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Forums10
Topics39,492
Posts562,050
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 278
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 278 |
How do you like them? How would you rate their quality against other makers? Thanks, JB
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,337 Likes: 340
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,337 Likes: 340 |
Hi J.B. Grulla is on of the finest makers in Spain. They have a reputation of quality that's hard to beat. The top end guns are some of the best in the world. They are still a small shop where every gun is hand made and fitted. I think the average production is about 250 guns per year.
The company was formed in 1932 when some craftsman left Victor Sarasqueta to start their own firm. It was known as Union Armera. They made several different models, both BL and SL guns. These guns were not any of the cheap imports that everyone knows about that came over here. Their guns at that time where for the Spanish and european market (plus a few for over here). In 1983 the company was renamed Grulla and began to market their guns world wide.
I have a 12ga Union Armera 215E. It's a wonderful gun with great wood, wonderful engraving weighing in at 6lbs 4 oz. The internal parts are all gold plated. This is a quality gun!
Prices on good quality Spanish gus are on the rise so now is the time to buy. They are not cheap new also, starting out at about $7000 for the 209 (the basic model) and of course going up.
It's hard to rate the Spanish makers, but this is my take on the top quality makers:
1) Arrizabalaga
2) Garbi
3) Grulla
4) Arrieta
5) AyA
Of cousre this varies with the different models.
All I can say is I've never heard or seen a bad Grulla.
Good luck!!
Greg
Gregory J. Westberg
MSG, USA
Ret
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 202
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 202 |
I'd have to agree with everything Greg said in his thorough response. About all he didn't mention was that Grulla means Crane in Spanish. I have 3 Garbis and 1 Grulla, a 7 lb 11 oz, 12 ga pigeon gun model 216K that I shoot steel through at ducks. It is definitely of equal quality with my Garbis, a fine gun!
Joe
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
What a minute, I agree with everything Greg said also but Arrieta and AyA in fourth and fifth place...come on!! I don't agree with that at all!! 
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,684 Likes: 138
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,684 Likes: 138 |
I would not agree about the "list" at all. The big reason is that you are putting the guns in the wrong group.
The Azzizabalaga base gun is about $12,000
The Garbi base is about $9,000
Most of the Arrietas and AYA that you have seen and come to know are the models under $6000. Ie 557, #2, 570, Even the #53
So you are comapring guns that are quite abit under $10,000 to those that start at a much higer price.
I think that if you compaired the guns together at the same price point you would see very few differences
John Boyd
John Boyd
Quality Arms Inc
Houston, TX
713-818-2971
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2 |
I had a REALLY nice Grulla 28 bore, that I foolishly let one of our guests talk me out. My only problem with it was, it was choked way too open for the kind of tough roosters we have here. No big deal, just shot most of em twice...A lovely gun!! One of our posters to this board just bought a 16 from M W Reynolds in Denver....Maybe he will share his thoughts with you...
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 329 Likes: 14
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 329 Likes: 14 |
Hi anyone got a picture of a grulla? I do not think I have ever seen one, the aya people took my grandfather out to their factory in the early 80s he was impressed with the set up they had and he advised them on some things, they were very keen to try and find out his blacking formula but he wasnt telling!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 528
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 528 |
Just acquired my first one at the Dulles Gun Show a couple of weeks ago. This one is a .410. It has 28" tubes, semi-beavertail forend which is very elegantly done (a good thing on this dimminutive gun) and a stock designed for an adult (15" LOP to checkered butt.) Action is classic H&H with side clips and fairly bold case-colored, floriate engraving. It also has 3" chambers. Fit and finish are superb and it feels like a real gun in the hands. I am impressed. I'd like to say that I did better with it on clays than I did this past weekend, but it was no fault of the gun. Should be just the thing on game farm raised quail.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
"It feels like a real gun," says a lot to me, Joe. Regards, King
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,447 Likes: 278
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,447 Likes: 278 |
Recent Grullas, Arrietas, and AYA #2s all feel like real guns since the makers started stocking them full length and installing the odd semi-beavertail. When I sold made to order AYA #2s for $2600 or less, we were too naive to understand what a deal they were, so I continued to sell them and never bought one. I had a couple of AYAs from earlier days in my shooting battery and never thought I needed a smallbore. Recently, I bought a 28" .410 AYA #2 and I am smitten. I remember when Warren Page bought a Dakin 20 bore, (now a Grulla 215) and sang its praises in his Field and Stream column. It was highly engraved, under six pounds, and we couldn't get anything else like that weight back in those mid fifties unless it was a worn out Flues or Sterlingworth. Now that the #2 is almost twice the price of a few years ago, and the Grulla and Arrieta even more, they are still a bargain.
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