Sako L42
Sako Ltd. · Rifle · Prototype · 1942
Also known as: Sako Luodikko M/42, Luodikko malli 1942
Overview
The Sako L42 (Luodikko malli 1942) was the first civilian bolt-action rifle to bear the Sako name, developed in wartime Finland in 1942. It was designed around the purpose-built 7x33mm Sako cartridge, a small-game round intended for capercaillie, black grouse and similar game. Only a handful of prototype rifles were made before Finland's continued involvement in the Second World War halted development; the design was never mass-produced and instead evolved into the postwar Sako L46 micro-action sporter introduced in 1946.
Specifications
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 640 m/s (2100 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1035 J (763 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7x33mm Sako · primary — also known as 7x33 Sako, 7mm Sako
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Bolt Action, Small Game Cartridge, Wartime Prototype
Service history
Conflicts
- Continuation War (1941-1944)
Production
Production years: 1942-1946
Only a small number of prototype rifles were built; the L42 never entered series production and was superseded by the L46.
Origin
Country of origin: Finland
Discontinued: 1946
Notes
The L designation comes from the Finnish word 'luodikko' (rifle). Because development was repeatedly interrupted by the war and never satisfied its own designers, the L42 remained a prototype. Detailed physical dimensions (barrel length, weight, overall length) are not reliably documented for the surviving prototypes.
Background
The 7x33mm Sako cartridge created for the L42 was ingeniously built from a lengthened, necked-down 9x19mm Parabellum pistol case, turning surplus wartime brass geometry into a flat-shooting small-game rifle round.