brno advice

[bigrich]

hey fellas , i went to my local toy shop to look at a model 1 brno, unfortunately it sold . however i saw a brno on the rack and had a look-see. it was cheap . model 2 that had been left in a safe that got damp in it , so the outside of the barrel had surface rust/light pitting on the outside of the barrel . it's been lightly linished and cold blued by the shop ,unfortunately the proof mark and year stamp are gone as well . barrel bore looks nice and shiny, it's had use but not flogged out , 6 groove . bolt is discoloured where it was exposed at the ejection port , but it locks up tight and the bolt face is real clean . trigger has approx 3.5 lb pull weight and crisp .they wanted $550
now where this gets interesting is the receiver is highly polished with a deep blue , the stock is the nicest walnut figure i've ever seen on a brno , except for a bit of the heel of the stock chipped off , chequered pistol grip , serial number in the 69,000 range . i believe it to be one of the really rare machined/polished receiver deluxe model 2's from 1963. so what are your opinions on this impulse buy ? it's intended use is field rifle comp and plinking . maybe use it for a build with a lilja barrel down the track ? look forward to your opinions . cheers

[Oldbloke]

"year stamp are gone as well"

This is on the side of the action, not the barrel. Sometimes covered by the stock I believe.

"they wanted $550" a few months ago saw one for sale, a POS for $750 IIRC

Saw one at the range few weeks ago beat up, he paid $700 IIRC

They aren't that good.

No expert but just my 2c

[Oldbloke]

Does it have an original steel magazine? Expensive to buy. The plastics are less than ideal.

[bigrich]

"year stamp are gone as well"

This is on the side of the action, not the barrel. Sometimes covered by the stock I believe.

"they wanted $550" a few months ago saw one for sale, a POS for $750 IIRC

Saw one at the range few weeks ago beat up, he paid $700 IIRC

They aren't that good.

No expert but just my 2c

yeah proof mark and year gone from side of receiver . my slip up. so ya reckon $550 is okay ? if this thing was in very good nick it'd be worth double . the 1963 polished/blued receiver deluxe is rare and collectable . this one is not what i'd even call good condition. but all the important bits seem very sound . might shoot like stink , then again it might not . the toy shop also has a s/s ruger american in 22wmr . maybe i'll switch my purchase over....
besides that my krico 22lr might get jealous of the brno

[bigrich]

Does it have an original steel magazine? Expensive to buy. The plastics are less than ideal.

yeah , original steel mag . besides the damage it's actually all there and hasn't been messed with

[Oldbloke]

If it's one of these rare ones with polished receiver, wouldn't the years stamp still be there?? Or has the shop linished it off?


Just going by what I'm seeing and hearing it's very reasonable. I had one since 79, bought it new. And a used one I bought at a reasonable price from a member here in similar condition. Prices have gone through the roof.
Both like RWS club. Gave it to my grandson.

Nice rifles but IMHO over rated. Prices asked are stupid.

With a bit of loving should come up nice thought.

[bigrich]

If it's one of these rare ones with polished receiver, wouldn't the years stamp still be there?? Or has the shop linished it off?


Just going by what I'm seeing and hearing it's very reasonable. I had one since 79, bought it new. And a used one I bought at a reasonable price from a member here in similar condition. Prices have gone through the roof.
Both like RWS club. Gave it to my grandson.

Nice rifles but IMHO over rated. Prices asked are stupid.

With a bit of loving should come up nice thought.

yeah your right about the brno "legend". i've had a couple in the past that were average shooters including a 12 groove 2E .i had a cz 452 american that changed point of impact at each trip to the range/comp . i currently have a late 60's krico with the adjustable two stage trigger that shoots one ragged hole for 5 shots off a cold barrel with eley club . after that groups open up to around 1/2" at 50 with steady firing. after watching "ozzie reviews" lithgow 101 test , the krico shoots as good as one of those. i've used devcon from repco to bed it at the receiver and put a pad at the end of the stock which has made it very consistent. trigger breaks at 2lb with the first stage adjusted out and is as crisp as a timney . thought i'd get this old brno as another project . the figure in the walnut stock on the brno is really nice . i guess i'm trying to work out if i got a fair deal for $550 ,and whether i can live with a very collectable brno 2 that's in rough shape cosmetically . i use my rifles, but like any good tradesman i look after my tools and appreciate quality . maybe i should pass on the brno and look for a old anschutz ....... yes, i'm a hopeless gun tragic thanks for chatting OB

[Oldbloke]

Did you decide?
Would be good to see some before & after pics.

