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Yep currently 6 action sizes for the 85 model...Only the Model 75 & 85 have 4 action sizes. The "extra size" or 4th one is for the "short magnum" rounds that entered the market about 30 years ago. They could have easily used the medium action, but decided to tweak the medium action slightly to improve feeding reliability of those short fat cases. The differences between the medium & short magnum actions are difficult to detect with the naked eye. As a side note, Sako pre-production advertising indicated they were going to make a 5th size(size II) for the Model 75, specific to the PPC cases. Obviously, they didn't but the decision came so late that the action size stampings go from I to III on the 75 to this day. The PPC rounds were built on the III instead.
Edit: I forgot that Sako added action sizes to the 85 model, so they now have 6 action sizes. The XS(extra small), SM(short magnum) & the XL(extra large) in addition to the traditional 3 sizes of short, medium, & long.
At least two, and I believe three. The L46 action was tweaked for the .222 Magnum by opening up the bottom slightly and moving the bolt stop back to make room for the longer round. The mag and bottom metal are adjusted accordingly, but the basic action is the same and the distance between screws is the same. Sako officially referred to the magnum action as L469, but many were marked L46.There are probably two or more versions of the L46. Once we have them documented we can move on to the L461 and so on.
Ummm . . . depending on what you class as a "version" there may be a dozen or more variations in the L46 action.There are probably two or more versions of the L46.
And if you want to go to that level of detail, some weren't marked with the model number at all, just "Sako Riihimäki" like all but the very last standard-length L46 rifles.Then there is the L469, "stretched" to accommodate the .222 Magnum. Whether you count those marked "L46" and those marked "L469" as different "versions" would again be up to the classifier.
IIRC, it seems that all, or virtually all, of the L46's had the little imprinted stamp recessed into the front dovetail with the "L46" mark on it. Maybe someone can come up with an example that doesn't have this -- or maybe the rusting interconnections in my cerebral cortex are just malfunctioning again.And if you want to go to that level of detail, some weren't marked with the model number at all, just "Sako Riihimäki" like all but the very last standard-length L46 rifles.
Only the very early L46's were so marked. The recess in the front dovetail went away about the same time as the wing safety. I'll take and post a photo later - I thought I had one but it's not in my computer file.IIRC, it seems that all, or virtually all, of the L46's had the little imprinted stamp recessed into the front dovetail with the "L46" mark on it. Maybe someone can come up with an example that doesn't have this -- or maybe the rusting interconnections in my cerebral cortex are just malfunctioning again.
I'm not sure there ever really was an "L42", except for prototypes of the L46 produced in 1942. Anecdotes indicate that Sako made about a half-dozen or so prototypes of their miniature centerfire action in 1942 then suspended work on it until after WWII. The production version was released in 1946 and dubbed the "L46". The pre-production actions from 1942 are often referred to as "L42", but, except for possible minor changes made for purposes of commercial production, they were identical to the production model.And what about the L42?
Here's the promised photo of a mid-50's L46 without the circular logo on the front bridge.Only the very early L46's were so marked. The recess in the front dovetail went away about the same time as the wing safety. I'll take and post a photo later - I thought I had one but it's not in my computer file.
I always associated the Circle 46 dovetail stamp with the earliest wing safety and barrel banded rifles..don’t think I’ve ever seen a L46 marking anywhere else on mine either. My earliest is numbered 47xx , wing safety type has the circle.None of the L46's I have owned or personally handled have had the circular L46 logo on the front bridge. I have even work on L46's with 4 digit serial numbers that did not as well, so it's my feeling that that stamping is fairly rare. None of the L46's I have owned or personally handled have had any model stamping on the left side of the receiver either. Base on my experience my feeling is that the vast majority of the L46 Models were not stamped with the action designation, which lead to them erroneously be called a "Riihimaki" model. Just my two cents. Others may differ.
I have 4 left wing safety L46's of which 3 have the later version left wing safety (in 218 Bee, 22 Hornet, & 222), and all 3 have the "Circle L46" on the front dove tail. Of course my very early 7X33 (with barrel band & arctic birch stock w/ no checkering) has the Circle L46.I always associated the Circle 46 dovetail stamp with the earliest wing safety and barrel banded rifles..don’t think I’ve ever seen a L46 marking anywhere else on mine either. My earliest is numbered 47xx , wing safety type has the circle.
The earlier L46’s had two different sized ejection ports , tho the action over all length is the same. My Hornet numbered 66xx has a shorter bolt throw.
Almost 5 cent worth now!
Bloo