28-02-2007, 04:11 PM
The Tikka Story
When it comes to sporting rifles, one of the best-kept secrets is a Woodpecker from Finland. While everyone has heard of Sako and rightly so, few are aware of the fine line of rifles marketed by Sako under the Tikka banner
Good accuracy is within the reach of any manufacturer. It's just that, to keep it consistently, they must pay closer attention to tighter tolerances, which adds time and cost to production and increases price or cuts into profit. A few manufacturers, though, have developed ways to build accurate rifles without cutting into production time and costs, including Sako.
You might say that the accuracy achieved in the Tikka Whitetail series all starts with a Sako foundation. And the history of how the two companies came to be one, and eventually wound up under the ownership of the Beretta Holding Group, is quite interesting. Established in 1893, Tikka originally manufactured gun parts for European governments, mainly Russia. Sako (a Finnish acronym for what translates to "Arms and Engineering Workshop of the Civil Guard") was established in 1919 where, in an old brewery in Helsinki, it refurbished old military rifles for the Finnish National Guard as part of an effort to arm and establish Finland as its own nation.
In 1921 Sako became financially independent and widely recognized for its staff's passionate ability to repair broken down military arms. In 1927, when it actually became officially known as Sako, it moved to Riihimaki and began manufacturing rifles for the Russian Army. After World War II, Sako turned its efforts toward manufacturing sporting rifles for European hunters.
"The first Sako that made it to America, in 1947, was ordered by Ambercrombi & Fitch," says Tom Leoni, Sako product marketing manager. "It was one ugly rifle. It sold for $60, but it was a tack-driver. And Sako's reputation for building a fine shooting piece escalated from there."
In 1983 Sako purchased Tikka, which had been manufacturing sporting rifles for 25 years. In 1989, the Tikka plant was moved from its home town, Tikkakosken, to the Sako plant in Riihimaki, and since then the two rifles have been built by the same craftsmen and with the same machinery and tools. Today Tikka is not a separate company, rather a Sako product.
Which brings us back to manufacturing ideology: Tikka rifles are essentially a lower price-point version of a Sako, yet they feature the same quality barrels and craftsmanship that have built a lasting reputation for fine accuracy.
"When barrels come off the machinery, for example, they may end up on Sako rifles or Tikka rifles," says Leoni. "They are one and the same, and that's one reason why Tikka rifles are so accurate." However, before moving the Tikka plant, Sako purchased Stoeger, an importer that struggled to bring Tikka rifles to the attention of American shooters in spite of the fact that Tikka rifles would outperform many American-made models of the day. It was the classic tail of a fine European rifle that couldn't get its foot in the door.
Detachable, three-round box magazines are made of polymer, which keeps the retail price down but the durability up. After hundreds of rounds, neither of the test rifles exhibited feeding problems.
Well, that door was opened widely in 1999, when Sako (and therefore Stoeger and the Tikka brand name) was purchased by the Beretta Holding Group. Today Tikka rifles are finally getting their turn in the American marketplace through importation by Beretta U.S.A.
The Little Things
Aside from excellent accuracy and the reputation of Sako and Beretta behind them, Tikka rifles have several refinements that should make them attractive to American shooters. For example, the bolt is easily disassembled into four pieces without the need for special tools. The trigger, though it's not advertised, is indeed adjustable. And the barrel is free-floated. Integral scope mount rails atop the receiver provide a solid fit with optional Tikka Optilock scope mounts, but the receiver is also drilled and tapped to accept Weaver-type mounts. The checkering on the wood stocks I saw was very clean and attractive. And the grip's palm swell was very comfortable.
Prior to 1917, Finland had been part of Imperial Russia, the Czar ruling as the Grand Duke of Finland. However, this came to a rapid and abrupt end at the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. While the Reds were able to pull the Czar from his throne and eventually subjugate all of Russia, such was not the case in Finland.
A Finnish Aristocrat and former Czarist General, Baron Carl Emil Mannerheim, rose up and led the White anti-Communist forces during a brutal civil war. He crushed the Red Communists around mid-1918, and cast off the oppressive Russian yoke.
As can be expected, the defense of their newfound liberty was of immediate concern to the Finn's. During these early years, two companies would come to play important roles by providing weapons for the defense of Finland. The better known of the two was of course Sako, and the other Oy Tikkakoski.
