AyA, sn116241, 1952+, .410, 5lbs. 8oz., Chokes IC/SK; SK/IM

Here we have an extraordinary one-of-a-kind special order sidelock .410 bore two-barrel set built by the Spanish gunmaker AyA and marketed by Laurona of Spain.  AyA (Aguirre y Aranzabal) of Eibar is one of the last surviving gunmakers in the famed Basque region of Spain.  Over the last decade or so, other well-respected Spanish gunmakers have had to shut their doors, the main cause being the high cost of the hand fitting, hand engraving, and hand checkering of these fine guns.  AyA has survived and flourished, building upon a long-standing reputation for making fine sidelock guns copied from the British greats at affordable prices.  The gun we show here is one of those guns, with the internals of the sidelocks and the barrel flats stamped with the AyA trademark as shown in the photos.  This gun was built in the mid-1950’s and is not one of the catalogued models of guns offered by either AyA or Laurona.  It was likely a custom-order and is adorned with profuse, full coverage, deeply cut rose/scroll/foliate engraving with finely shadowed background…some of the best engraving you will see on a Spanish BEST gun.  The buttstock and forearm are carved from one of the finest stock blanks I have seen in years, an exhibition quality burled Turkish walnut that has been perfectly mated to the action with finely carved drop points, fine multi-point checkering pattern, complete with double mullered border.  The stock dimensions are modern, and the checkered butt has perfectly executed skip-line checkering for a very nice touch.  All the features you would expect on a true BEST GUN are evident, including an action with a sculpted frame, beaded fences, reinforced bolsters, cocking indicators, gas vents, hand detachable sidelocks, intercepting sears, beetle back safety, articulated front trigger, a trigger guard with a rolled edge on the right side, and the gun is “stocked to the fences” with killer wood.  The gun weighs just 5 ½ pounds with either set of barrels, and balances just perfectly 1/8” ahead of the hinge pin so the gun is not “whippy”.  Both sets of barrels are 27 ½” with 3” chambers, have mirror bores, are fit tight to the hinge pin and breech face, with one set choked for close game like woodcock, quail, or the game of skeet, the other set choked SK/IM for longer second shots.  See the specifications below.  Our artisan in-house case maker custom fit a fine leather case to this two-barrel set along with all the accessories and trade label.  If you look closely at the case, you will see a precise fit so the buttstock/action assembly and both barrel sets have no ability to move within the case, saving wear and tear on both the case and the gun.  All points that usually show tattered felt in older cases have been reinforced with a matching color leather to keep the case looking sharp for years to come.  The cost of the case, accessories, and label custom fit in this manner adds $2000 to the value of the package and is a fabulous way to transport and display this fine pee-wee gauge shotgun.  Stunning, useful, unique, and the desirable .410 bore…don’t let this one get away, call now!  

Barrels: 1=27.5; #2=27 3/4"
Chokes: 1=.005/.005+ IC/SK; 2=.002/.013SK/IM
Bores: excellent
Bore Diameter: 1=399/.402; 2=.412/.412  
% Blue: 99%
Chambers: 3"
Ribs: tight
Sights: single both

Action: tight-well right of center 
Extractors both
Receiver : 99% coin
Screws: perfect
Engraving: deep relief floral and vine
Trigger: double-crisp
Trigger Guard: 99% blue

Stock: English/splinter
LOP:14 1/2"
LOP To End Of Wood: 14 1/2"
DAH: 2 1/4"
DAC: 1 3/8"
Cast: neutral
Checkering: excellent
Checkered butt