doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com M. Ugarteburu Model 115 16ga

I just rolled the internet gun-purchase dice on a nice-looking M. Ugarteburu Model 115 sidelock 16ga for what I think is relatively modest money for what it is, and while I've done all the usual internet sleuthing and reading of (relatively scant) posts concerning Ugarteburu shotguns, one thing I haven't been able to find out (and was hoping someone here could tell me) is if the Model 115 has a third-bite fastener? I couldn't tell from the pics posted online (I just bought the gun and do not have it yet) and trying to ask the counter person to either know enough to tell me or take pics and send to me is going to be an act of futility.

It certainly won't have any bearing on whether I want the gun or not. I'm a 16ga fan, it's obviously a well-made 16ga gun, so if it passes muster I think I'll like it either way. I was just curious if it did or didn't.

Thanks much. I appreciate the collective knowledge here...

If that was the Utah bass pro gun, congrats you got a nice one! I owned a 12ga I sold for about that, it was nice.

It was, actually...:) I've had some epically bad luck with used Cabela's doubles lately, but as long as they're paying for shipping and refunding the purchase price when I say nope on inspection (while insisting on posting basically useless descriptions and photos on the website) I guess I'll keep rolling the dice...we'll see when it gets here

There will be a date code on the barrel flats - post an image when you get the gun, or send a full size jpg attachment to drewhausemd@yahoo.com

Cornell Pubs has a 1947 catalog repro
https://cornellpubs.com/product/3817/

Looks like the gun has H&H assisted opening, a nice feature found on better quality guns. I believe Martin Ugarteburu went out of business after joining the ill fated DIARM adventure in the 1980s.

I suspected that might be an assisted-opening device because I had no idea what else it might be, but having never been sufficiently well heeled, or even normally heeled, to even hold a gun with assisted opening, I didn't know for sure. I have a copy of Wieland's "Spanish Best" and I believe you're right about DIARM (I gleaned what I could about Ugarteburu in its pages).

For the money, Spanish sidelocks can be a great buy (I've been shooting one [off and on] for nearly 30-years now).

I'm not familiar with Mr. Ugarteburu's offerings but as long as the execution and metallurgy of his guns is sufficient, it should be fine.

With the current state of things in Spain, I doubt if it's equal will ever be seen from there again, which is a shame.

The M. Ugarteburu Model 112 appears to have a hidden third fastener, so there's a decent chance the Model 115 will be similarly equipped.

I have had and sold a couple of them, very nicely made, nicer than an AYA #2 in my opinion.

Yep, as it turns out it does indeed have the third bite. Big thanks to Marc from Belgium for sending me scans of the Ugarteburu catalog from that era. Very cool!

Never knew Spanish guns could be such an interesting subset of the double gun sickness. In the space of a year I’ve gone from no Spanish guns to three…

If you don't already have it, get Terry Weiland's "Spanish Best."

It is available on Kindle now, which makes it searchable - very useful.

Terry Weiland - Spanish Best - Amazon.

Just a quick update on the Ugarteburu 115 for those who have asked. Picked it up yesterday and thankfully was not disappointed. It is in virtually new condition. It looks like someone ordered it back in 1952, shot it a few times, and then stuffed it in a closet for 75 years. Literally everything on the gun is pristine. I don't have a huge amount of experience with higher-end sidelocks (I'm in the boxlock extractor tax bracket) and for some folks it may not elicit much excitement, but to me it is a stunningly beautiful gun. As an added bonus it even came with a cool old original leather leg 'o mutton case that is also in perfect condition except for the leather on the straps, which is old and cracked and will need to be replaced. But the case obviously has been used about as much as the gun itself, which is hardly at all. Checked function with snap caps and everything works properly. I'll shoot it this week to see how it's regulated and choked, but really happy with the purchase, especially considering prior to this I was 0 for 3 on gambling with Cabela's online sxs purchases. I think the Cabela's clerk was shocked when I said I'd actually take this one...

It does have some cast-off to it, which as a lefty I expected, so after my funds have recovered I'll send it off to have the stock bent and the chokes opened up for quail if needed (which I suspect it does) but as an introduction to Spanish sidelocks, I'm very happy with it.

Well made Spanish guns are a good value and...there aren't likely to be any more of them coming (Spain has gone down a bad road, sadly).

Modern steel, solid copies of "best gun" designs, still mostly handmade, and modern dimensions add up to a good, practical firearm for use afield.

I expect prices on the better examples to slowly start to drift upwards now.

Pictures of the gun would be great - it sounds sweet.

I'm a fan of Spanish guns myself - value for $$$ is unbeatable.

II'll post pics, just gotta figure out how to do it first...

If you get stuck, email ‘em to me, and I’ll get them on the board for you. Try to get 3-4 clear shots, including the flats of the barrels.

tedjs@usfamily.net

Best,
Ted