doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com AyA Coral

I have had an AYA Coral over and under. Bought it 1988 for £400 from a Gunshop in Wallingford, Oxfordshire when it was closing down. Its double triggered 12 guage. Serial Number 355XXX which makes it 1950's vintage and has Spanish proof marks. I had the stock cast for a left hander and it is deadly.

It looks very like a Merkel - same action, albeit just has the kersten cross bolt and not the double under lugs as some Merkels have. The engraving of Dogs and ducks is almost identical to that of many Merkels I have seen.

I have heard that the Corals where actually made by Merkel, who at that point were in Eastern Germany, and then shipped to AYA in Spain and then badged as AYA to supply the Western Markets.

Over here they don't seem to be very much valued - you only have to pay £500 to £700 for a good one (if you can find them). The same Merkel is at the £3,000 mark.

It certainly feels like and looks to be very well made gun. And it has given me very good service.

Would welcome any thoughts comments as to their history.

They are actually made by AyA, simply copies of the popular Merkel. They are well made guns and should give you good service, as you suggest. They will not, however, sell in the same price range as the Merkel genuine guns that they copied. If you can find a copy of Spanish Best by Terry Weiland, you can learn a lot about AyA, as well as other good quality Spanish makers.