doublegunshop.com - home

Has anyone come guns made by or for Sociedad Espa�ola de Armas y Municiones? Apparently, they were more of a trader than maker, a Spanish version of A&F. I have not been able to dig up any information on them - Wieland does not mention them in Spanish Best.

Thanks in advance, Doverham

I was not able to turn up too much more information on this retailer, other than various makers supplied guns to them. I did end up buying the gun after having a chance to make in-person inspection and test drive. It is a 20 gauge sidelock with 28" barrels and no top rib. It weighs a scant 5.5lbs and feels more svelte than any 28 ga. I have handled.

The gun was made in 1943 by Union Armas (later Grulla) - interestingly, AyA made the locks. It was SEAM's top model and has all the Spanish "best" gun attributes: hidden third bite, bolstered action, gold washed lock parts, jeweled internals, drop points, diamond grip, full coverage engraving (the catalog calls it "aleman" (German) but it looks more Belgian to my eye.

The chokes are IM and XF - they are pretty effective on clay targets but may not work so well for grouse and woodcock. The gun came with its original maker's case and accessories.

Here are some photos:

You also may have noted the automatic ejectors and articulated triggers, and the notation of best grade steel (Yo tambien hablan Espanol, Sr.) however, the earlier Spanish made shotguns (escopetas, si como no?) did not always have the best heat treating techniques-- have you test fired it yet? I also agree that the engraving is not quite the heavy incised style one sometimes finds on Merkel and Sauer guns-- More of the Liege style following WW2 and there freedom from the Nazi's control--El Zorro

Picking up where Fox left off in the catalog, Purdey style hand detachable locks, and chopper lump barrels. It also specifies gray finish. M� Espanol es muy mal, but, is at least as good as Foxy's. Appears to have nicely fitted gas vents and brazed barrels, but, I can't tell for sure from the photo. The stock work is very well done, great fitting to the locks and well done drop points.
Nice gun. I wouldn't be too worried about poor heat treatment on that piece, it was a very high end gun in it's time.

Best,
Ted

Good looking double. You've done well.

Dont mean to nit pick but "Purdey style " detachable locks ? I think you ment Holland .

Mil gracias, muchachos. The soft metal issue can be an issue on the older Spanish guns - a friend recently showed me a photo of a mushroomed firing pin from a 1980s Arrizabalaga. It was discovered when the left barrel stopped firing.

This gun performed without a hitch during 75 rounds of sporting clays, and my gunsmith did not see any concerns with this gun. Presumably any soft metal parts would have made themselves known after 70 years of use. The left mainspring has been replaced - I would have thought the right spring would be more likely to fail first, mas quien sabe?

Beautiful gun. Bobby

The catalog says Purdey. Truth told, I prefer boxlocks.

But, its a real nice gun.

Best,
Ted

My Spanish leaves much to be desired but looking at the photo's, Purdey ejectors (modified Southgate ) and Holland style locks.

A very nice gun BTW Doverham

The gun is "Holland "patern ,dont see how you get Purdey ejectors .No Purdey style trippers and it has a extractor cam which Purdey's do not have.

I believe you are exactly right. But, the catalog copy mentions Purdey and Hollands. My read on it was Purdey locks, another read Purdey ejection.

Sometimes old catalogs don't give the best information, and we are reading from what is a second language to us. My Spanish is the South American variety, which differs from mainland Spanish in ways I don't even fully grasp, as of today.

Sorry.

Best,
Ted

Gentlemen,

Let�s remember that we are discussing Spanish guns, Spanish gun catalogs, and most importantly Spanish gun makers.

In the 1940�s (and to a lesser degree today) when a customer ordered a model �Something-or-Other� (in this case a SEAM model 5000 Gran Lujo) that was the start of the conversation rather than its end. The customer also had the option of specifying the barrel length, cartridge, chamber length, final weight, stock type and dimensions, engraving pattern, and type of locks used.

H&H pattern locks were the most popular (and generally the least expensive), but there were many other choices available � including Purdey pattern locks.

This is why actual guns of some specific model may differ sharply from the catalog description of the model, and from other guns of the same model. The catalog description is what the gun maker will usually produce if the customer does not specify otherwise. Actual guns of a specific model will be whatever the customer and gun maker agreed upon. That's why an ad for a specific model gun may indicate Purdey locks, but a specific gun may have H&H locks.

On topic, and moving into the realm of shotgun porn, here are some pics of a Victor Sarasqueta:

Doverham, I really like your gun! Looks like high quality to me.

Buzz -thanks. And it is as easy to carry as it is to look at . . . .

Kyrie - nice VS with Purdey locks. Is it a self-opener, too? Modern laser engraving has ruined heavy scroll engraving (at least to my eye) - it looks much better when it is hand done.

The wood work and quality on the original poster's gun blows gun number two away-look at the inletting in the head for the locks, the shaping of the drop points, the fitting on the top tang, and the finish on the locks.
Superb work.

Best,
Ted

Boss pattern may be but not Purdy .No compressors and definitely not Purdey lifters .Again the gun is what can be classed as Holland style . Whilst I appreciate that wording in catalogues may not be accurate and can lose something in translation , the evidence is in examination .

By the by did the Sarasqueta have a HPH originally ,as the short rounded tanged guard would suggest ?