SAKO, which stands, in Finnish, for Suojeluskuntain Ase ja Konepaja Oy (translated as, Civil Guard Gun and Machiningworks Ltd) are a Finnish ammunition and rifle maker based in Riihimäki. Currently SAKO are owned by Beretta of Italy and produce high quality products at high costs (or under the lower priced brand of Tikka).
History
SAKO were formed in 1927 after the Suojeluskuntain Yliesikunnan Asepaja (translated as the Civil Guard Supreme Staff Gun Works), Finland's first official armoury (which formed a year after Finland won its independence from Russia in 1918), decided to move to a proper factory elsewhere in Finland. Upon moving to Riihimäki, they renamed themselves as SAKO and began to produce ammunition to sell to Sweden. This continued through the Second World War.
The next major move involving SAKO was its take over (upon which it was fused by Valmet) by Nokia and Valmet (whom split ownership of SAKO) in 1987. The SAKO-Valmet brand remained as a state based entity, while SAKO remained as a brand for civilian and international sales. SAKO were then later bought Beretta and run by their owners Beretta Holding.