Re-conditioning a Sako L57, curiosities abound...

[lawnsausage]

I just picked up an older L57 chambered in .240 PSP (I know, pain in the ass to deal with ammo but its fine I will be reloading I have the RCBS dies for it). Its very cool gun but needs some love. Recoil pad is compressed and turning to powder, its got several scuffs and scratches I am going to take out, When i took the recoil pad off, I noted that the stock was hand engraved under there with "Eliss Schultz" or "Elias Schultz". Couldn't come up with the exact name in my limited search. Also the barrel is a WK Welker out of Seattle in really great condition. Serial number is #9689 on receiver, bolt. Anyone who knows the Sako, Welker, and either the stock is engraved with prior owner name, or its the custom shop guys name, or its maybe Schultz and Larsen? Anyone have history or any back story on this config? Figured it would be a fun rifle to restore, try to get the stock looking new, new recoil pad (not the guy on ebay that wants $120 for one! lol). Anyways check out the pics, this is all pre-work, happy to share when I get done as well. My 3rd Sako in the family. Have two 85's, one a Hunter in 25-06, the other a Deluxe in 7mm Rem. This will be my antelope gun out in southern Oregon. Will be rescoping it as well. The Redfield on there has some issues, its not wanting to turn freely and probably not worth the bucks to repair it. Plus I have a Leupold hookup being from Portland!

 

[icebear]

That's a very good-looking custom rifle. Stock looks like tiger maple. I never heard of 240 PSP but there must be something to be said for it, because somebody spent a lot of money building that rifle! You should be able to come up with a pad like the one on there without any trouble - looks like Pachmayr to me. Or you could fit a Pachmayr Old English pad. Since it's a custom stock, there's no need to try to mimic a Sako part.

As long as you're replacing the scope anyway, I'd replace the Leupold rings with period Sako rings. Or even better, that custom gun would look great with a set of Conetrols. PITA to install, but once you get them set up they look fantastic.

The name under the buttplate looks like "Elisa" to me.

You're going to have one really nice Sako there when you get it finished. Keep us posted and let us know how it shoots.

 

[lawnsausage]

Thanks yeah it’s tiger maple for sure! The towers on there now are Burris. And yeah that’s a very old and crusty pachmayr white line. Got the kids spring break starting this Friday so not going to get into this project for a few weeks but will definitely show the progress on the stock! May be doing a bit of manual cleanup and re-pointing the checkering too. Once upon a time someone spent some bucks on making this. I got it pretty cheap probably because it’s a 240 PSP and you can’t buy rounds for it, unless you want to fire 6mm/.244 through it which is in theory ok I have read and been told…

 

[paulsonconstruction]

The engraved name in the butt could likely be the name of the custom stock's maker. That style stock was popular back in the 1960's. Like Icebear said, just use the recoil pad of your choice as the stock is a custom & the factory stock used a plastic buttplate, so there is nothing to mimic. If it were mine, I would whittle a ton of wood off the grip cap end, the cheek piece, & square forearm & give it a more modern, streamlined look, as well as cut some weight. Just a touch of a spirit stain to highlight that figure wouldn't be a bad idea, either. Post some pics of your progress. Good luck!

 

[ERP]

I just picked up an older L57 chambered in .240 PSP (I know, pain in the ass to deal with ammo but its fine I will be reloading I have the RCBS dies for it). Its very cool gun but needs some love. Recoil pad is compressed and turning to powder, its got several scuffs and scratches I am going to take out, When i took the recoil pad off, I noted that the stock was hand engraved under there with "Eliss Schultz" or "Elias Schultz". Couldn't come up with the exact name in my limited search. Also the barrel is a WK Welker out of Seattle in really great condition. Serial number is #9689 on receiver, bolt. Anyone who knows the Sako, Welker, and either the stock is engraved with prior owner name, or its the custom shop guys name, or its maybe Schultz and Larsen? Anyone have history or any back story on this config? Figured it would be a fun rifle to restore, try to get the stock looking new, new recoil pad (not the guy on ebay that wants $120 for one! lol). Anyways check out the pics, this is all pre-work, happy to share when I get done as well. My 3rd Sako in the family. Have two 85's, one a Hunter in 25-06, the other a Deluxe in 7mm Rem. This will be my antelope gun out in southern Oregon. Will be rescoping it as well. The Redfield on there has some issues, its not wanting to turn freely and probably not worth the bucks to repair it. Plus I have a Leupold hookup being from Portland!

Nice wood....

 

[Bucktote]

I just picked up an older L57 chambered in .240 PSP (I know, pain in the ass to deal with ammo but its fine I will be reloading I have the RCBS dies for it). Its very cool gun but needs some love. Recoil pad is compressed and turning to powder, its got several scuffs and scratches I am going to take out, When i took the recoil pad off, I noted that the stock was hand engraved under there with "Eliss Schultz" or "Elias Schultz". Couldn't come up with the exact name in my limited search. Also the barrel is a WK Welker out of Seattle in really great condition. Serial number is #9689 on receiver, bolt. Anyone who knows the Sako, Welker, and either the stock is engraved with prior owner name, or its the custom shop guys name, or its maybe Schultz and Larsen? Anyone have history or any back story on this config? Figured it would be a fun rifle to restore, try to get the stock looking new, new recoil pad (not the guy on ebay that wants $120 for one! lol). Anyways check out the pics, this is all pre-work, happy to share when I get done as well. My 3rd Sako in the family. Have two 85's, one a Hunter in 25-06, the other a Deluxe in 7mm Rem. This will be my antelope gun out in southern Oregon. Will be rescoping it as well. The Redfield on there has some issues, its not wanting to turn freely and probably not worth the bucks to repair it. Plus I have a Leupold hookup being from Portland!

BIRD'S EYE MAPLE!, great piece of timber looks great, but it is a tough wood to checker!! best of luck! B/T

 

[lawnsausage]

BIRD'S EYE MAPLE!, great piece of timber looks great, but it is a tough wood to checker!! best of luck! B/T

Luckily it’s already checkered! I am just going to clean it up and sharpen it back up!! Thanks!