like any of above by my recollection ( that's almost 30 years ago). Are these rare gems getting easier to find with the hard times or are folks just getting better at finding them. Keep up the good work,Vic , you give the rest of excuses for extravagance

[mod71alaska]

WOW,beautiful rifles. I once( sold for tuition ) had a Sako mannlicher 308 carbine with a Sako peep sight that didn't look like any of above by my recollection ( that's almost 30 years ago). Are these rare gems getting easier to find with the hard times or are folks just getting better at finding them. Keep up the good work,Vic , you give the rest of excuses for extravagance

I don't know. I shook the bushes pretty hard to find these and they weren't firesales.

"Extravagance!" Don, you're killing me! These are justified by NEED!!!

[WinM71]

Victor's photos of the 3 types of Sako peep sights spurred me on to dig out the one I knew I had around here somewhere. Found it with only an hour or so of searching, it's a mint condition example of the 2nd type. Fully adjustable for windage and elevation (a big screw on each side, and a big screw top & bottom, which adjust the "carrier" that the aperture mounts into). The aperture rotates to a "100" position or a "200" position, the two numbers are marked on the aperture's opposite flats. The aperture's hole is slightly offset from the true center of the disc. Thus, when in the "200" position the hole is slightly above dead center, and when in the "100" position, the hole is slightly below dead center.
If anyone is in desperate need of one of these, I'd take $125 for it, since I haven't had a Sako in 30 or 35 years & probably won't get another (eyes getting on the old side for peep sights also).

[mod71alaska]

WinM71...PM sent.

[mod71alaska]

Deleted. Sorry, this was meant to be a PM to AJMD429.