Hey all, very good discussion here, to be honest I have not held an E. Arazaga, just did some research on them. I have handled a few Gasper Arazga's and find some of them lacking in the quality department, but not all were a terrible piece of junk. From what I learned about E. Arazaga they were a good maker.
As we all know, spanish guns run from terrible to great. Even top makers do put out clinkers. The great english gunmaker W.W. Greener made some bad guns - he is even quoted as saying of one of his export guns "I will only guarantee that it will fire once."
The spanish have had a reputation for bad guns in the past (as the Turks do now), and I think that this reputation will influence some people for years to come. The spanish guns I have, have given excellent service with zero problems. I always get a chuckle out of how some folks extoll the virtues of a Stoger Uplander as if it were a Purdey best gun, yet these same folks turn up their nose if you mention Zabala or any other spanish maker and declare them junk.
For me I like spanish guns and will continue to use and buy them. This is just my opinion, take it or leave it - to each his own.
As I said good discussion.
Take care!
Greg
