I ran across this the other day:



http://www.thadscott.com/

Price could be a little better, but these are fairly scarce, condition looks to be good though.

Just in case somebodies interested, or in the market.

If it still retains the factory stock it has been reshaped, recheckered and a forend tip, grip cap and pad added. Also the barrel band looks to be an addition. Not a bad looking rifle. Ron won't like the safety.

I have a 600 and it came stock with the band. I think the pre CZ ones all had bands, and they disappeared in the final years of the ZKK when CZ took over production.

Stock I am not sure, this could be original, they defiantely made some plain Jane versions, but I think premium wood was an option and an upgrade, so this could be an original. Maybe Alf knows he is much more knowledgable on little BRNO details than I, but digging in his gunsafe to check all the time is cheating.

I admit the safeties are wierd for a lot of people but one thing I really like is its really fast to flip the safety back and is quicker than the push forward. I think it just needs to be gotten used to, I actually grew to like mine, but it didn't start that way.

I like the factory safeties just fine on ZKKs, some folks on these boards absolutely hate them though, call them "backasswards".
The barrel band could be original, I think the stock is too, but as I said I'm pretty sure it has been modified. (I've owned a few Brnos myself)

quote:

(I've owned a few Brnos myself)

Yeah I have seen your posts on BRNO's before. I think its factory wood actually that the forend tip and the Buttpad have been upgraded, so I agree its been modified. All the factory forend tips I have seen were cut at a diagonal, and I have never seen one that got anywhere close to that black, they all seemed to have reddish rosewood tips.

Still not a bad rifle all in all, I would pack around that 375 H&H, these are pretty slick rifles with a little attention to detail.

.

Ok ALf more text and less pics, was there a period in the 1980's this were slightly differently manaufactured?

Or were all ZKK's right up till the very end in the 90's the same?

And what do you think on the stock?

While were on a Thad Scott gun tell me...

is the Jerry Fischer 7 Mag for $3000 not a Savage? I keep looking at the bolt release above the trigger and wondering...

Alf,

I love your full stocked .416 !!

Never did like Brnos, or anything about them.
But that pop up peep is the best looking invention since centerfire ammo.
JL.

Ditto JAL on the pop-up peep.

Pity that a "best" and a "worst" feature are combined in the same rifle.

Forrest,
"Bassackward" is how I usually describe the abhorred safety, but "backassward" works too.

quote:

JAL: Never did like Brnos, or anything about them.

What's not to like?

The way many have trouble with the "backward safety" on the ZKK, never stops to surprise me.

It´s just like cocking the hammer on a SAA revolver, or a lever action rifle. ( THE American Rifle Action !! )

What about changing from automatic to manual gear shift in cars......same problem.??

And not all ZKK´s are used as DG rifles if that´s an argument.

I´m perfectly happy with my ZKK´s, the "backward safety" and set trigger.
Thats the way they were made, and thats the way they shall remain.....
In my book, they are great guns ...period.

quote:

It´s just like cocking the hammer on a SAA revolver, or a lever action rifle. ( THE American Rifle Action !!

Exactly, I compare them to a old hammer style double action shotgun or big bore rifle. I admit its strange for most first time users, but with a little practice it becomes second nature and I like the feature, to each his own I quess.

And yes I think they are great rifles, I like the ZG's better but the price tag on them reflects it.

Fla3006,

Did you see the ZKK 601 in 308? I was considering this rifle, I have dealt with Thad Scott before, and they were fair but a little overpriced in my mind. I really want a cherry box stock ZKK, but the missing original scope mounts on this one bothers me. Yes I have found aftermarket mounts but I haven't seen any fitted, so its a big question mark in my head.

I called them and asked him about taking mounts of one of the other ZKK's he has and he wouldn't do it, and couldn't tell me if they were aftermarket or original, he didn't know enough about the rifles.

Schromf, it looks like a nice one to me, pretty wood, much nicer than what came on most ZKKs, altho some had stunning wood. Not sure what you mean about the scope mounts/rings. I bought 4 new ZKKs back in the 80s and they didn't come with rings, did come with two types of triggers. I like Warne rings the best on my Brnos, the new ones supplied on CZs will work but are too heavy IMO. The price is a little high too, but still a good looking rifle.

Fla3006,

Hmmm,

Although the price is a little steep I do like the wood on this rifle. The pic is crappy so its difficult to tell exactly how good the condition is.

I will check out the Warne mounts ad rings.

I know my next rifle purchase is going to be either another ZKK or a ZG. And it wouldn't take much to get me to bolt and go the ZG route, I have had my eyes open on this for 6 months or better, and finding good specimens is tough, or they have vastly overoptomistic prices attached.

