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Thanks for the insight!

Regardless, the CZ 550 is so similar to the ZKK 602 that I assume they could make it look like the old ZKK. It would truly be awesome if they could add the pop-up peep and a Winchester style three position safety to the current CZ 550 Safari.

Alf,
ZB standing for ZBROJOVKA BRNO Narodni Podnik, made in Czechoslovakia as stated on the 21 and 22 models, correct? Therefore these are true Brnos????

Would this book be available in Australia or any were were it would be easy to get hold of ??

Alf,

Thank you for summarizing the book on "BRNO".

I have a couple of "BRNO" rifles: a Koucky ZKK 602 in .375 H&H, and a ZKM 611 .22 Mag semi-auto take-down rifle.

For a blue steel and walnut rifle, I don't think you can find a better factory rifle for the price in the world.

I buy several Chay Zed rifles each year for our SCI Chapter fund raiser, and people ask for more.

jim dodd

The models 21 and 22 (not marked on rifles) were the last of the small ring mausers made by the original Brno company. The ZG-47 was the last of the large ring mausers.

The 601 and 602 rifles were attempt to compete with other modern designs, keeping only the extractor of the original mausers.

CZ picked up this design when Brno dropped it and markets it under the 550 name. Here is their website: CZ

The original Brno metal works are again making rifles, using the large ring 98. The quality is good, about the same as CZ is doing. However, nothing will ever equal the hand fitted quality of their pre-1960 rifles. Here is their website: Brno

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Alf,

Thanks for typing all that in. I hate to type so I skip alot.

I have a pre 49 round top 22F in 7x64. It has a full stock 23.5" barrel. I also have one of the current full stock 98's in 9.3x62.

For the benefit of other readers. Both CZ and Brno have been around since the end of WWI. Brno made rifles, CZ made pistols. They both made a lot of other military armaments. During the '60s Brno stopped making firearms. The 600, 601 and 602 were made at the CZ plant, but the Czech government at the time required the exported rifles to carry the Brno name. In the early '90s they returned to using the CZ moniker and modified the design into the 550 style.

The Brno and CZ plants are about an hour's drive from each other, and I am sure some of the staff are working at both of them.

My favorite is the ZG-47, supposedly designed in 1947. Desirable features include a unique and attractive rotary bolt safety, hinged straddle floorplate, 98 Mauser extraction, integral double square bridge scope mount, Oberndorf-style bolt knob, etc. Only about 20,000 were manufactured, mostly from 1956-1962, although I have one that was built in 1950 (serial number 44). This rifle has a stock, trigger guard and bolt stop release and checkering pattern that are slightly different from all the others I have examined. Of the other 16 or so I have owned I have observed 2 barrel lengths, stocks with & without cheekpieces (both European & American style), with & without grip caps, and 3 different checkering patterns. Matte finish and high polish receivers were also made. Bolt handles are often numbered to the receiver but not always. I have been told that double set triggers, engraving, stock carving and full length Mannlicher-style stocks were also available. I have also owned Parker Hale Hussars and a F.W. Heym made on ZG-47 actions. Unfortunately, I have also seen a lot of ZG-47's that came out of Canada with large, shallow holes drilled in the top of the receiver bridge to accomodate after-market scope rings (Tasco or EAW I believe) with a detent on the bottom of the ring to prevent the scope from sliding forward. Another popular thing to do was to grind down the top of the bolt handle stem to clear the scope eyepiece when using low mounted scopes. Nowdays, Warne, Talley and others make nice rings since the advent of ZKK and CZ rifles that use the same integral square bridge. Calibers I have seen most often are 30-06, 7x57 & 270. Metric calibers including 7x64, 8x57, 8x60, 9.3x62 & 10.75x68 were also available.

[ 12-05-2002, 23:50: Message edited by: fla3006 ]

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ALF- A 1946-1947 ZG-47 in 9.3x64 has to be one of the ultimate Mauser-type sporting rifles. Must be one of the very first ZG's. My 1950 rifle (SN 0044) alledgedly was a salesman sample. It has a nicely figured stock with a sunburst horn grip cap, horn schnabble forend tip, concave rollover cheekpiece with shadowline and a checkering pattern unlike any other I have seen. It is in 270 Win and the triggerguard and the bolt stop release are slightly longer than all the others I have seen. When the rifle was described to me over the phone by the seller, I thought it must have been restocked at some point, but I don't think so after I received it. I can try to send you a picture if you would like to see it. Haven't yet tried to post any pictures on this site, which seems somewhat complicated.

ALF,

Please check your Private Messages.

Todd

I have a Brno 602 in 8X68. there does'nt seem to be many about. Also the 602 was produced for a time in 358 Norma magnum. It was noticeable that the big drop in quality in Brno rifles occured after the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia in 1967.
Mark

Alf,

Mate of mine is an avid ZG fan, but has quite a few 21's and 600 series ZKK's as well...if it has BRNO on it he likes it. I think his ultimate aim is a Bren gun.....which with our gun laws is probably never going to happen (still he has 10+ mags for one)
His collection is extensive but alas he is a tecnophobe and email is a dirty word.

If you every get over here I reckon I could con him into giving you a tour.