Brno Model 2 Restoration

Improving and repairing firearms. Rifle bedding, barrel work, stock replacement and other ways to improve your firearms.

Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 07 Jun 2020, 11:52 am

The other day I picked up a 1966 Brno in what I would describe as poor to fair condition. Price seemed fair. The seller seemed to think it had been in storage a long time and not used much. There has been a few delays due to corona virus and logistics. I got it as a project to give to my grandson when he turns 18. So, a labour of love. For a year or so now he has been tagging along on a few trips and seems keen. I'm way ahead of myself here as he is only 14. :D

Indications are that not a huge amount of ammo has been through it. The magazine is an after market plastic one. But I have a 10 shot original I have never used. Most of the work required isn't very difficult mainly just a lot of time. The stock is just time sanding and oiling. (BLO) The barrel however is very rusty and pitted on one section. I will clean up the stock first than see what can be done with the barrel. In the mean time I stripped the bolt yesterday and was pretty dirty inside. Cleaned and oiled now. I'm yet to test fire it, so will do that when I get around to it.


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When the stock is well advanced or completed I will up load some more pics.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Wm.Traynor » 07 Jun 2020, 4:01 pm

This will be interesting :)
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by GQshayne » 07 Jun 2020, 7:33 pm

That pitting is bad, not sure you will be able to file and sand that out. I have done a few this way and then Cerakoted them, but that looks a bit too bad. You could use filler on it and then paint the barrel, or use air cure Cerakote. I have not tried this myself though.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 07 Jun 2020, 8:15 pm

Current plan is to draw file it. Sand and blue.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Ziege » 07 Jun 2020, 10:58 pm

Know someone who's howa got pitted bad after sea spray was left on it, was a bit too bad to sand out, they used rust converter and a Dremel with a really small wire brush and cleaned out all the active corrosion, more rust converter then added some high quality body filler, recoil of the 22 wasn't so much that it forced the body filler to come out, and was only on receiver/breach so after that was evened out he cerakoted it and hey presto looked new as.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by marksman » 07 Jun 2020, 11:18 pm

l've seen a lot worse and IMHO possibly the best 22 rimfire on the market
very lucky boy :thumbsup:
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Stix » 08 Jun 2020, 12:18 am

Well...call me a weirdo...but i like an underdog...
I think its a cracker...especially having both front n rear sight intact.
And id rather a rifle that shoots with pitting than a safe queen...
And i prefer to see the real skin rather than cover it up...aint nothin worse than walking into a beautiful old character home & seeing the character buried under direct stuck plasterboard walls & foam panels glued to the ceiling...or an old Holden with a Nissan pulsar seat welded in... :thumbsdown:

Have you got it shooting...?

I couldnt wait to get it shooting first...then give it the personal touch....refurb the stock & steam out the dings, then stop the rust, give it a blue as is & let the pitting stand proud i say... :clap:

Anyway...Looks like a good little project.

Im curious to know what it cost...not to pry, just for curiosity to see what they go for...but respect the fact you prob dont want to say...
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 08 Jun 2020, 2:59 am

Yeh, being a Brno & having the original sights intact was attractive.

No, have not fired it yet. I have already stripped it completely. Perhaps in a few weeks if I get an opportunity. I want to give the barrel a good scrub first. Bore looks very good.

I intent to start on the stock in a few days. Perhaps today.

I'll be happy to remove about 95% of the pitting. I'm very confident the rifle is safe to shoot.

Didn't pay a lot, but needs a lot of work/time. I was casually looking for a cheap project. Brand was not important.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Stix » 08 Jun 2020, 7:49 am

Well if it wasnt much & brand wasnt important, thats a pretty good score...

But i would have shot it...you know...cos its a gun n all... :lol:
:)

So if youve already started, where's the progress pics... :unknown:
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 08 Jun 2020, 9:32 am

Disassembled the rifle including the bolt. And have cleaned and assembled the bolt only.

Barrel end cap was ceased on. But soaked in penetrene over 24hr period and got it off.

