The project began when we came on an early, 1967 made, ZKK602 chambered for the .358 Norma Magnum cartridge.
Fully taking the rifle to pieces revealed how well made it was and under the factory varnish we discovered a nice piece of very dense Circassian walnut.
We made our mind in converting this rifle to a no frills 404 Jeffery working gun.
First, as we want to preserve the high quality Poldi steel barrel with its integral rear sight base and recoil block, it was carefully unscrewed from the action and shipped to our friend Peter Hambrusch in Ferlach to be .423" re-bored and cut rifled with a 14" twist.
As usually with Peter, the work was top notch and we got a match grade barrel of famed Poldi steel.
We used a piloted Triebel reamer to cut the new .404 chamber and the whole assembly was re-proofed.
Then the action was completely overhauled for a perfect feeding, blue printed, hand lapped and inside polished and we replaced the original shroud and side safety by an Ed La Pour side swing conversion, with "FIRE" detail inlaid in gold.
We converted the set trigger to a single stage one and took the greatest care of the reliability of the system.
A three leaves, gold lined, express sight was regulated on a larger gold bead front while we retained its original quick release button and the unusual sliding protector.
To end the metal work, the caliber on the barrel and the SN on the trigger guard bow were hand engraved.
Now for the stock, apart from a full reshaping to our own standards, a steel grip cap, new checkering and hand rubbed oil finish, we relied on a full bedding and sturdier recoil block.
The story ends with a perfectly balanced 8lbs-10oz big game rifle, sturdy and reliable‚ and who prints three shots cloverleaves all the day.
Who has said that a BRNO must be ugly?

DORLEAC