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This IMO has been one of the finest "Group Efforts" in helping a fellow collector out. Perhaps we should forward this information to AYA and they could put out an identification bulletin. As I state earlier my own AYA was mis-identified when I located it and I had to come up with evidence to convince the owner that it wasn't in fact a Model 2.
I'm still tring to figure out what the actual differences are between a Model 2 and a Model 117 other than engraving and plainer wood? The are both true SLEs and the quality seem to be the same.
Jim

Khanh,
I met a gent from Jerez, Spain through my wife's uncle(she is Spanish) while I was stationed in Rota, Spain 1995-2001. His name was Jose Caballero Navarra. He is apparently connected to inventing the Radio control airplane motors. He was quite a traveled character and he offered the pair to me 'cause as he said he was getting too old to use them and thought they'd enjoy the US!! I fell guilty that I am not much of a bird hunter and have not used them. I always imagined that they would end up in a South Dakota pheasant hunters' hands. I do admire them though!
Gary

Gary,

Great story. They are quite nice and would do well in South Dakota. I still think that the AYA was made for the domestic market. I was in Barcelona in the days of the Peseta and wandered into an Ameria and found a treasure trove for quite a reasonable price, a few found their way home about two months later after the import permit was approved by the ATF

ESJSXS,
you are correct. After e-mailing AYA with the serial number I have a reply today that said it is a model 51. Now, is that considered more desireable than a model 2 when it comes to re-sale?? Thanks,
Gary

Gary,

To the best of my knowledge Model Nº51 was descontinued before the 1983-88 DIARM fiasco, when AYA was almost lost. As I mentioned earlier Model Nº51 was conceived as a middle range SL pigeon gun, below models 53 and 56 that are still in production. It is quite well done and robust, usually tips the scales at 7 lb, better for standing than carrying. IMO, if we take engraving aside, it should be regarded in the same level than Model Nº2, the latter being a 1/2 lb lighter. Resale prices in Chile are around US$2000 for a Nº51 and US$3000 for a Nº2.

Jim,

AYA Nº2 and Nº117 are quite different in purpose and quality. Model Nº2 is the most succesful AYA gun, designed as an upland sidelock, it is still in production and likely to stay there as long as AYA endures. Model 117, now discontinued, was the lowest SL pigeon gun, without sleeved strikers, lacks articulated trigger and no gas valves nor beaded trigger guard. All features present in the Nº2, plus better wood and engraving. Being a pigeon gun, Nº117 has a Purdey third bite if memory serves me well.

Regards,

EJSXS

Thanks. I did a search for the number 51 and do not find any for sale. There always seem to be plenty of the number 2's. That is why I was wondering if the 51 was not more desireable, as maybe there were'nt as many out there.
Gary

I too have a No 51, according to the serial number and AYA's quick reply. They advised me that it is lower quality that a No 2. I bought it from Paul Crosnoe for a customer but it turned out to have factory left hand dimensions so the customer couldn't use it. I'm a southpaw so I kept it for myself. My gun has a short beavertail fore end which I generally don't like, but this gun is growing on me because I don't miss much with it.

Gary,

My guess is that Model Nº51 was mostly exported to Iberian countries where pigeon shooting was more common and money was less abundant. By the seventies Belgian and Italian over/unders were removing the Spanish side-by-sides from the clay and pigeon grounds in most Southern countries in Europe and the Americas. I use my Nº51 mostly on feral pigeons and goes many more times to the field than my bespoke Nº53.

Regards.

EJSXS

Hi Gary, the easy way to find out what model your AyA is to e-mail them. All they need is the SN and they will tell you what you want to know. They are very good at answering e-mails and you should have an answer within a day.

http://www.aya-fineguns.com/contacto.php

Good luck!!

Greg

Greg, Greg, do read above. He already done it.

JC