Sako (weapons manufacturer)

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Sako

logo
legal form Joint stock company (Finland)
founding 1921
Seat Riihimäki ( Finland )
management CEO Raimo Karjalainen
R&D Kari Kuparinen
Number of employees 200 (2009)
sales 45 million euros (2009)
Branch Arms and ammunition manufacturers
Website www.sako.fi

Sako ( S uojeluskuntain A se- ja K onepaja O y) is a Finnish manufacturer of handguns and ammunition . The company is known as a manufacturer of hunting and precision rifles. Sako is now part of the Beretta holding company.

Company history

Finnish weapons of World War II
civilian Sako Finnlight of the 2000s
Sako Finn Light closure system with fluted barrel
military Sako TRG of the 2000s
military Sako anti-aircraft gun

The company's early history is linked to Finland's independence from the Russian Empire and the February 1917 Revolution, as well as the emergence of the Finnish Armed Forces . On January 25, 1918, the first Finnish military units emerged, the first handguns of which were mainly of Russian origin. To further equip the Finnish troops was on April 1, 1919 S uojelus k untain Y liesikunnan Asepaja ( Sk.Y established English Civil Guard Supreme Staff Gun Works.). On April 1, 1921, S uojeluskuntain A se- ja K onepaja O sakeyhtiö (Firearms and Machine Workshop of the Civil Guard) was founded. The company was based in Helsinki for the first few years . The company was housed in a former brewery and dealt with the reconditioning of old army rifles such as the Mosin-Nagant in particular . On June 1, 1927, the company was relocated to Riihimäki. During the Second World War, the plant was bombed by the Russian Air Force, which was largely without consequences because large areas of production were housed in underground manufacturing facilities. The Moscow armistice threatened Sako from a Soviet takeover. To ensure the continued existence of the company, the Finnish government and Sako used a loophole in the peace treaty. They transferred the weapons manufacturer to the Finnish Red Cross and thus withdrew them from the control of the Allied Control Commission , which was headed in Finland by Andrei Alexandrovich Zhdanov . In 1956 an investment foundry was set up on the premises in Riihimäki . The company remained in the possession of the Red Cross until 1962. Finnish Cable Works followed as the new owner , which in turn was merged into Nokia in 1967 . Nokia, the owner of SAKO, also bought the Tikkakoski company in the 1970s and merged the companies on March 29, 1983 under Oy Sako-Tikka Ab . In 1987 Sako merged with Valmet , a former state-owned Finnish company in the metalworking industry. The merger of the three companies under the direction of Nokia was largely driven by the Finnish manager Petteri Walldén (company boss from 1987 to 1990) with the aim of achieving a merger of profitable companies. The Sako precision foundry, which is located on the company premises, has been run as an independent company under the name SacoTec Components since 1990 . Sako and Valmet again merged with Rauma-Repola in 1999 with the subcontractors and brands in the successor company Metso . Since January 3, 2000, Sako has been part of the Beretta Holding . A weapons collection and exhibition on the company's history can be found in the Riihimäki Hunting Museum .

Throughout the company's history, Sako's products have received various labels. The earliest were fitting marks with the letters Sk.Y or an S , which was supplemented with three lines at the top. Later on, further brands and logos were added through corporate reallocations. Below is a selection of the characteristics:

  • current Sako logo

  • historical Sako logo as a fitting brand

  • historical Sako logo

  • Sako-Tikka logo combination

  • Tikka logo

  • Valmet logo

  • SacoTec logo

Product development and market presence by Sako

Sako's early product development focused on enhancements to Russian weapons that were in the inventory of the Finnish Defense Forces. In the 1930s, the first designs for sporting weapons were made. During the Second World War , primarily military weapons and ammunition were manufactured. After the end of the war, Sako first manufactured textile machines and other consumer goods. Repeater rifles followed, which are structurally similar to the Mauser System 98 . Later, a new system with three-lug locking was developed and produced (see model history). In the 2010s the company focused on the production of long guns and ammunition. Sako manufactures products for customers in the civil and military sectors. The company is largely independent in the market, with Tikka brand products also being produced and distributed by Sako. In Finland, Sako directly supports a dealer network. The company's international agencies in Australia, Italy, Sweden, Spain, New Zealand and the USA are operated jointly with the parent company Beretta. Manfred Alberts GmbH in Wiehl is known as the general importer for the German and Austrian regions . The model range can essentially be assigned to the model series Sako 85, Sako A7, Sako Quad, Sako TRG and Tikka T3 . Numerous variants are known within this model series. A specialty of the long rifles from Sako is a manufacturer-specific mounting option for aiming aids , which is known as Sako Optilock . A Picatinny rail is used for the A7 and TRG model series . Sako manufactures ammunition for handguns (with a focus on hunting-relevant calibers and shooting sports). Government weapons such as the Sako M95 model and other war weapons are not available on the open market.

