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Joined: Mar 2004
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Sidelock
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Joined: Mar 2004
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My plans to restore/upgrade a 20 bore Fox are still ongoing but quickly approaching the one year mark. I've yet to find an A grade that wasn't too nice, too beat up, or too expensive for my project. The search will continue but I have recently started thinking about upgrading my 28ga AyA 4/53 (which I bought initially because of its understated looks and simplistic design). It is a gun that I can generally shoot well. My plans would include a significant wood upgrade and some nicer engraving. Maybe some finer touches like heel and toe caps or a unique checkering pattern. The barrel blue is OK but it could be better.

If this was your gun and your project, what would you set your budget at? The dimensions are good as is so I'm thinking a stock replication could save me some money. Would you have work done to improve the innards? Polish the parts? Would $3000 be enough to cover my initial plans? Most, if not all, of the work would have to be outsourced and I would most definitely have more money in the gun than I could ever hope to recover. Although I don't have kids yet, this would be my custom gun to hand down.

Have any of you taken on a similar project with an AyA? Any pitfalls? Any pictures of the results? I look forward to hearing some of your opinions.

Matt


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Sidelock
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I understand the AyA 4/53 is a boxlock model 4 with wood selected for a model 53 sidelock gun, which is a top line special order gun. I have a model 53e in 20 gauge, and it has marble cake wood to die for! Does your model 4/53 not already have upgraded wood on it??? The 4/53 model designation indicates that it already has very much upgraded wood??

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Sidelock
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Most of the 4/53 that I've seen either had very plain wood or what I'd call a mid grade of wood at best.

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Upgrading Spanish gun of specific model=waste of money. It's right behind spending extra $ for 'hand select' on military surplus piece.

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As you know, you will never get your money out of your project. Very few American guns could justify the trouble and expensive, let alone a Spanish "off the shelf" gun.

You would be better served to look for an ICD 28ga. You can find these guns NIB at between $6,000-7,000 (4E) and have a game gun that you can use and watch the value go in one direction...that's up, by the way. I have 5 of these guns (2 in 28ga.),use them all and they are all worth substantially more than what I paid for them.

If these are not for you, there are plenty of Parker Repros out there that, from a cost/benefit basis, have the same characteristics.

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Sidelock
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Matt,
I've thought about these nice little boxlocks for upgrades as well. They are functionally a very attractive potential upgrade project. But like Tom says, you're not gonna get anything for your investment later. If you don't care, and can stand more frustration of waiting on craftsman to do the work, go for it. Me? I'm a glutten for punishment. But I do try to pick my projects with some tempering from the wise.

I think, if you shop around, you can find some 4/53's that have very good wood... for a little premium. But, much cheaper than restocking yours if you sell it off and buy the one you like.

But one of the great things about the 4/53 compared to a NID or Parker Repro is generally, the 4/53 will be lighter, in some cases by a full pound.

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Sidelock
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Thanks for the feedback. I would say the wood on mine is mid grade as Chuck stated. It is better than the wood on the 20ga Model 4 I used to own but not as nice as an Arrieta I currently own. I agree that I would never get my money out of the project but that's not really my intent. I thought the 4/53 platform would be a good basis for an updgrade with no frills innards and a basic design. It is the ideal 28ga IMO as far as weight and balance....something I think a lot of American 28s come up short on. Maybe I'll sit it out and keep looking for the Fox.


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You might consider just shopping around for a higher grade sidelock like the #2, #1, and other makers like Garbi, Arrietta, and such. Instant gratification!


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