I like both yours and Alfs Brno collections, very nice rifles.

quote:

Schromf: I know my next rifle purchase is going to be either another ZKK or a ZG. And it wouldn't take much to get me to bolt and go the ZG route, I have had my eyes open on this for 6 months or better, and finding good specimens is tough, or they have vastly overoptomistic prices attached.

If you can locate a ZG in Canada or Europe where they are more common (none are common, only 20K were made), you might get a good deal. In the US they are very scarce (weren't imported here) and are almost never under $1K unless the seller doesn't know what he has. The two on GunsAmerica are a little pricey but not by too much.

The Backass safety is in my view a better design than the push forward.
When walking along in a semi ready state, with a thumb on the safty, it makes more sense to me to pull it back and wrap the thumb around the hand of the rifle, than it does to push forward, stop and then draw the thumb back.
But then I've allways been a contrary old fool,
even when I was a young fella.

I was aware of the Canadian route, Europe is a little tougher as I am not traveling there as much as I used to.

I accept they are scarce, and I will pay a premium over either the Canadian or European price. Just checked on the ones on Gunsamerica, are you sure thats not the same rifle with and without the scope? Caliber is solid but uninspiring. On pricing I saw one a few weeks ago for over $3K, and just thought to myself "what are you smoking?".

Another point I have found on these is because they are scarce, they are charging way to much. I never see these going for even 100% blue book value. Worse yet they are 90-98% guns and they are 20% over top dollar.

But I know from doing my looking, its when you find one pay close attention and expect to pay the premium. Thats why I gave Thad Scott a second look, they actually have a few. Maybe I will call them again on Monday, my FFL dealers still on file with them and it would be a easy sale.

If I have a large number of rifles and shotguns, and it is hardwired into me to PUSH the Mauser flag safety downward to the left, or to PUSH the Winchester wing safety forward, or to PUSH the CZ side safety forward, or to PUSH the tang safeties forward on Merkels and Rugers ... to ready to fire ...

I am not going to tolerate a PULL back to fire on any long gun I own.

The Brno (CZ) ZKK rifles are fine guns, except for the BASSackward safeties. No two ways about it for the majority of shooters, who are hard wired to PUSH safety to the fire position.

My 500A2/.510 JAB is a BRNO ZKK 602 ... with the Bassackward safety replaced.

Even if the gun is not a DGR, fumbling around with a safety may cost meat.

Why don't CZ still make bassackward safeties? Hmmm ???

[QUOTE]Originally posted by oldun:
The Backass safety is in my view a better design than the push forward.
QUOTE]
It may well be. I'ts just that with vertually everything else being opersite, and that when people are distracted or excited etc., they tend to react by habit, it could be quite dangerous when we are used to the standard.
And now it seems some BRNOs are different again.
Their just begging for trouble.
JL

Rip,

What gunsmith work was required this is a curious and interesting point. What parts were required for changeover, were these off the shelf parts? I'm into a full custom right now on a BRNO being built on a old Jeffries theme, and that mod would work well if the cosmetics were good.

I will add that I got used to the backwards safety, kind of the more I shot it the easier it got, and eventually I figured out I liked it. Took a while I admit, but I am used to it now and doesn't seem like a quirk at all anymore.

I could see how some would dislike it, but for me it just like cocking a revolver which doesn't seem backwards to me at all.

schromf,
Jim Wisner seems to have quit making them. It was about $400 for the safety, new bolt shroud and fixture used. Then add the gunsmith labor. Ended up with a Model 70 style 3-position "wing" safety.

I am waiting to see if Tom Burgess makes some new ones.

It was sounding hopeful ...

Backass or just something different
Earlier this year I took my new Ruger No 1 down to the woods. It took all of one outing to get used to,it was see pig, push tang safety forward, shoot, kill pig, eject and reload with a round from my right trouser pocket. Not a problem!
Actualy, in retrospect, it was pleasing to have done it without having thought about it.
Whilst I have had tang safety guns before It was the first time I had used a single shot.
Second shot, the next day, was much the same except it was, bloody hell I missed a fine Red hind, but it would not have been any different with any other rifle it was one of those 10% going away shots in thick cover.
If this old dog can do something new, so can you!

Keep on running! For that price you can get CZ 550 Magnum + a quality scope. I had a ZKK 602, you're not missing much.

Paolo9,5x73:


I am not interested in the 375, I have a sweet 1958 Model 70 in that caliber, and your right I wouldn't be happy with it. I was looking at the ZKK 601 .308.

I know its a bear to find but I would much rather have a ZG47, in a smaller chamois caliber, max up to a 7mm. It doesn't mean a 9.3x62 wouldn't get jumped on, but I hunt smaller calibers a lot more nowdays.