Sako weapons - model history

In the course of the company's history, various weapons in different designs were manufactured. As a result of corporate links with Valmet and Beretta Holding, Sako was at times the responsible manufacturer of other models, some of which are based on renamed products from earlier production. The Sako tradition is reflected in a number of weapons that go back to Russian origins. An overview of various models from the Tikka series can be found in the list of handguns / T #TI ... and models from the Valmet era in the list of handguns / V #Valmet . The following table provides an overview of Finnish weapons development and production at Sako.

introduction model caliber Comments
1942 L42 7 × 33 mm Sako earliest independent model from Sako
1946 L46 5.6 × 35 mm R (.22 Quadruple ), .22 Hornet , .218 Bee, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .25-20 Win, 7x33 Sako, .32-20 Win Change magazine
1954 P54 / P54T .22 lfB End of production in 1972
1951 M98 (Sako Mauser) .270 Win, .30-06 Springfield , .300 H&H, 8x60, 9.3x62, .375 H&H FN M98 system, Sako stock and barrel
1957 L57 .243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win Box magazine
1959 L579 Forester .22-250, .243 Win, .308 Win Box magazine, optional interchangeable magazine for later models
1961 L461 Vixen .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Mag, .223 Rem Box magazine
1961 L61R Finnbear .264 Win, .270 Win, 30-06 Lock with three lugs: two in the chamber, one at the end of the system
1961 L61R Finnbear Magnum 7 mm Rem Mag, .300 Winchester Magnum , .300 H&H, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H Lock with three lugs: two in the chamber, one at the end of the system
1963 VL63 Finnwolf .243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win, .358 Win Lever action rifle
1972 L61R Finnbear .25-06 Rem, 6.5 × 55, .270 Win, 7 × 64 mm , .30-06, 9.3 × 62 mm Chamber lock with two lugs
1972 L61R Finnbear Magnum 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, .375 Holland & Holland Chamber lock with two lugs
1972 P72 Finnscout .22lfB
1974? Sako M74 Super .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22-250, .243 Win, .308 Win, .25-06, .270 Win, .30-06, .264 Mag, 7 mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag,. 300 H&H, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H
1975 P75 .22 Hornet
1978 M78 Finnscout .22lfB, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet
1979/80 AI / L461 .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .223 Remington was also built as a single loader
1987 AI / L461 PPC .22 PPC USA, 6mm PPC USA was also built as a single loader
1979/80 AII / L579 .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 7 mm-08, .308 Win was also built as a single loader
1979/80 AIII Precursor of the AV, (short tang)
1979/80 AIV
1979/80 AV / L61R .25-06 Rem, 6.5 × 55, .270 Win, 7 × 64, .30-06, 9.3 × 62 mm (long tang)
1979/80 AV Mag / L61R Magnum 7 mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag .458 Win Mag was available as a special production
1982? VL63 Finnwolf Sako Collectors Association .243 Win, .308 Win Lever action rifle
1988 M579 SM (Super Match) .308 Win
1989 TRG-21 .308 Win Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1989 TRG-41 .300 Win Mag ?, .338 Lapua Mag Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1992? M591 Left hand .22-250, .243 Win, 7 mm-08 Rem, .308 Win
1993 S491 .17 Rem, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22 PPC USA, 6mm PPC USA
1993 M591 .22-250, .243 Win, 7 mm-08 Rem, .308 Wiän
1993 L691 .25-06, 6.5 × 55, .270 Win, 7 × 64, .280 Rem, .30-06, 9.3 × 62
1993 L691 Mag .270 Wby, 7 mm Rem Mag, 7 mm Wby, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .340 Wby, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag
1995? M995 TRG-S .25-06, 6.5 × 55, .270 Win, .280 Rem, 7 × 64, .308 Win, .30-06, 9.3 × 62 Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1995? M995 TRG-S Magnum .270 Wby, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Wby, 7mm STW, 7.21 Firebird, .300 Win Mag, .300 Wby, 7.82 Warbird, .30-378 Wby, .338 Win Mag, .340 Wby , .338 Lapua Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 I. .222 Rem, .223 Rem Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 II .22 PPC USA, 6 mm PPC USA Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 III .22-250, .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 SM .270 WSM, .300WSM Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 IV .25-06, 6, 5 × 55, .270 Win, 7 × 64, .30-06, 9.3 × 62, 9.3 × 66 Sako Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1997 Sako M75 V 7 mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1999 TRG-22 .260 Rem (as of 2011), .308 Win Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
1999 TRG-42 .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua Mag Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2001 Sako M75 V Safari anniversary model .375 H&H Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2001? Sako Finnfire P94S .22lfB
2006? Sako quad .17 Mach 2, .17 HMR, .22lfB, .22 WMR Interchangeable barrels
2006 Sako M85 XS .204 Ruger, .222 Remington, .223 Remington Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2006 Sako M85 S .22-250, .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, .338 Federal Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2006 Sako M85 SM .270 WSM, 7mm WSM, .300 WSM Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2006 Sako M85 M .25-06, 6.5 × 55, .270 Win, 7 × 64, .30-06, 9.3 × 62, 9.3 × 66 Sako Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine
2006 Sako M85 L 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H Mag Chamber lock with three lugs, changeable magazine

