Hi all, a friend of mine at work decided to get a SxS and he decided on this one (In fact, he bought it):

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...erarchyId=11653

The ad states that it is a Sarasqueta, but in fact it's a Armas EGO. He was able to get Cabela's to give him the Makers Mark (JZ).

Anyway, he wants some info on it. While as most of you know, I do love my Spanish guns, I don't know much at all about this maker.

Can anyone shed some light on this maker and/or know what model his gun is?

Any comments would be great!!!

All the best!

Greg

Greg,

Armas EGO is not part of the "golden six" of the Spanish gun makers (Arrizabalaga, AYA, Arrieta, Grulla, Garbi & Ugartechea; we may also include Kemen, but it is in a category of its own). They rather belong to the group of less pretigous makers like Zabala and others. Nevertheless they do produced some items of note, like double rifles. I have tried to contact them thru the internet with no results. They also repaired used guns. My impresion is that they are (were) good artisans sans good marketing and lacking a PR department. I fired a sidelock doble rifle from them here and impresed me well.

Regards,

EJSXS

The ad doesn't state it was a "Sarasqueta," it says it's a "J J Sarasqueta!" BIG difference. Victor Sarasqueta could arguably be added to the list of "golden six" Spanish makers (never heard that term before, no idea where it originated, maybe it's used in South America?) that ejsxs gives above. They were a fine maker, so fine that over the years the various kings of Spain issued royal warrants to their firm, and they earned and used the title "Gunmakers to The Kings."

Not so with J J Sarasqueta. They were a pretend wannabe cousin simply born with the same family name, and who attempted to cash in on it.

So, even if it turns out to be actually a "J J Sarasqueta," it's not really a "Sarasqueta" as that name is commonly known and accepeted.

As was pointed out; VS made them with the best. Makers like Florentino Arizaga (EGO) was almost unknown in the US, but they did make some rather highend guns. They were well respected in the European market.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...oryId=SEARCH_gl

JJ Sarasqueta is a trade name for all practical purposes. Víctor Sarasqueta is a different thing alltogether, was a maker that went bust in 1981 and shared the top end market of Spanish guns with AYA and Ugartechea in the interwar period. In my view EGO (the name of a river in the Basque Country) should be considered as good as the best ones, the problem has been more of lack of marketing and PR. They are meant to be very good at repairing guns also, but I don´t know if they are still in business.

EJSXS

the only thing that jumps out at me is that cyl/ic choke combo with 27" tubes. do you think this flinte was ordered with barrel length to choice by herr kaiser roll or......? i sure would check out business end of them tubes.

Respectfully, and with no offense intended, you are the victim of misinformation.

Victor Sarasqueta (VS) was the premier builder of shotguns and double rifles in Spain until the collapse of that industry in the 1980’s. VS was the standard to which the rest of the makers aspired. AyA was approaching the greatness of VS when the industry failed, and was one of the few companies that joined DIARM to be successfully restarted.

J.J. Sarasqueta was a small maker. Like all Spanish shotgun makers, J.J. Sarasqueta built shotguns to every price point at which money could be made – including top dollar guns. A ‘Best’ gun from J.J. Sarasqueta was the equal of a ‘Best’ gun from any of the other makers. J.J. Sarasqueta didn’t have any need to ‘cash in’ on his name; the quality of his guns spoke for him.

I have yet to be able to buy a J.J. Sarasqueta; his highest quality guns are scarce, and bring more dollars than I’ve cared to spend – so far.

Hi all, looks like this gun has gotton around. It was first listed in ME and then MI. The specs are also different on each of the listings. My buddy called and confirmed the chokes are M/F. Here BTW are the two listings for your reading enjoyment!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...oryId=SEARCH_gl


http://www.gunsinternational.com/JJ-Sarasqueta-SLE-12-Gauge.cfm?gun_id=100121547

Thanks also BTW for all the great feedback!! I'll pass it on!

All the best!

Greg

What Kyrie said +1

Hi all, well my turn to jump in here. I'm going to take both sides of the fence here. I agree that Victor Uno is the one that all the other makers tried to emulate. His guns were the standard to go by. Even his price point guns (such as the ones imported by Stoeger) were good quality pieces. The workes who were employed by him and set out on their own to form their own firms (Union Armera....later Grulla) took with them the passion and dream to make guns as well as Victor. They did succeed in their efforts. I think the training and skills they got from V.S. was the key factor in their success.

Yes, as we all know there were those who jumped on the band wagon because of family connections i.e. Felex and JJ. In defense of Larry "ChiefShotguns" by and large their guns were not known as top drawer offerings in the trade. The price point guns seen over here are not the best. They run the gambit from good to poor. Most of the guns seen here were imported during the period of "Soft" Spanish steel. While this is a myth with regards to action and bbl steel, the internal parts were not hardened as they should have been. Many were just crude castings and poorly finished. But what does one expect from a cheap price point gun. The maker is going to give you a product for what you (the importer) is willing to pay. The outside cosmetics will look great, that's what the consumer wants. But then looks are deceiving.

