Zbrojovka Brno (Brno Armoury) was established in 1918 from the original Austria-Hungarian Artillery Works to become the Czechoslovak State Armoury. Gradually from repairing railway cars and military rifles, its production grew to include telegraph and telephone equipment, instruments for railroad workshops, and other special tools. The assembly of Austrian rifles Mannlicher was replaced by the production of German Mauser rifles and later by the production of its own design 24. Between years 1924 and 1925 halls for the production of rifles, machine guns, automobiles, and for the needs of the machine and tool works were erected. Civilian production also expanded by the production of automobiles, bicycles, industrial scales, airplane engines, machining tools and other special tools. During the second half of the twenties Zbrojovka became one of the largest producers of rifles in the world. Further, in the forties the production of tractors, motorcycle engines and hunting and sporting firearms was started.

In 1923 Ing. Břetislav Novotný (later the designer of the AERO automobile) had an idea to produce motor vehicles instead of firearms. In 1924 production gradually started and the automobile was officially named Disk. In 1925 the management of the Armoury decided to create a separate automobile department and hired Ing. Mackerle to build a reliable and properly tested automobile. This happened and in the same year MODEL Z 18 (also with a two-stroke engine) rolled out of the factory. It had the reputation of being an indestructible car which manifested itself in business success. Year 1933 saw the production of a new model, named Z4. It was again an automobile with a two-stroke engine now driving the front wheels. Even though it was successful, the designers did not rest on their laurels and in a short time they offered the public a larger and stronger model, the Z5. Express and the last model in line was the smallest and least expensive, the ZETKA with the number 6, which was given the nickname Hurvínek.

In the 80’s Zbrojovka mainly produced office, communication and computing equipment, diesel engines for ZETOR tractors, and special and municipal tools. Hunting and sporting firearms made up only a small part of its production range. The products of Zbrojovka Brno a.s. were offered in more than 60 countries throughout the world, particularly in Germany, France, Austria and Italy.