The following are worth mentioning about the military area of ​​the model history:

  • Rifles of the models M / 28, M / 28-30, M / 39, which were manufactured as further developed variants of the Mosin-Nagant. In addition, there are sniper rifles based on it, which were produced in small series. Reproductions for orderly shooting are known from the 1960s and 1970s .
  • The Sako model series M60, M62, M76, M90 and M95, which is derived from the Russian AK-47 rifle .
  • The Sako TRG model series as a rifle for snipers and special forces.
  • The SAKO 23mm 87 (also known as 23 ItK 95 ), an anti-aircraft gun based on the Russian SU-23 and used as armament for the Navy.

Sako ammunition

Sako has been manufacturing ammunition since 1928. The manufacture of ammunition became important at Sako for supplying the Finnish armed forces. 275 million military cartridges and 4 million hunting cartridges were manufactured between 1941 and 1945. Two calibers that were released by Sako as own developments are worth mentioning :

  • 7 × 33 mm Sako With the introduction of this caliber, the company brought the corresponding cartridge for international approval by the CIP in 1942. This cartridge is based on the 9 × 19 mm ammunition and was designed for hunting purposes.
  • 9.3 × 66 mm Sako This caliber (also known as .370 SakoMag ) was introduced by Sako in 2002. The internationally registered cartridge is in the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum ammunition class and was designed for hunting purposes.

In addition to the aforementioned cartridges, Sako manufactures around 100 ammunition variants (as of 2012) for various calibers. These variants use projectiles developed by Sako , which can also be used for reloading . The lead-free ammunition from Sako (Powerhead) is based on projectiles from Barnes.

Innovations and patents

Sako has carried out significant development work in the area of ​​handguns, which is documented and protected by patent applications (as of 2012 with 61 patents). The registrations of the relevant patents are partly distributed among legal predecessors or merger partners such as Valmet (as of 2012 with 40 patents) or Tikka (as of 2012 with 4 patents). Below is a selection of patent applications:

  • Patent WO2012098283 : Firearm and firearm system. Applied on July 26, 2012 , published on September 12, 2012 , applicant: Sako Oy, inventor: Aalto Juha. ‌
  • Patent US3562945 : Gun barrel with stepped rifling. Registered on February 16, 1971 , applicant: Sako Oy, inventor: Leo David Mikola. ‌
  • Patent AT31219T : Device for adjusting the play between fore-end and rifle barrel. Applied on December 15, 1987 , published on May 15, 1988 , applicant: Sako Tikka AB, inventor: Kari Kuparinen. ‌
  • Patent IT1205107 : Multi-purpose rifle system. Applied on March 15, 1989 , published on October 27, 1999 , applicant: Sako Valmet Oy, inventor: Timo Junhani Hyytinen. ‌
  • Patent WO02070979 : Rapid clamping base for an optic rifle sight. Published on September 12, 2002 , applicant: Sako Valmet Oy, inventor: Juha Aalto, Kari Kuparinen. ‌

literature

  • Jim Carmichel, SAKO-50 Years of Rifle Accuracy , in Guns & Ammo, May 1972 issue
  • Eric R. Poole, SAKO-90 Years of Rifle Accuracy , in Guns & Ammo, "Annual 2012" issue
  • Frank de Haas, Wayne van Zwoll, Bolt Action Rifles , Krause, 2003, ISBN 978-1-4402-2635-9
  • Wolfram Osgyan, European champion Sako , in game and dog, number 7, April 2012
  • John Walter, Rifles of the World , Krause, 2006, ISBN 978-0-89689-241-5
  • John Zent, In pursuit of the perfect bolt action , American Rifleman, December 2011 issue
  • Wayne van Zwoll, Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Rifles , Krause, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4402-3072-1

