I thought we were talking about V. Sarasqueta vs Zabala, not AyA. I have a Belgian sidelock by Maison Fernand Thonon, Liege: "Armes de Grand Luxe". Hand-detachable sidelocks with gorgeous game scene engraving, surrounded by wonderful, delicate scroll engraving. All done by hand, 65 years ago. But in condition that would indicate a much newer gun. The sad part is, I couldn't sell that gun for what a new AyA #2 costs. (But then I didn't pay what a new AyA #2 costs either.) Likewise, I can get a high grade V. Sarasqueta sidelock for less money than an AyA #2--and that's exactly what I'd do. Because for better or worse--due to the facts that VS is no more, and that they imported a lot of lower and some medium grade guns for Stoeger, and those are the ones with which most people are familiar (if they're familiar with any!)--the Spanish guns that bring big bucks are the ones with names that are familiar because they survived Diarm and have continued to import guns. And, in the case of AyA and all the other surviving Spanish makers (except Uggie and ZH), they no longer offer any inexpensive guns. Which causes people to think they must all be good. And, in truth, they're not likely to be clunkers. But it does depress the market for Spanish guns long out of production. And in my case, if we're talking Spanish and out of production, I'll react immediately to an add for a VS sidelock of higher grade than those Stoeger brought in. I just have a higher level of confidence that I'd end up with a good gun. Not only in terms of fit and finish, but also reliable performance.