These two companies would both play a key part in rebuilding and later refurbishing Mosin-Nagant rifles for the Finnish Defense Forces. While Sako's story begins in 1919, Tikkakoski's history actually predates Sako's, the company having been established by 1890. The name Tikka (woodpecker) is derived from the name of the village where the company was located -- Tikkakoski, which means Woodpecker Rapids.
Checkered History
This village is located in the center of the country, 15 miles north of Jyvaskyla. While Tikkakoski was not originally involved in the manufacture of firearms, such work was undertaken in 1918. Like Sako, Tikkakoski was tasked with the refurbishment of Mosin rifles, although their most famous wartime product was probably the M-3 1 submachinegun designed by Aimo Lahti.
When the Soviets returned to lay claim to Finland in 1939, the Finns put their Sako and Tikka produced Mosins to good use, heroically defending the freedom of their homeland. In doing so they gained lasting respect for their marksmanship skills, and bravery, during the Winter War of 1939/40 and the Continuation War.
Unfortunately their bravery and skill-at-arms could not save them from the relentless Russian hordes. They were eventually overwhelmed. To save Sako, a controlling interest was donated to the Red Cross in 1945. This was done to exempt the company from confiscation by the USSR as part of Finnish war reparations.
Sewing Machines?
Civilian goods were produced for a time, but by 1946, Sako was back in the arms business and has remained there ever since. They produced not only military weapons, but also became famous for their handsome and superbly accurate sporting rifles. From an austere birth rebuilding Mosin-Nagants in an old brewery, Sako has gone on to earn an enviable reputation for both quality and accuracy.
Unlike Sako, Tikkakoski did not immediately return to the manufacture of firearms. Instead, the company suffered the indignity of being forced to produce sewing machines, which were shipped to the Soviet Union as war reparations. However in 1957, they introduced a line of hunting rifles and combination guns, and the Tikka banner returned. By 1974 though, the company had fallen on hard times, and was purchased by Nokia.
Production continued in Tikkakoski until 1988 when the company was merged with Sako and the facility moved to Riihimaki. There the production of Tikka models was renewed, independent from the Sako line. In 2000, Sako Ltd. was purchased by Beretta, and today these impressive Finnish rifles add character to the respected offerings of this Italian firm.
![[Image: dralflogoKim1.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/Santo/dralflogoKim1.jpg)
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.
When it comes to sporting rifles, one of the best-kept secrets is a Woodpecker from Finland. While everyone has heard of Sako and rightly so, few are aware of the fine line of rifles marketed by Sako under the Tikka banner
Good accuracy is within the reach of any manufacturer. It's just that, to keep it consistently, they must pay closer attention to tighter tolerances, which adds time and cost to production and increases price or cuts into profit. A few manufacturers, though, have developed ways to build accurate rifles without cutting into production time and costs, including Sako.
You might say that the accuracy achieved in the Tikka Whitetail series all starts with a Sako foundation. And the history of how the two companies came to be one, and eventually wound up under the ownership of the Beretta Holding Group, is quite interesting. Established in 1893, Tikka originally manufactured gun parts for European governments, mainly Russia. Sako (a Finnish acronym for what translates to "Arms and Engineering Workshop of the Civil Guard") was established in 1919 where, in an old brewery in Helsinki, it refurbished old military rifles for the Finnish National Guard as part of an effort to arm and establish Finland as its own nation.
In 1921 Sako became financially independent and widely recognized for its staff's passionate ability to repair broken down military arms. In 1927, when it actually became officially known as Sako, it moved to Riihimaki and began manufacturing rifles for the Russian Army. After World War II, Sako turned its efforts toward manufacturing sporting rifles for European hunters.
"The first Sako that made it to America, in 1947, was ordered by Ambercrombi & Fitch," says Tom Leoni, Sako product marketing manager. "It was one ugly rifle. It sold for $60, but it was a tack-driver. And Sako's reputation for building a fine shooting piece escalated from there."
In 1983 Sako purchased Tikka, which had been manufacturing sporting rifles for 25 years. In 1989, the Tikka plant was moved from its home town, Tikkakosken, to the Sako plant in Riihimaki, and since then the two rifles have been built by the same craftsmen and with the same machinery and tools. Today Tikka is not a separate company, rather a Sako product.
Which brings us back to manufacturing ideology: Tikka rifles are essentially a lower price-point version of a Sako, yet they feature the same quality barrels and craftsmanship that have built a lasting reputation for fine accuracy.
