Couple of thoughts on engraving and prices. The engraving on the #2 is machine done on the lock plates and action bottom, hand done elsewhere and there's quite a bit of elsewhere.
The rapid price inflation of recent years has more to do with the weakness of the dollar against the euro than anything else.
I suspect there is more variation in finish quality between individual guns from any maker than there is generally between the major makers discussed here, so long as we are comparing apples to apples, since they are all basically finishing the same components with a lot of hand work.
At present I own two AyA's, a model 53 sidelock and a #2. Both are fine guns in their own right, and the all-hand engraving on the 53 could stand in any English gun room.
Probably smart to buy the gun you can see and hold if possible, but these are a lot of gun for the money even at todays prices.
Since most are H&H Royal clones, if you handle one and shoot it you'll want to own it just for the balance and feel.
AyA is an acronym for Aguirre and Arranzibal, so I suppose that would define the pronunciation, but I don't recall hearing it spoken in Spanish.