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Company information from linkedin  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) ( accessed on November 2, 2012)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / de.linkedin.com
  2. ↑ Lit. Wolfram Osgyan, European Champion Sako , page 56
  3. ↑ Sako Oy: n tulipalo October 5, 2009 Riihimäellä. (PDF; 43 kB) (No longer available online.) Sako, October 5, 2009, archived from the original on September 25, 2015 ; Retrieved February 27, 2014 (Finnish, press release on the 2009 fire).
  4. ↑ Foundation of the Finnish Civil Guard ( Memento of December 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Finnish Armed Forces puolustusvoimat.fi (accessed October 31, 2012)
  5. ^ Lit. Wayne van Zwoll, Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Rifles ', page 111
  6. ↑ Lit. John Zent, In pursuit of the perfect bolt action , p. 51
  7. ↑ Lit. John Zent, In pursuit of the perfect bolt action, page 52
  8. ↑ Company data Sakotec Components
  9. ↑ Lit. Jim Carmichel, SAKO-50 Years of Rifle Accuracy
  10. ↑ a b Reading Eagle Red Cross up in Arms Issue January 16, 1982 (accessed October 31, 2012)
  11. ↑ https://www.tikka.fi/sako-history
  12. ↑ Petteri Walldén and company merger of Sako, Tikka, Valmet  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) ( accessed on November 2, 2012)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / fi.linkedin.com
  13. ↑ SacoTec Components company information ( PDF file ) ( accessed on November 4, 2012)
  14. ↑ Bloomberg Business Week Sako Company Information (accessed November 1, 2012)
  15. ↑ Press release on the transfer of the company Metoso / Beretta Metso to Sell Sako Ltd to Italian Beretta ( accessed on November 2, 2012)
  16. ↑ Company history of Sako ( Memento from October 29, 2012 on WebCite ) official manufacturer website (accessed on October 31, 2012)
  17. ↑ International sales Europe ( Memento of November 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) and Worldwide ( Memento of October 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) official manufacturer website (accessed on November 2, 2012)
  18. ↑ Weapons production by Sako (online PDF; 449 kB) ( Memento from May 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Manufacturer's website (accessed on October 31, 2012)
  19. ↑ a b Munitions production by Sako (online PDF; 174 kB) ( Memento from May 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Manufacturer's website (accessed on October 31, 2012)
  20. ↑ Model history of Sako (online PDF; 108 kB) ( Memento from September 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Manufacturer's website , (accessed October 31, 2012)
  21. ^ Lit. John Walter, Rifles of the World , pp. 413 ff.
  22. ↑ Vic Thomas Civil Guard's Rifle “Sotilaskivääri” m / 28-30 ″ ( accessed October 31, 2012)
  23. ↑ Sako M60, M62, M76 at janes.com (accessed October 31, 2012)
  24. ↑ Sako M90 at janes.com (accessed October 31, 2012)
  25. ↑ Sako M95 at janes.com (accessed October 31, 2012)
  26. ↑ Sako TRG 21/41 22/42 at janes.com (accessed October 31, 2012)
  27. ↑ Sako TRG sniper system at janes.com (accessed October 31, 2012)
  28. ↑ Eric Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems , US Naval Inst Pr, 2007-2008, page 190, ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2
  29. ^ A b Frank C. Barnes: Cartridges of the World , Krause Publications, Iola (Wisconsin) 2009, Issue 12, Pages 412, 428 ISBN 978-0-89689-936-0
  30. ↑ Reloading components from Sako ( Memento of May 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Manufacturer's website , (accessed on December 15, 2012)
  31. ↑ Lead-free ammunition from Sako ( Memento from May 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Manufacturer's website , (accessed on December 15, 2012)
  32. ↑ Sako patent research (accessed November 1, 2012)
  33. ↑ Valmet patent search (accessed November 1, 2012)
  34. ↑ Tikka patent research (accessed November 1, 2012)

Web links

Commons : SAKO  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 60 ° 44 '12 "  N , 24 ° 45' 7.2"  E