Old Forester, is the weight of your 20 gauge 4/53 close to average? That is a full pound heavier than my 28 gauge. One thing I like about the AyA is a trim wrist. I prefer nothing over 14 1/4" and I like 14" even better. I don't expect one that small from a sixteen gauge but if they can do it on the 28 gauge I think they can come close on the 16. The RBL has always looked thick through the wrist from pictures. I'm sure it is more oval than the diamond shape of the AyA and maybe they are trimmer than they look. To me the best thing they could do for the RBL is lose the gold triggers. It is something I just don't care for on a gun. Perhaps I am alone in feeling that way and while it alone wouldn't stop me from buying a gun it is a factor.
jcj, I think you have pointed out an alternative that is the best deal going. Last year while shopping for an American 16 I ended up with a Cogswell & Harrison. I wasn't finding American guns for $2K or under that I thought were comparable. I would take it any day over another AyA and it was almost $1K less than the starting price for the new RBL 16. Granted, the RBL will have nicer wood but I believe second hand English guns are a better value today than either the RBL or anything coming out of Spain.
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