Colt The Coltsman Custom Grade Sako L579 308 Winchester Bolt Rifle 1964 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,525.00
WOA#: WY240405JS005
Make: Sako/Colt
Model: The Coltsman Custom Grade
Serial Number: 37613
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1964
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Action Type: Bolt action Rifle w/ Hinged Floorplate Internal Box Magazine
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in front of the rear sight and “MADE IN FINLAND” behind. The chamber is marked with Finnish proofs and “Cal..308”. The right of the barrel is marked “Bofors Steel”. The left of the receiver is marked “L579 No. 37613” and with Finnish proofs. The bolt handle is hand-scribed “37613”.
Barrel Length: 23”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to a checkered, ramped base fixed to the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood, but none is present. The rear sight has one fixed and one folding “U”-notch leaf, marked “100” and “200”, respectively, dovetailed to a base fixed to the rear of the barrel. The top of the receiver has integral Sako-pattern scope bases. There are decorations on the trigger guard and floorplate including a rampant colt.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece skip-line checkered walnut with rosewood nose and grip caps, monte-carlo comb with cheekpiece, sling studs front and rear, and a ventilated brown rubber Colt recoil pad. The stock has a few scattered light marks, most notable a scratch on the bottom of the grip cap and a couple of nicks on the left behind the cheekpiece. There is light wear around the sling studs. There is a hairline crack in the top of the wrist behind the receiver. There are no chips. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad. The pad has light wear and crushing, hardened with age. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn copper fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The receiver’s integral bases have light wear from previously installed rings. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Coltsman Rifle was a line of bolt action rifles which grew out of the Colt ’57’ rifles, their first rifle offerings since the Lightning pump-action rifles of the late 19th century. The ’57’ line was rebranded the ‘Coltsman’ in 1958. These were produced by FN and Sako, but branded with the Colt name, assembled by the Jefferson Manufacturing Company in North Haven, CT as Standard, Deluxe, or Custom grades. Interest began to wane in 1960 with stock remaining in inventory into 1962. Interest in Colt’s bolt action rifles increased again in 1962, with standard grade rifles finished by a company called Kodiak and Custom grade rifles being imported directly from Sako. The Coltsman was dropped from Colt catalogs after 1965. Between the ’57’ and ‘Coltsman’ lines, only about 15,000 rifles were produced and some were sold out of the country, so they are not the easiest rifles for the dedicated collector to find.
This example is a Custom grade chambered for .308 Winchester built on Sako’s L579 action. This rifle is in about Excellent condition with 98% original finish remaining, great mechanics, and a nice bore. If the Sako or Colt enthusiasts sleep on this one, you’ll have a great shooter for years to come. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