Patience is a virtue.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by in2anity » 12 Jun 2020, 8:06 am

Can't wait to see how this turns out OB - I'd love to attempt something like this myself.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 12 Jun 2020, 8:13 am

Still sanding the stock. I'll change to a finer grade soon.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 12 Jun 2020, 12:53 pm

Quick up date pic.
I scraped the old laquer off with an old knife.

Steamed out 2 dings and the larger about half way. Still visible if you look closely.

Sanding is on the way but still a fair bit to go.

Cleaned out the checkering with metho and a fine bronze brush. Doesnt look too bad and will try to retain.

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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Stix » 12 Jun 2020, 1:04 pm

Good stuff OB... :thumbsup:

And yes---keep that checkering for the boy hey...!!
He'll be proud that you did your best to keep what you could, rather than hack it away cos its too hard... :thumbsup: :)

Maybe try get in & scrape it again with a scalpel or something for a bit of definition...?? :unknown:
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 12 Jun 2020, 2:12 pm

Stix wrote:Good stuff OB... :thumbsup:

And yes---keep that checkering for the boy hey...!!
He'll be proud that you did your best to keep what you could, rather than hack it away cos its too hard... :thumbsup: :)

Maybe try get in & scrape it again with a scalpel or something for a bit of definition...?? :unknown:


Your a mind reader. Was just now doing that. Lol
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 12 Jun 2020, 3:02 pm

Using tape in short sections to protect the checkering.

Seems to work ok.

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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by marksman » 12 Jun 2020, 5:40 pm

l get the checkering to stand up a bit by steaming and brushing lightly with a wire brush
l steam the whole stock when l do it and drench the stock so it swells up then sand with steel wool to get the fibres smooth again
that's a nice piece of stick there Olbloke it should come up nicely
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 12 Jun 2020, 6:00 pm

Thanks for the tip to steam the checkering. I will do that. It just needs a bit more finer sanding and it'll be ready to oil.
Happy with the way its coming along.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by GQshayne » 12 Jun 2020, 7:44 pm

Keep in mind that wet sanding with your oil can fill minor dings nicely rather than too much sanding.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 14 Jun 2020, 7:07 pm

So, mum and I decided to get the grandsons hands dirty and get him involved in the restoration.
He come around today and did some 400 grit sanding and we also gave it the first dose of BLO. (about 6 drops for the complete stock) After that a bit more 400 grit sanding.

Next week a repeat of today, more oil and sanding. Then another 2 or 3 doses of BLO then perhaps some DIY stock wax.

Very happy at this stage.

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Edit. May have a crack at tidying up the checkering. Will buy or make the tool.
Last edited by Oldbloke on 14 Jun 2020, 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Wm.Traynor » 14 Jun 2020, 7:27 pm

That looks good :) :thumbsup:
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 14 Jun 2020, 7:38 pm

Wm.Traynor wrote:That looks good :) :thumbsup:



Very happy with it. 95% of the dings and scratches (some steamed) have come out. I need to be careful, it might become a safe queen the way its going. Lol

Have decided the nect project will be my Brno model 2. :P

Then the ML.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by cleger » 15 Jun 2020, 1:16 am

Oldbloke wrote:Edit. May have a crack at tidying up the checkering. Will buy or make the tool.


The tools are relatively cheap, and worth it. You'll be able to make that checkering better than new.

My advice is to do most of the work with a "spacer" tool, that cuts one groove at a time, with a non-cutting "safe" guide. Once you have the lines-per-inch worked out, (before you buy the cutter,) it will make it easy to keep your lines straight and even.

https://www.brownells.com.au/index.php? ... t_id=12213 (My second post here, and my second link to that site. I promise I have no relationship with Brownell's.)

The "three row" cutters are fast, and make it easy to create uniform checkering on new work, but you may find that the LPI on your Czech stock is not quite exactly so many lines-per-inch, in which case over some distance, you'll be cutting through the tops of the diamonds.

Safer still is a single-row cutter, and you'll want/need one anyway for working in the "corners" where there isn't enough room for a two-row cutter, and to finish that "borderless" front edge, but I find it's a rather harder to keep the depth uniform with the single cutter than with a "spacer" when you're working out in the clear areas.

