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Jim Watson · May 30, 2007, 08:53 AM

I cannot pin down the exact date, probably in the 1970s if not 1960s.
The Howa Golden Bear was a direct copy of the Sako Finnbear and imported from Japan by a California outfit under the Dickson trade name. $200 is surely a good deal. Howa is still making the same basic design and their actions have been used by Weatherby, Smith & Wesson, and Mossberg as well as being sold their own name. Actually the Howa has stayed pretty close to the original Sako design while the real Sakos have mutated over the years.

May 30, 2007, 08:53 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	I cannot pin down the exact date, probably in the 1970s if not 1960s. The Howa Golden Bear was a direct copy of the Sako Finnbear and imported from Japan by a California outfit under the Dickson trade name. $200 is surely a good deal. Howa is still making the same basic design and their actions have been used by Weatherby, Smith & Wesson, and Mossberg as well as being sold their own name. Actually the Howa has stayed pretty close to the original Sako design while the real Sakos have mutated over the years.