doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com AYA 10 gauge Magnum

I am looking for some help in identifying a AYA 10 gauge magnum I am selling. The gun in many regards looks like a Matador but the quality of the wood and finish look a bit nicer. The gun is only marked 10 Gauge 3 1/2" Magnum Shells Full & Full on the rib, and Firearms international Corp Washington DC on the left barrel and Aguirre y Aranzabal- Made in Spain on the right barrel. Appears that the gun was made in 1966 and has no engraving like the Matador but has a nice case color frame, nice wood that is hand checkered, and finished nicely. I had received an email from a person looking at my for sale pictures and was told they thought it was a Matador ll. Thanks for any knowledge that can be shared on the gun.

The later Matadors had CC and no engraving like the original.

My Matador II is marked on the right barrel

Aguirre y Aranzabal- Made in Spain-
MOD. Matador II

on the left barrel

Firearms international Corp. Washington
12 GAUGE- 2.3/4" Shell. IMP CYL & MOD

Mike

I have gone over the gun inch by inch and it does not have Matador II written anywhere. Possibly one they forgot to mark?

This gun is what students of the AYA refer to as the Matador Lightweight, because they often come in at less than 9 1/2 pounds. I shot and carried mine for years for ducks and geese, just because I had a bunch of steel 1 3/4 ounce Winchester shells that I had bought for about five bucks a box. I finally got to the point where I couldn't shoot it well because of the weight, sold it to a friend who also loves it. The case hardened guns were not marked "Matador".

What were the chokes shooting those heavy steel loads?

Phillip, what does your gun weigh?

2 holer, my Matador was choked more than .040 but never showed any damage from shooting steel. What's the worst that could happen, ring at the muzzle, cut it to 29" and install Briley chokes. It was a wonderful gun, fitted well, hard butt, double triggers. If I saw another one today, I'd buy it in a minute. Once, I was invited by a friend to shoot a MD pond with some of his friends that I had never met. Someone shot at a goose on our side of the pond and it limped away. I fired at the goose when he had reached the opposite shore. It fell dead as a stone at about 90 yards on hard ground. The fellow who originally shot the goose wouldn't let me walk around the pond to retrieve the bird. He insisted on making the long trek himself.

I am beginning to think I may be making a mistake trying to sell it. My gun appears to have never been shot and weighs 9 lbs. 11oz. It just does not fit me very well. Quality looks very good.

DO NOT sell it !
BRING it to Amarillo
I have trap/skeet loads for it
We can shoot it along side my Ithaca NID 10

Mike