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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10
Boxlock
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Boxlock

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10
I used a Matador II, 12ga.w/26" barrels,choked IC/M,single selective trigger,for several years.It had a case-colored receiver,the case soon wore off at the carry point.It was a very good field gun,no problems,nice patterns right on point of aim. I gave it to a relative because the stock was a bit straight,and had significant cast-off (a problem for a lefty).A good Matador II that fits you will do well in the field.

A better choice for a little more $ is an Ithaca/SKB 200e.

Joined: Nov 2002
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Sidelock
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Joined: Nov 2002
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This outfit made some solid shooters. I have looked over couple of them BLs with Purdey double under bites, Greener X-bolt and chromed frames. I might still pick up that one with st. grip sling swivels, luvly Anson latch and gold lion und AYA logo on the lever. It's marked Fab (Factory) Aguirre Y Aranzabal plus some Swedish gibberish on the other tube, proly built toughter then brick shithouse! I could pick one of ther DDR Suhl guns in excellent shape for $1200 to $1300, but why not save cool $400 and get something better lookin (ya know, that from Birmingham look). Maaan, I'm tired of fugly German guns.

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 366
Sidelock
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 366
My 10b Aya is a Matador. 3-1/2" chambers, blued frame and tight, tight, tight. I only shoot 20-25 shots per year throught it though. Mine has the gold lion under the name and some of the finest checkering I've seen on any gun. The barrels also have a bevel like none I've ever seen. How do you tell if it's a "lightweight 10 Aya"?

Joined: Feb 2002
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Sidelock
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Put it on a scale, read the dial. My case colored 1966 manufactured ten weighs 9 pounds, 10 ounces, what I regard as a "lightweight" compared to the near 12 pounds of some sixties vintage Spanish ten magnums meant for the US market. The Gun Digest of the time does not mention any ten other than the blue frame Matador. The Blue Book says the Matador was discontinued in 1963 and does not mention any ten gauge after the original Matador. They state that the vent rib Matador ll was only available in 12 and 20. My gun and the many others I've seen identical to it have Firearms International markings so are obviously intended for the US market and do exist, regardless of the thin information provided by the Blue Book. My Firearms International research material is a little light, so I have no more answers. It is amazing to me that the Gun Digest, that included mention of FI imported AYA guns all through this period, never mentions the case colored lightweight ten, nor does the Blue Book. I guess the real story is that the gun was probably offered for only a short time, then discontinued. Since all I have seen have been in the Washington, DC area, it could have been a prototype, distributed in very small quantities through the FI headquarters just south of DC in Maryland. Maybe it was never catalogued. It is the best ten gauge for the price that I have ever owned, and I've owned a bunch. Now that I realize how obscure this gun is, I will be on the lookout for another.

Joined: Feb 2002
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Sidelock
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Ironman, could you possibly weigh your blue frame Matador ten so we can compare the two models? As I stated earlier, my case colored 1966 ten weighs 9 pounds, 10 ounces empty.

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 212
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 212
My old Matador 10ga weighs under 10#, also. I think its frame was originally case colored. It's seen a lot of use and the action is still plenty tight. I bought it cheap ($250) since it had a cracked butt but my repair seems to be holding.

I sometimes wonder why these old Spanish 10s aren't used with chamber inserts by people seeking SxS target guns. Too uncool? Illegal?


thelatestinsanity
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Sidelock
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Joined: Feb 2002
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In my case, the AYA is a little thick in the grip and forend to make a good target gun. A good 12 gauge target gun would be more useful at about 8 to 8 1/2 pounds and lean at the grips.

Joined: Dec 2003
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026
Jagermeister, I had an AyA just like the one you describe (a 16). Well used with importer markings from a large Swedish sporting goods store in central Sweden (which apparently still exists). Made in 1962, according to the date-of-proof code. Traded it off after one upland season (to a gunsmith for work on one of my other clunkers). There's a discussion board for Swedish civilian arms on http://www.gunboards.com which is a good source for info on things Swedish,even when they're Spanish, in case you aren't familiar with it (which you probably are).

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 69
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I purchased an Aya Matedore from Milt Kline years ago. It was a pretty gun, but made of very soft steel. It had a single slective trigger and ejectors. After firing three rounds it began to double. I sent it to Micro Gunsight Co. to be fixed. The same thing occured three times. I fnally gave up and sent it back to Milt Kline and he sent me a new one with a case hardened frame. One could see daylight between the back of the barrels and the frame. I gat a refund and bought a Chalrles Daly model 500 made by Miriku and never had any trouble. I used it for water fowl and upland game birds for years. My advise is not to purchase any Aya Matadore guns fron the 1960's.

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Joined: Feb 2002
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Rabbit Ears is painting Matadors with a pretty broad brush, especially after ownership of one gun that failed after three shots. That would not indicate soft steel, it would indicate defective assembly. Even soft steel lasts more than three shots. Milt (Klein) may have imported guns that were way less than the normal quality for U.S. AYA imports. Every Matador I have examined, that would be many, have been tight on the face. "Light between the back of the barrels and the frame." would seem to be a bit of an exaggeration, at least in my experience with Matadors.

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