416 Rigby on a Brno Zkk 602 action

[stug]

@Warren Knudsen someone mentioned BRNO would also stamp the calibre on the floorplate or magazine follower or magazine liner. That might be worth checking to see if there is a stamp there.

 

[sestoppelman]

But not all the time.

 

[sestoppelman]

Hello sestoppelman,

Yes, you are right about the 602 was factory made in .300 Win Mag. But, I understand, not in the early BRNO with peep sights.

I agree.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hello stug,

In the BRNO ZKK series, we are talking here about, the magazine box, a rather simple but correctly designed stamped steel piece, has the caliber OR the group of calibers it is designed for. As an example, the ZKK 601 for the .308 Win has the left side of the magazine box marked .308 W AND .243 W. In the ZKK 600, the standard lenght action, the magazine box are marked for a group .30-06, .270 and 7x64. The 7x57 are marked as such. And in my 600 9,3x62 is only stamped 9,3x62, because the magazine box for it, has not exactly the same dimentions as the one for the.30-06 group.
So, the mark that counts is the one on the barrel, for sure.

 

[IvW]

It was most definitely available in 416 Rigby until 1986 on the ZKK 602 action. .300 Win. Mag., .375 H&H, 8x68MM (disc), .416 Rigby (disc 1986), or .458 Win. Mag.

The one pictured here was not built by Rigby.

 

[stug]

It was most definitely available in 416 Rigby until 1986 on the ZKK 602 action. .300 Win. Mag., .375 H&H, 8x68MM (disc), .416 Rigby (disc 1986), or .458 Win. Mag.

The one pictured here was not built by Rigby.

Interesting you say that. The BRNO year book from 2014 makes no mention of it or the 8x68.

"to this day, probably the most famous is the heavy model ZKK 602. It was pro‑ duced in the calibers 375 H&H Mag, 358 Magnum and 458 WinMag, and later also in 300 WinMag and 7 mm remMag. Production of 602s began a bit later, in 1967; there were several short in‑ termissions and the total production volume was lower than in the cases of its weaker sisters. nevertheless, by the end of serial production, in 1997, well over 26,000 pieces had been manufactured, which is a respectable number. "

 

[IvW]

Yip, was also available in 404 Jeff, rare.
The 8x68S as well, rare.

 

[Accidental Villain]

The one pictured here was not built by Rigby.

Hey @IvW I guess this one was a small hickup,, Nobody have said the pictured rifle was "built by Rigby" as far as I can see in the thread.
Its a fact that Rigby under Paul Roberts built a number of their big game rifles based on the Brno 602 action, possibly barrelled actions, starting in the early seventy's.
We must bear in mind that back then the 416 Rigby cartridge was almost obsolete. There where only a couple of hundred of rifles in existence. Some living a REAL hard life in Africa in the hands of PH`s, others dusting down in collectors cabinets. I believe I`ve read somewhere that Norma made a couple of batches of ammo, but just finding ammo for this one must have been a challenge at least. So what triggered Brno to chamber a number of their 602 in this calibre!?
Anyways, retooling production to make a number of barrelled actions for Rigby, we`re talking a small number here..so hey,,why stop there,,the white collars have long since infiltrated the arms production. You obviously make a number of barrelled actions making the efforts worth while. I`m by no means a historian and may be way out on the moors here but I think it makes sense. And my guess is that these few Brno 602`s in 416 Rigby sold out immediately to enthusiasts because its a perfect combo

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hello,

As an enthusiastic of the BRNO firearms, I am always in search of information about them.
I never see any evidence of those ZKK 602 with peep sights, made until 1978 or so, to be chambered other than .358 NORMA, .375 H&H and .458 Winchester Magnum. BRNO chambered few of them in 8x68, after the peep sight period, and in .300 Win Mag as well. Some said in 7 mm Rem Mag too. I never heard of one in the later. It is not impossible, but very improbable or, very few were made. Aprox. at the same time, the .358 NORMA was dropped from the line.

 

[sestoppelman]

The info above was lifted from the Blue Book I believe which does say it was available in .416, but as is often the case that info is erroneous. They often print things that were supposed to happen but never did. I have seen no other reference to a .416 chambering in print.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Agree, sestoppelman.

 

[Warren Knudsen]

Hello,

As an enthusiastic of the BRNO firearms, I am always in search of information about them.
I never see any evidence of those ZKK 602 with peep sights, made until 1978 or so, to be chambered other than .358 NORMA, .375 H&H and .458 Winchester Magnum. BRNO chambered few of them in 8x68, after the peep sight period, and in .300 Win Mag as well. Some said in 7 mm Rem Mag too. I never heard of one in the later. It is not impossible, but very improbable or, very few were made. Aprox. at the same time, the .358 NORMA was dropped from the line.

Well I guess now you have seen at least on made with a peep prior to 1978,
I have seen a 67 with a peep also, so they do obviously exist, rear but hay, who is to say what came out of the factory that was not a large scale production run.

 

[stug]

Here is a link to the 2104 CZ yearbook that has an article on the history of all the ZKK models

https://www.czub.cz/rocenka_en/index.html

 

[sestoppelman]

Well I guess now you have seen at least on made with a peep prior to 1978,
I have seen a 67 with a peep also, so they do obviously exist, rear but hay, who is to say what came out of the factory that was not a large scale production run.

He was saying the peeps were made prior to 78.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Great inforfation, stug. I had seen it but forgot to downoad.
Thank you.

 

[Accidental Villain]

It took some time but I knew I had an old Brno book somewhere,,and I found it As you can see the pictured 602 has the peep sight. The book/ catalouge is from the early seventys. Available calibers are 375 H&H, 358 NM, 458 WM and most importantly AND OTHERS! Indicating that Brno made their 602 in other calibers as well. I’ve been working in the business and know for a fact that if you have very good contacts at some factorys you can have specials made provided large enhough order. I am sure Brittish, German, American wholesellers could order special runs. I am pretty sure this 416 Rigby Brno is factory original and specials in 404, 8x68 and also 300 H&H (I know I’ve seen it somewhere) can be found.

 

[Guy.G]

It took some time but I knew I had an old Brno book somewhere,,and I found it As you can see the pictured 602 has the peep sight. The book/ catalouge is from the early seventys. Available calibers are 375 H&H, 358 NM, 458 WM and most importantly AND OTHERS! Indicating that Brno made their 602 in other calibers as well. I’ve been working in the business and know for a fact that if you have very good contacts at some factorys you can have specials made provided large enhough order. I am sure Brittish, German, American wholesellers could order special runs. I am pretty sure this 416 Rigby Brno is factory original and specials in 404, 8x68 and also 300 H&H (I know I’ve seen it somewhere) can be found.

View attachment 222584 View attachment 222585

That is some handy information, A.V.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hello A.V.

The BRNO ZKK 602 brochure is clear about the cartridges their rifle was chambered for. And, "...and others..." could mean that size of the magazine and length of the action is suitable for those "others". I see very difficult the BRNO did not announce, clearly, they could make the rifle for other cartridges.
Plus, the link stug upload https://www.czub.cz/rocenka_en/index.html, published by CZ himself does not shows nothing about the option the factory could produce these first 602 for other cartridges.
Warren's fine .416 Rigby has, undoubtedly, an original barrel. But the bluing is not original. Plus, the ".416 RIGBY" caliber inscription on the barrel was not done by a factory roll stamp, for sure! See the stamping (and bluing) on my 9,3x62 of the same era.
Happy Easter for all.

 

[Dr Ray]

Another project Pheroze ??

 

[Pheroze]

Another project Pheroze ??

Lol. Not just yet but very tempting