One the other side of the coin, Kyrie is right also. The "other" Sarasquetas could and did produce some wonderful high grade guns. Some of which are better finished and fitted than some guns made by some British makers (low end BSA and Midland). Some of these guns are on par with the best of other famous Spanish makers. The problem is, you just don't see them over here, they're all in Europe. The better high grade guns when you do find them don't get second looks, because of the makers name. Almost any Spanish maker would make a gun to your specifications and price range. The down side to this is you'd have to go to Spain to do it. The smaller makers did not have the connections or money to do this on their own and the importers they did use were not interested in their high end guns. No market over here. This was the age of the repeater in the U.S.

The same can be said of the firms using the Arizaga name. Look at Gasper, again a low end maker (to be honest, I've never seen any of his high grade guns, and don't know if he made any). Eusebio Arizaga made custom/semi-custom gun that are of the highest quality. Yet when you hear of Arizaga, you think Gasper.

The Spanish gun trade is coming out of the cloud of the 60's and 70's and are no longer painted with the "season" gun (you know, use the gun one season, then throw it away) attitude. The guns coming out of Spain today are some of the finest in the world. Even guns offered by Zabala (who also makes some darn nice high grade guns) are good solid doubles that will give you years of good service.

So for me I can see both sides in this, both are right.

All the best!

Greg

Greg I had a Spainish sidelock built by <AMR> a virtually unknown maker and it was one of the best shotguns I ever owned. The main spring on that sidelock was as thick as your fingers and the gun itself was as light as a feather and tough as nails.
You never know exactly what you are getting from Spain, but that one looks like a real beauty!!!
I think your friend did good!!!!

Greg, why didn't you buy it given your taste for Spainish sidelocks??

Hi, well to be honest after buying that 16ga Grulla 209H and the Henry Atkin SLE my funds are tapped for guns! Besides, I'm not into 12ga guns, unless they are English.

Still, it does appear to be a nice gun.

All the best!

Greg

Many years ago I looked at importing these guns but I was not please with what I saw, so I decided against it. I would not consider these a first quality gun by any means. Certainly not in the realm of AYA, Pedro A., Arrieta, Grulla, Garbi. I would consider these on par with the Ugartecha guns. I do know that somewhere I still have a catalog from them from the time I thought about importing them

Best


John Boyd

I don't know why some don't think Ugartechea can make guns with the the other best Spanish makers. I'll guarantee a $10,000 Uggie is as good as any other at that price.
I have a 119 that has as good or better engraving detail and coverage than many others that cost much more.
Or is it that Ugartechea still sells a lot of the 'lowly boxlocks, and the others don't, excepting Aya, giving the perception that 'our' guns are better. Ugartechea performs a great service to people who maybe can't afford a 'fancy' gun but want a good handling gun. Aya's boxlock costs twice what an Uggie Grade I does.
Wood? Any maker can get what ever wood you are willing to pay for; God makes it.
How many makers engrave the bottom of the receiver 'cheeks'? I have seen it on an Aya #1, a Purdey and Ugartechea 1030. The Ugartechea 119 today lists for $7600 new.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/displayimage.php?pid=6704&fullsize=1
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/displayimage.php?pid=6706&fullsize=1

Show me another NEW $7600 Spanish or any other that has as good engraving detail as that. Maybe I'm wrong; but show me.

Chief, I must wholeheartedly agree with you.

The only contact I have had with a J.J. Sarasqueta shotgun was when one blew up while a friend was hunting doves with it. He was fortunate that the piece of chamber that flew away did so without touching any parts of his anatomy.

It may be that JJ made some "best" guns (I have never even seen a photo of one), but..."For one swallow does not make a summer".
Don Víctor on the other hand was in another league altogether and I would bet JJ was/is cashing in on don Víctor's reputation (Spanish Royal Warrants included).

At least in the countries I know of in South America, the famed Sarasquetas were made by Don Víctor, the others are wannabes.

JC

Hi John, Say if you could , would you expand on why you didn't import the EGO's? Just curious.

The Grulla shoots great BTW, just got back from shooting her. Thanks again for the great service and great gun!!

All the best!

Greg

Ugartechea 1000+ series made to order guns are very gamey with quality to match and I would not hesitate to get one. Much like with used Belgian or Italian guns when it comes to Spanish ones I want reputable well known name to come on the gun. I might miss some good deals out there, but....... with German or French ones risk of getting something is less likely

I was not happy with the polishing of the bbls, the over all fit and finish, like the heading up of the stock to the reciver. Also the egraving was not well done. LAter, I did have a chance to see the inside of the sidelocks and it was not finished well.

There are lots of lower quality guns out there that work fine, just look at all the Turkish and Russian stuff

John Boyd