doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How about AyA doubles?

I bought my #2 sidelock in 1965 for $176.00 and a case for $28.00. The gun has been shot regularly for 40 yrs and the case colors are vivid yet and the gun has never been in the shop. Don Hardin

Don, you wouldn't be interested in doubeling your investment would you.

Thanks for the feedback, gents. Very helpful.

One final question ... how the heck do you pronounce "AyA"? ... I'm guessing it's "Eye-uh" ... but correct me if I'm wrong.

DeWayne

Couple of thoughts on engraving and prices. The engraving on the #2 is machine done on the lock plates and action bottom, hand done elsewhere and there's quite a bit of elsewhere.
The rapid price inflation of recent years has more to do with the weakness of the dollar against the euro than anything else.
I suspect there is more variation in finish quality between individual guns from any maker than there is generally between the major makers discussed here, so long as we are comparing apples to apples, since they are all basically finishing the same components with a lot of hand work.
At present I own two AyA's, a model 53 sidelock and a #2. Both are fine guns in their own right, and the all-hand engraving on the 53 could stand in any English gun room.
Probably smart to buy the gun you can see and hold if possible, but these are a lot of gun for the money even at todays prices.
Since most are H&H Royal clones, if you handle one and shoot it you'll want to own it just for the balance and feel.
AyA is an acronym for Aguirre and Arranzibal, so I suppose that would define the pronunciation, but I don't recall hearing it spoken in Spanish.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I've always heard and treated them as initials, hence A - Y - A is just that. I've never heard it tried to be pronounced as a word.

I met a fellow named Bruce Buck on bus from my hotel to the SHOTSHOW about three years ago. We were discussing Spanish doubles. He made the comment that "if they cost the same they are the same" I pretty much agree with that. I like Arrietas because they might be a little more expensive but they do not charge extra for the options that I like.

AyA stands for "Aguirre y Aranzabal." The "y" means "and." It simply is the three initials of the company in an abreviated form because the real name is so difficult to pronounce. Is is pronounced as three letters, A Y A, not as a single word.

I picked up my first Aya yesterday. A 12 bore over-under ejector Merkel-copy (20X or 30X, I am not sure which one) and I do not know when it was made, it has got serial number 18x, so perhaps it's an early one. It has been restocked some time in the past and some idiot has fitted it with gun sling swiwels. I bought it for around $1100, and I think I made a good deal.

Here are some pictures of it:

http://forum.robsoft.nu/album_pic.php?pic_id=4591

http://forum.robsoft.nu/album_pic.php?pic_id=4590

I hate white spacers, an orange Silver's pad will be fitted shortly.

The idiot that fitted it with sling swivels was likely the factory. Your statement is surprising, since you are from Sweden, and slings on shotguns are so popular in the remainder of Europe. I like them quite a lot on my guns, they are very handy on a long day of walking with your gun. It looks like a nice example of a Merkel 303 clone. You indeed made a nice buy.

No it was not the factory that fitted the sling swiwels, it was very poorly made, not by soldering but with modern "+" (Pozidrive?) screws. Ugly as a baboons behind if you ask me.

And you are right, most swedes love sling swivels. I am just more into british guns than most swedes.