[Wyliecoyote]

The only highly sought after Brno Model 2 is the oval micro ejection port and 16mm dovetail action version that were offered in a bead blast phosphate looking finish. Looked very agricultural but the actions were at another level where those that do get sold go upwards of $1500. Most ended up in field comp, silhouette or benchrest rifles. Model 2s had hit or miss microgroove, i have a whole bin full of these, or the 6 groove barrels, another bin full of those. They came in various finishes of bluing and timber but are all essentially the same and no version was superior or inferior to the other. Or for that matter rarer than the other. The one described by the OP is only worth what someone will pay. The only suggestion i would make, remove the stock, check the witness marks to determine if it is the original barrel and look for a steel magazine box. The plastic ones, if not already cracked around the mounting holes, will and are hard to find today. If there are witness marks on the barrel but do not align, or they have been polished off, i would be highly sceptical.

[bigrich]

The only highly sought after Brno Model 2 is the oval micro ejection port and 16mm dovetail action version that were offered in a bead blast phosphate looking finish. Looked very agricultural but the actions were at another level where those that do get sold go upwards of $1500. Most ended up in field comp, silhouette or benchrest rifles. Model 2s had hit or miss microgroove, i have a whole bin full of these, or the 6 groove barrels, another bin full of those. They came in various finishes of bluing and timber but are all essentially the same and no version was superior or inferior to the other. Or for that matter rarer than the other. The one described by the OP is only worth what someone will pay. The only suggestion i would make, remove the stock, check the witness marks to determine if it is the original barrel and look for a steel magazine box. The plastic ones, if not already cracked around the mounting holes, will and are hard to find today. If there are witness marks on the barrel but do not align, or they have been polished off, i would be highly sceptical.

appreciate your advice and opinion mate . from what research i've done this rifle is a 1963 machined/polished receiver deluxe, apparently they made these for one year, 1963 . the figure in the walnut stock is of a quality i've never seen in a brno . some pics would definitely help your right in the guts of this rifle is probably no better/worse than other model 2's of this time period .it has a nice shiny 6 groove barrel ,period correct brno sights , crown looks good too . bolt is very slick and closes with a good feel for the head space . looking down through the mag hole with mag removed it has the steel mag housing . your right in saying it's only worth what someone is willing to pay . $550 for a model 2 that's a bit tainted in the bluing due to external light rust pitting is about right i reckon, the real determination of it's value is how it shoots . only one way to ascertain that . buying second hand guns is a gamble.... i'm considering whether or not to build a custom out of it with a boyds laminate stock and a medium weight barrel . worth the trouble ? cheers

[Oldbloke]

" i'm considering whether or not to build a custom out of it with a boyds laminate stock and a medium weight barrel . worth the trouble "

Just NO!
Restore it.

[bigrich]

well i solved my problem too-ing and fro-ing over old second hand stuff of unknown quantity , this afternoon i bought a brand new lithgow 101 22lr . no more second hand rifle lucky-dip for me . brilliant trigger straight out of the box. i'll put a trigger pull gauge on it , but it feels like a crisp 2lb trigger to me . thanks for your time and advice fellas . cheers

[Oldbloke]

well i solved my problem too-ing and fro-ing over old second hand stuff of unknown quantity , this afternoon i bought a brand new lithgow 101 22lr . no more second hand rifle lucky-dip for me . brilliant trigger straight out of the box. i'll put a trigger pull gauge on it , but it feels like a crisp 2lb trigger to me . thanks for your time and advice fellas . cheers

fair enough

[bigrich]

put a lyman trigger pull gauge on my lithgow , a consistent 2.1lb trigger pull . it's even more consistent than some of the timneys in my centrefires . lithgow must've listened to their customers about trigger pull weight . that's rare these days . good on lithgow