Or you could just bend a triangular file (or buy a curved needle file) and have at it!
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Jun 2020, 12:31 pm

So, while waiting for the BLO to dry I have been investigating "rust bluing".

The process is.
1. apply the rust initiator. (usually twice)
2. keep in a humid environment. A few hours depending on conditions.
3. once it is rusty steam or boil for 20 to 40 minutes. The rust turns into Magnetite. (bluing)
4. Card off loose magnetite using steel wool or a very fine steel brush
5. repeat 1 to 4 a few times (5 to 7) to get a nice finish.

I couldn't work out why there are so many "secret recipes" to make a piece of steel rust so it can be steamed. I mean rust is rust, right. Hydrochloride acid gets a mention, (so does a salt and vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixture, along with a few others) and guess what. Spirits of Salts is 33% Hydrochloride acid. (yep good old solder flux) So, as I have some why not give it a try. I piece of 5mm mild steel that was roughly machined was what I had so it got the treatment. (gloves and safety glasses advised)

I gave it a good sand of coarse, perhaps 100 grit then 400 grit. Was still showing machining marks but I figure as a bit of a test I will give it a go.

I very lightly swabbed it with about 16% acid solution and left for a couple of hours hanging in the man cave. (shed, Im in Sth Victoria) Result was very little rust. So did again but this time 33% and checked in the morning.(about 12 hours) And it had obvious rust.

So placed I it in mums vegi steamer and steamed for about 25 minutes.(she was out. LOL) As expected it turned black and had a layer of loose material. Gave it a light rub with some steel wool and this is the result.

1st bluing Resized_20200617_113141.jpeg
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Looks very promising. Old machining is obvious but that can be ignored for the testing process.
Ill do it 3 or 4 more times and report back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel)

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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Wm.Traynor » 17 Jun 2020, 2:56 pm

Looks nice and dark Oldbloke :thumbsup:
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Jun 2020, 4:55 pm

Yeh, looks ok. I'll do it a couple more times to this bit of ms and see how it looks. Not hard. Heaps of potential.

P.S. over the years I've found a lot if people like to make out stuff is very complex or technical. Primarily to boast or make money.Usually it isnt and if it is can be learned reasonably quickly. Lol This is starting to look like another example of just that.
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by marksman » 17 Jun 2020, 7:31 pm

just to show how much rust l see when l am doing the cold blue, my way

Image

Image

and the results

Image

l clean up the metal work, degrease, sand, polish ect... pour boiling water over apply the bluing solution up to as many times as it takes leaving over night
if its not rusty its not bluing the metal parts
l usually use birchwood casey products but others would have to be as good
l dont consider my way as good as proper hot bluing but its ok ;)
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Jun 2020, 7:50 pm

I'm not seeing that much at this stage. About half that.

Are you doing similar to me or another method? When you say "cold bluing", Ive assumed you are just applying a "cold Blue" paste/liquid such as Birchwood casey sells. Are you steaming?
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by marksman » 17 Jun 2020, 8:22 pm

yes just the liquid cold blue solution but after the rifle parts are hot from the boiling water
when you see the rust the next morning its like OMG what have l done, but just rub oil over the rust and it turns blue/black and will smooth out, no steel wool
leave the oil on the parts to stop the solution from activating, creating more rust, have a good look and when you cant see through the blue its done
keep it oil soaked for a few weeks and see it get darker and darker as time goes by
usually it take 3-5 times before l am really happy with the coatings

this is a photo of an old shotty l did with the methods l use to show how good cold blue can be

Image
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Re: Brno Model 2 Restoration

Post by cleger » 18 Jun 2020, 2:22 am

Oldbloke wrote:Looks very promising. Old machining is obvious but that can be ignored for the testing process.
Ill do it 3 or 4 more times and report back.


That looks about right - I'd say you're on the right track. I likewise thought about making my own solution, but I didn't have any peroxide, etc, so I figured I'd just buy the stuff. The recipes do seem to be a bit "guarded," as you said.

I'd describe the commercial stuff I've used as thin and watery, and flash off and dry almost immediately. Something to keep in mind.
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