Sako Riihimaki, need scope mount holes filled

Hightekrednek · 02-28-2008, 07:41 PM

Hi there, I haven't posted in quite awhile, life always gets in the way of the fun stuff... Anyways, I am now the proud owner of a 1960's Sako Riihimaki (not a forester, not a vixen, there are no other numbers or letters (except the serial #) on the gun whatsoever). I got an excellent price for it, and the metal is approx 97%. It has a custom laminated stock, and a Canjar touch tab match trigger. It has been used, as the jeweling on the stainless bolt is slightly worn, but my Rem. 700 Mtn rifle looks like that and I have only shot it about 60 times. Anyways, the SINGLE thing about this gun is that some IDIOT

drilled it for scope rings. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but the holes are off center by several millimeters. I want them filled professionally, and a local gunsmith says the welding would cost about 60 bucks (and then it has to be reblued. The top of the receiver is textured with a sort of pressed checkering pattern (very fine and small), which would make the job even more tedious and harder to cover up. Does anyone know if they can make this go away? Or should I just accept the gun as an excellent shooter and an even better deal and call it good? I could spend about 350 dollars before I paid what the gun is worth, if that helps. Thanks! Justin.

SwedeSteve · 02-28-2008, 08:56 PM

Does it have Sako dovetals on top of the receiver?

samuel · 02-28-2008, 10:07 PM

I always put the screws back in,got the length, backed them out,cut them and grooved the top and screwed them back in,got a one piece base that covered it and redrilled and tapped it.You couldnt see that it was done without taking the base off. sam.

Drygulch · 02-28-2008, 10:11 PM

Are you sure the pressed checkering ,on top isn't the Sako buit-in dovetail mounts themselves? Does your receiver have a flat tapered platform with lips on the side and a small U-notch cut out on the rear? If it does, than it,s a shame Bubba butchered it!

Rod

Hightekrednek · 02-29-2008, 06:56 PM

Alas, Drygulch is right. I know that it is the top of the original dovetail, it is a "flat tapered dovetail with a u-shaped notch cut out of the rear" and it is a terrible shame that Bubba drilled it. Why any moron would do this when a dovetail is readily available is beyond me, although the rings to fit a Sako dovetail cost every bit of $60, which is way less than the value lost. It's a good thing I don't know who did it. Some people are IDIOTS, and should be sent to a seperate country (which could then be used as a site for the testing of WMD's

) But beggars can't be choosers, and I bought the rifle knowing what was up, as I couldn't possibly afford an original one. The moral of my purchase is restoring the beauty of this classic rifle, not gaining value and selling it. I love older guns, and will probably never sell this one. Minor cosmetic surgery is all I ask to make it nicer to look at.

Asphalt Cowboy · 02-29-2008, 09:46 PM

Unfortunately, any welding done on your receiver is going to require reheatreating the receiver. If the holes are blind holes, ones that don't completely penetrate the steel, then any GOOD professional welder with a TIG set-up could fill the holes for you. Note I put emphasis on 'good' welder. I would have a firearms professional weld in any through-holes as there may be issues with threads and the bolt bore which would require machine work. Always trust professionals, never experts.

As for the pressed checkering, any gunsmith worth his salt ought to be able to grind a stippling punch to the proper shape and dimensions to re-strike the checkering one strike at a time. Kinda' like using a small cold chisel to re-stamp with.

You also have a cold repair option, but the bluing results could prove iffy.
A pin of tool steel with a snug fit into the hole could be cut just a smidge longer than the hole is deep, inserted into the hole and then peened tightly into place. The exposed top of the pin should look like a hammer rivet which can then be carefully dressed down to the level of the receiver and then the checkering re-struck into the metal.

Contact Al Story and see if he might recommend someone to do this for you. Story Gun and Machine 505-535-2923. I don't believe he does re-heatreat but he might weld in the holes and do any machine work needed as well as the checkering.

SwedeSteve · 03-01-2008, 12:30 AM

If it has the factory dovetail, then putting rings and a scope will cover the holes. simple...

