Beretta is excited to join Sako Ltd. in the celebration of its 100th birthday and the impact that the company and its products have made in the rifle and cartridge marketplaces around the world.

Founded on April 1, 1921, this prestigious firearms manufacturer has a rich history of producing renowned high-quality products crafted by their skilled master craftsmen that provide innovative solutions for its customers’ needs.

“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, General Manager and COO of Beretta USA, said.

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 1 April 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.

During this time, the company 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 and is the world’s only rifle manufacturer that also makes cartridges.

During the 1950s, Sako entered the US market with the acquisition of a Sako L46 by Jan Winter, an American company Firearms International agent. The US gun culture during this period was immense, but the competition was tough. Everyone was surprised by the popularity of the Sako L46 rifle, but its unparalleled performance was undeniable, and exports of Sako products to the US steadily increased year after year.

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 as a manufacturer as it began to outproduce the resources of its current production facility capabilities to meet international demand. In 1999, Beretta Holding Group expressed an interest in Sako and acquired all the company’s shares.

For the past 21 years, Sako has flourished and grown as a part of the Beretta Holding Group and has seen the development of new, innovative technologies and 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 highly technical product allows the user to switch between hunting or precision shooting by simply exchanging the forend and stock. Also, Sako reached its all-time production record at more than 113,000 rifles produced in a year. Additionally, Sako launched their first copper bullet designed and manufactured in-house, the Sako Powerhead Blade, and broke its record for cartridge production with more than 11 million cartridges made.

As it moves into its second century as a reputable weapons manufacturer, Sako continues to develop world-class hunting, military, and target rifles and cartridges that are uncompromisingly precise and reliable.

For additional information, visit www.Beretta.com.