Finnish Sako L61R Finnbear .264 Win Mag 24″ Bolt Action Rifle 1962-1973 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,030.00
LSB#: LSB251010MN047
Make: Sako; Finland
Model: L61R Finnbear
Serial Number: 4615
Year of Manufacture: 1962-1973
Caliber: .264 Winchester Magnum
Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine, Hinged Floorplate
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “SAKO / Cal. .264 Mag.”. The left side of the barrel is marked “FINNBEAR MADE IN FINLAND”, along with a couple proof marks. The right side of the barrel is marked “Bofors Steel”. The left side of the receiver is marked “L61R NO. 4615”, along with two proof marks.
Barrel Length: 24″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a black blade, dovetailed to a checkered ramp, screwed to the barrel. There is no rear sight present. The top of the receiver is mounted with a Burris Fullfield E1 3-9×40 scope, with Burris’s Ballistic Plex E1 reticle. The glass in the scope is clear. The scope shows light wear, with a few minor dings and minor scratches in the scope’s finish. Overall, the scope rates in Fine condition. The scope is mounted on a two-piece base, and sits in 30mm rings.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece checkered walnut stock, with a capped semi-pistol grip, fluted monte carlo comb with cheekpiece, vented rubber buttpad, and a checkered forend, with sling studs front and rear. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The stock shows moderate to heavy wear, with scattered scratches, dings, scuffs, and compressions throughout. There is a considerable crack in the stock that goes from the tip of the forend, down the left side of the forend about 4″. The checkering shows some wear, but is mostly well defined. There is some wear in the stock’s finish at the bottom of the cheekpiece. Despite the crack in the forend, the stock fits tightly to the barreled action. The buttpad is starting to show wear and starting to crack. Overall, the stock rates in Fair condition, mainly due to the crack in the forend.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its original metal finish. The balance of the finish shows moderate wear, with thinning of the finish throughout the barrel, leading edges of the receiver, floorplate, trigger guard, and bolt handle. There is freckling of surface corrosion on the bolt body, muzzle crown, and on the barrel towards the chamber, and light scratches and dings throughout all of the metal surfaces. Otherwise, the markings are clear and legible. The screw heads are sharp. Overall, this rifle rates in Fair condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the safety. The trigger has a crisp and clean break. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the scope as mentioned above.
Our Assessment: Sako’s L61R Finnbear stands among the finest European sporting rifles of the 1960s and 1970s, a period when Sako’s machining quality, steel selection, and stock craftsmanship were consistently world-class. Chambered here in .264 Winchester Magnum, a cartridge introduced in 1959 at the height of the “magnum mania” era, this rifle represents one of the most desirable combinations of Sako’s long-action platform with a flat-shooting, high-velocity round built for long-range deer, antelope, and mountain game.
The .264 Win. Mag. earned early praise for its exceptional downrange performance and high sectional-density 6.5mm bullets, offering magnum-level trajectory with mild recoil relative to its peers. In a 24-inch Bofors-steel barrel, as seen on this example, the cartridge achieves its full ballistic potential, and the bore condition here is outstanding; bright, sharp, and free of erosion, suggesting that accuracy potential remains fully intact.
This rifle does show honest field wear, reflecting decades of use rather than neglect. The metal retains roughly 80 percent of its original finish with thinning, freckling, and scattered handling marks throughout. Mechanically, however, the action remains smooth, the trigger crisp, and the safety fully functional, hallmarks of the L61R’s enduring quality.
The stock displays the livelier styling of early Finnbear rifles, with its Monte Carlo comb and bold cheekpiece, but wear is significant. Most notably, there is a structural crack running approximately four inches down the left side of the forend from the tip; an issue that should be professionally repaired before any further field use. Additional dings, finish wear, and an aging buttpad further reinforce its working-rifle heritage. Even so, the stock remains tight to the action.
The mounted Burris Fullfield E1 3–9×40 scope offers practical brightness and a useful Ballistic Plex E1 reticle, giving the rifle turnkey viability for hunting once the stock is addressed. All told, this Sako L61R Finnbear offers the performance foundation that made these rifles famous; controlled feeding, excellent triggers, premium steel, and the precision Finland was known for, paired with a cartridge built for long-range Western hunting. With its superb bore and classic Bofors-steel pedigree, this rifle remains a highly capable shooter, and with proper stock repair it could again serve confidently in the field. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – J.D.