Drygulch · 03-13-2008, 09:26 PM

Your right SwedeSteve! Hey Rednek, there are a lot of aftermarket base mounts out there that will clamp on and hide those holes, no need to have them filled. I got a pair of Weaver types I,ll send you free,just buy the tip[off rings, they are cheap. send me your adress! The ones I use now are original Sako($80.00) and I have a spare JS dovetail set from Burris.
366 Gunfighters,DaNang

02-28-2008, 07:41 PM	#1
Hightekrednek Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chewelah WA,(the N.E. corner) Posts: 12	Sako Riihimaki, need scope mount holes filled Hi there, I haven't posted in quite awhile, life always gets in the way of the fun stuff... Anyways, I am now the proud owner of a 1960's Sako Riihimaki (not a forester, not a vixen, there are no other numbers or letters (except the serial #) on the gun whatsoever). I got an excellent price for it, and the metal is approx 97%. It has a custom laminated stock, and a Canjar touch tab match trigger. It has been used, as the jeweling on the stainless bolt is slightly worn, but my Rem. 700 Mtn rifle looks like that and I have only shot it about 60 times. Anyways, the SINGLE thing about this gun is that some IDIOT drilled it for scope rings. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but the holes are off center by several millimeters. I want them filled professionally, and a local gunsmith says the welding would cost about 60 bucks (and then it has to be reblued. The top of the receiver is textured with a sort of pressed checkering pattern (very fine and small), which would make the job even more tedious and harder to cover up. Does anyone know if they can make this go away? Or should I just accept the gun as an excellent shooter and an even better deal and call it good? I could spend about 350 dollars before I paid what the gun is worth, if that helps. Thanks! Justin.

02-28-2008, 08:56 PM	#2
SwedeSteve Bullet Maintenance !! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The anchor point, Alaska Posts: 10,255 Images: 1	Does it have Sako dovetals on top of the receiver? __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-01-2008, 12:30 AM	#7
SwedeSteve Bullet Maintenance !! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The anchor point, Alaska Posts: 10,255 Images: 1	If it has the factory dovetail, then putting rings and a scope will cover the holes. simple... __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

02-28-2008, 10:07 PM	#3
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I always put the screws back in,got the length, backed them out,cut them and grooved the top and screwed them back in,got a one piece base that covered it and redrilled and tapped it.You couldnt see that it was done without taking the base off. sam.

02-28-2008, 10:11 PM	#4
Drygulch Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 61	Are you sure the pressed checkering ,on top isn't the Sako buit-in dovetail mounts themselves? Does your receiver have a flat tapered platform with lips on the side and a small U-notch cut out on the rear? If it does, than it,s a shame Bubba butchered it! Rod

02-29-2008, 06:56 PM	#5
Hightekrednek Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chewelah WA,(the N.E. corner) Posts: 12	Alas, Drygulch is right. I know that it is the top of the original dovetail, it is a "flat tapered dovetail with a u-shaped notch cut out of the rear" and it is a terrible shame that Bubba drilled it. Why any moron would do this when a dovetail is readily available is beyond me, although the rings to fit a Sako dovetail cost every bit of $60, which is way less than the value lost. It's a good thing I don't know who did it. Some people are IDIOTS, and should be sent to a seperate country (which could then be used as a site for the testing of WMD's ) But beggars can't be choosers, and I bought the rifle knowing what was up, as I couldn't possibly afford an original one. The moral of my purchase is restoring the beauty of this classic rifle, not gaining value and selling it. I love older guns, and will probably never sell this one. Minor cosmetic surgery is all I ask to make it nicer to look at.

02-29-2008, 09:46 PM	#6
Asphalt Cowboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A one horse town in E.Kansas. Posts: 301	Unfortunately, any welding done on your receiver is going to require reheatreating the receiver. If the holes are blind holes, ones that don't completely penetrate the steel, then any GOOD professional welder with a TIG set-up could fill the holes for you. Note I put emphasis on 'good' welder. I would have a firearms professional weld in any through-holes as there may be issues with threads and the bolt bore which would require machine work. Always trust professionals, never experts. As for the pressed checkering, any gunsmith worth his salt ought to be able to grind a stippling punch to the proper shape and dimensions to re-strike the checkering one strike at a time. Kinda' like using a small cold chisel to re-stamp with. You also have a cold repair option, but the bluing results could prove iffy. A pin of tool steel with a snug fit into the hole could be cut just a smidge longer than the hole is deep, inserted into the hole and then peened tightly into place. The exposed top of the pin should look like a hammer rivet which can then be carefully dressed down to the level of the receiver and then the checkering re-struck into the metal. Contact Al Story and see if he might recommend someone to do this for you. Story Gun and Machine 505-535-2923. I don't believe he does re-heatreat but he might weld in the holes and do any machine work needed as well as the checkering.

03-13-2008, 09:26 PM	#8
Drygulch Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 61	Your right SwedeSteve! Hey Rednek, there are a lot of aftermarket base mounts out there that will clamp on and hide those holes, no need to have them filled. I got a pair of Weaver types I,ll send you free,just buy the tip[off rings, they are cheap. send me your adress! The ones I use now are original Sako($80.00) and I have a spare JS dovetail set from Burris. 366 Gunfighters,DaNang