According to Hollinger, McIntosh helped design the Aspen gun
From the web site:
"The world of shotgunning was enriched in 1994 when three of America’s foremost shotgun experts sat down to design the ultimate small game shotgun: a fast-handling, lightweight, well-made side-by-side boxlock double gun at a very reasonable price. It was quite a challenge, and many people would doubt that the goal could be accomplished. There are very few manufacturers who can produce quality guns at low prices, and the features on the wish list were difficult to accomplish at any price.
But the three gunners at the table were among the most knowledgeable shotgunners that America has to offer: Michael McIntosh, author of the famous book, “Shotguns and Shooting” and 17 other well-known sporting titles; Terry Wieland, author of “Spanish Best: The Fine Shotguns of Spain”, and a long-time contributor to such shotgun almanacs as Gray’s Sporting Journal, Sporting Classics, and Shooting Sportsman; and Jon Hollinger, owner of Aspen Outfitting Company, a well-known shooting instructor, gun-fitter, and bird hunting outfitter.
Hollinger’s idea was to build the ultimate upland game gun at a Spanish manufacturer and import the guns for American bird shooters to enjoy. As it happened, someone else’s difficulties became Hollinger’s opportunity. A well-regarded Spanish firm, Armas Ugartechea, had recently experienced labor difficulties, and had been forced to abandon their mass production of side-by-side game guns. Hollinger stepped into the breech, so to speak, and contracted with Ugartechea to manufacture the design that he, Wieland, and McIntosh had cooked up. As exclusive American importer of the Aspen Outfitting Company Small Game gun (AOC/SG), Hollinger designed exactly what he wanted for a light, fast-handling field shotgun that would be used to hunt fast-flying North American upland game birds"