"When barrels come off the machinery, for example, they may end up on Sako rifles or Tikka rifles," says Leoni. "They are one and the same, and that's one reason why Tikka rifles are so accurate." However, before moving the Tikka plant, Sako purchased Stoeger, an importer that struggled to bring Tikka rifles to the attention of American shooters in spite of the fact that Tikka rifles would outperform many American-made models of the day. It was the classic tail of a fine European rifle that couldn't get its foot in the door.
Detachable, three-round box magazines are made of polymer, which keeps the retail price down but the durability up. After hundreds of rounds, neither of the test rifles exhibited feeding problems.
Well, that door was opened widely in 1999, when Sako (and therefore Stoeger and the Tikka brand name) was purchased by the Beretta Holding Group. Today Tikka rifles are finally getting their turn in the American marketplace through importation by Beretta U.S.A.
The Little Things
Aside from excellent accuracy and the reputation of Sako and Beretta behind them, Tikka rifles have several refinements that should make them attractive to American shooters. For example, the bolt is easily disassembled into four pieces without the need for special tools. The trigger, though it's not advertised, is indeed adjustable. And the barrel is free-floated. Integral scope mount rails atop the receiver provide a solid fit with optional Tikka Optilock scope mounts, but the receiver is also drilled and tapped to accept Weaver-type mounts. The checkering on the wood stocks I saw was very clean and attractive. And the grip's palm swell was very comfortable.
Prior to 1917, Finland had been part of Imperial Russia, the Czar ruling as the Grand Duke of Finland. However, this came to a rapid and abrupt end at the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. While the Reds were able to pull the Czar from his throne and eventually subjugate all of Russia, such was not the case in Finland.
A Finnish Aristocrat and former Czarist General, Baron Carl Emil Mannerheim, rose up and led the White anti-Communist forces during a brutal civil war. He crushed the Red Communists around mid-1918, and cast off the oppressive Russian yoke.
As can be expected, the defense of their newfound liberty was of immediate concern to the Finn's. During these early years, two companies would come to play important roles by providing weapons for the defense of Finland. The better known of the two was of course Sako, and the other Oy Tikkakoski.
These two companies would both play a key part in rebuilding and later refurbishing Mosin-Nagant rifles for the Finnish Defense Forces. While Sako's story begins in 1919, Tikkakoski's history actually predates Sako's, the company having been established by 1890. The name Tikka (woodpecker) is derived from the name of the village where the company was located -- Tikkakoski, which means Woodpecker Rapids.
Checkered History
This village is located in the center of the country, 15 miles north of Jyvaskyla. While Tikkakoski was not originally involved in the manufacture of firearms, such work was undertaken in 1918. Like Sako, Tikkakoski was tasked with the refurbishment of Mosin rifles, although their most famous wartime product was probably the M-3 1 submachinegun designed by Aimo Lahti.
When the Soviets returned to lay claim to Finland in 1939, the Finns put their Sako and Tikka produced Mosins to good use, heroically defending the freedom of their homeland. In doing so they gained lasting respect for their marksmanship skills, and bravery, during the Winter War of 1939/40 and the Continuation War.
Unfortunately their bravery and skill-at-arms could not save them from the relentless Russian hordes. They were eventually overwhelmed. To save Sako, a controlling interest was donated to the Red Cross in 1945. This was done to exempt the company from confiscation by the USSR as part of Finnish war reparations.
Sewing Machines?
Civilian goods were produced for a time, but by 1946, Sako was back in the arms business and has remained there ever since. They produced not only military weapons, but also became famous for their handsome and superbly accurate sporting rifles. From an austere birth rebuilding Mosin-Nagants in an old brewery, Sako has gone on to earn an enviable reputation for both quality and accuracy.
Unlike Sako, Tikkakoski did not immediately return to the manufacture of firearms. Instead, the company suffered the indignity of being forced to produce sewing machines, which were shipped to the Soviet Union as war reparations. However in 1957, they introduced a line of hunting rifles and combination guns, and the Tikka banner returned. By 1974 though, the company had fallen on hard times, and was purchased by Nokia.
Production continued in Tikkakoski until 1988 when the company was merged with Sako and the facility moved to Riihimaki. There the production of Tikka models was renewed, independent from the Sako line. In 2000, Sako Ltd. was purchased by Beretta, and today these impressive Finnish rifles add character to the respected offerings of this Italian firm.
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.