Brno Model 1 Machining wonder!

786 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by TOU, Jul 14, 2008

mauser22

Discussion Starter · #1 · Jul 12, 2008

I am in the process of cleaning up two more of the Century imports. I currently have them knocked all the way down.

While I have often marveled at the quality and quantity of machine cuts on these guns, this morning I tryed to count them. I kept getting lost. Then I did some comparisons to other PRE CNC old world milled and machined .22 rifles.
Before I was through I had 8 guns out of the wood to include an Anschutz 54, Mauser KKW, Mauser 410b, Walther Sportmodell, and a Suhl 150.

Nothing comes close.

I would like to challenge any machinist amongst us affectionados to determine how many set ups were required to make all the cuts on this action. I can't do it and frankly have no experience other than watching some professionals and touring industries.

I have also come to the conclusion that only under a Communist system could such a gun have been produced in such quantity. There is no way that the labor envolved could have been cost effective enough for a Capitalist system to produce a gun that would be marketable.

I can not imagine Brno making any profit on these even with dirt cheap labor.

After the war there was a surplus of material, skilled labor, and manufacturing capability sitting idle and they had to do something. The world being predominantly at peace they did find a few markets for military arms and rework of German arms and utilization of left overs in addition to sporting arms.

All the references I have indicate this was a time when pursuit of world markets for sporting guns naturally became a priority for Brno.

Still, there is no way this gun could have been a money maker. It helped get them going, established new markets, and went on the father the finest line of .22 rifles marketed world wide at affordable prices. So in the end it paid off for ???

With the exception of the incorporation of the gas porting system I see no real improvements in subsequent models. Only attempts to reduce production costs.

THINK ABOUT IT!

What do you think it would cost to manufacture one of these today using those old methods.

I think I am gonna order some more.

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Zack

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Joined Apr 18, 2003

338 Posts

#10 · Jul 13, 2008 (Edited)

Old World Craftsmanship

A good quick read is 'The Bridge at Andau', by James Michener 1957. It's about Hungary in the post WWll years and the Hungarian Revolution. No it's not Checzoslavakia and Brno, but it's geographically close and went through the same trials and tribulations as the Checzs did. What they maunfactured and to who they sold their products, wages etc. Also Hungary had (has) some old world arms manufactureres. FEG in Budapest still makes a quality firearm and they were around then, under another name I'm sure. A good read on what the Soviet satellite countries went through after WWll.