Originally Posted By: NorTex250There are no numbers on the barrel. According to this link it is an SAS made in Japan between 99-02.
http://www.weatherby.com/support/faq/item/view/44321?categoryId=22632
YEP ... looks like you nailed it. Here is a post from a good friend at Shotgun World about your gun. Hope it helps. As for the replacement wood, you aren't likely to find that. A weekly check at GunBroker might turn up something, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
The SAS is a very under rated model. They were one of the better values when they were available. This model was to be a Ducks Unlimited dinner gun but, Weatherby's manufacturer at the time could not meet the unit and time requirements. It's too bad because this could have helped it become more popular and it could still be in production. The SAS ran from around 1999 to around 2007
There were two manufacturers for the SAS. The first two years were made by SKB in Japan. The remainder were made by Valtro in Italy. The SKB made SAS was the same gun as the SKB 1300 which is still offered to non US markets. The Valtro made SAS has a similar Gas system to the Franchi design. This design was used on the Franchi 610,612,712 and the 912 (3 1/2") and is the basis for the Beretta Xtrema's.
Both are well made and reliable designs. They both have magazine cutoffs and flat ribs. They come in serveral finishes and barrel lengths. They use the same chokes as the Browning Invector. They are both Gas operated and have 3" chambers.
I like both models and like some things on each over the other but, like the Valtro made model a little better. The SKB has better lines on the receiver and I like the magazine cutoff switch, trigger guard, and rib design better. The Valtro is a little lighter, easier to clean, is a little better with lighter loads, has shims to adjust the stock, larger triangle shaped safety, and I like the receiver/forearm junction better. The SKB model has a neutral balance point to the more stock heavy balance point of the Valtro model.
LOP 14 1/4", DH 2 1/4", DC 1 1/2" length 46" (26") and 48 (28"). SKB's are just over 7 1/2lbs and the Valtro's are just under with 28" barrels and both are less with 26" barrels. The stock specs can varry on the Valtro models with different shims.
A quick way to tell them apart is to look at a few parts of the gun. The SKB model has a round safety button, magazine cutoff switch (slides) on the left side of the receiver, a solid carrier, and smaller slots in the barrel rib (like Browning Gold). The Valtro has a triangle shaped button, a slot in the middle of the carrier (like most Italian auto loaders), the magazine cuoff is on the right side of the trigger gaurd, and has larger slots in the rib (like Bretta AL391).
