Sako Marks 100th Anniversay of Manufacturing in Finland

Sako Ltd. was founded on April 1, 1921. So this week Sako celebrates its 100th birthday. Now part of the Beretta firearms family, this prestigious Finnish firearms manufacturer has a rich history of producing quality rifles constructed by skilled master craftsmen.

The original Sako factory was established as part of the Finnish Civil Guard and was designed to meet its gun repair needs. The workshop became an independent financial unit on April 1, 1921. Sako marks that date as its moment of establishment. The workshop was initially called Suojeluskuntain Ase-ja Konepaja Osakeyhtiö (Civil Guard Firearm and Engineering Co Ltd). In 1927, it became a limited company with its name abbreviated to the acronym Sako.

The company then moved from Helsinki to a factory site in Riihimäki, where it continues to operate to this day. In Riihimäki, the assembly of a new model of rifle, the M28, began. Nicknamed ‘Pystykorva’ (the dog breed ‘Spitz’), this rifle proved to be of even better quality than similar weapons being used by Finnish defense forces. Simultaneously, the company also began to manufacture cartridges.

During the 1950s, Sako entered the U.S. market. The Sako L46 rifle impressed American hunters. The L46’s build quality and excellent performance quickly drew loyal American customers, and exports of Sako products to the USA steadily increased year after year.

One Million Tikka T3s Have Been Sold
For the past 21 years, Sako has seen major growth in yearly product volumes. In 2020, Sako manufactured and sold the one-millionth unit of the Tikka T3, a rare feat for any bolt action rifle. 2020 also saw the launch of the revamped Sako S20 hybrid rifle. This versatile rifle allows the user to switch between hunting or precision shooting by simply exchanging the fore-end and stock.

Also, Sako reached its all-time production record at more than 113,000 rifles produced in a year and broke its record for cartridge production with more than 11 million cartridges made. Additionally, Sako launched its first copper bullet designed and manufactured in-house, the Sako Powerhead Blade.

In 1996, Sako saw a huge success in their Sako 75 range of products, which was Sako’s first model to be designed as new from the very beginning. This success launched Sako into its next step with major international sales. In 1999, Beretta Holding Group acquired all the company’s shares. “At Beretta USA, we are proud to partner with the highly skilled and experienced men and women of SAKO as they continue to innovate and deliver top-quality, high-performing, precise, and reliable rifles to our demanding American customers,” Francesco Valente, GM and COO of Beretta USA, said.