doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A.Y.A. Questions

Queries:
1.What years did IGI DOMINO CORP. NEW YORK N.Y. import A.Y.A. Shotguns?
2. What chokes are indicated by 15.2 and 15.5 stamped on the underside of 20 GA. [No. 2 barrels] over the code A.Y.A. 15.7?
3. How are A.Y.A. No. 2's from the 1960's looked upon?
4. Roughly what is a N.I.B. No. 2 round action with 28 barrels choked Cyl and Imp. Cyl. with Non Hand Detachable Locks/DT/EJC worth?
5. No pics but assuming all this is correct.

THANKS For Your Time in Advance

H

15.7 should be bore size in mm. - .618". 15.2 shows .5 mm. choke constriction - .197" approx. imp. mod. 15.5 shows .2mm choke constriction - 079" approx. imp.cyl. Don't know when it would have been imported. I would guess $3,000 to $3,500 if everything checks out, but I could be way off.

1. No idea
2. .1 mm is roughly. 004 of an inch, so .2 difference is. 008 constriction and.5 mm is approximately 20 thou. In 20 gauge I would call that improved cylinder and improved modified, or "perfect".
3. The early sixties are when AyA established their reputation with King Bros. importation of their guns into Britain.
4. Are we talking the same gun here? Rounded action Number 2 guns are not from the 1960s in my limited experience. To quible the AyA is a rounded action, not a round action anyway.
My 1966 AyA hand detatchable sidelock 20 gauge is not rounded, has similar chokes, 26 inch barrels, very minor hunting marks on wood, 100% case colours, and I value it at $3500, which is what I paid.
Since AyA guns are as varied as the purchasers specs I would not rule out any variation with certainty.

AyA has had a significant price increase of late, somewhere between 30 & 40%. That is bound to have an effect on things as well.

I bought my customized AyA 56, 12 gauge in 1963 from AyA in Eibar, Spain for live pigeon shooting when I was in the USAF stationed in Greece in 1963. That model AyA was very popular at the time for that type competition. I sold it to another live pigeon shooter in Texas in 1967 when I received orders to Vietnam. I missed it so much after I retired, so in 1998 I bought another used AyA 56, 12 gauge, double triggers, 1963 manufactured with two barrels, a 28 inch barrel, IC/LM, and a 30 inch barred, M/F. I use both barrels in sporting clays double barrel events and for hunting, as well as ZZ bird (simulated pigeon) shooting at ranges in the Houston, Texas area. In over 20,000 rounds through this later AyA 56, I have never had a malfunction, nor with my original Model 56. I cannot endorse enough this model from AyA. I haven't had a single trigger model in either, so cannot comment on that. Jim Haynes

Quote
"My 1966 AyA hand detatchable sidelock 20 gauge is not rounded, has similar chokes, 26 inch barrels, very minor hunting marks on wood, 100% case colours, and I value it at $3500, which is what I paid.
Since AyA guns are as varied as the purchasers specs I would not rule out any variation with certainty"

Here's my Number 2 cased AyA sidelock from the 70s in both 20 and 28 gauges. I received a quote around a year ago that to duplicate this set today would run around $14,000. This is a great gun and would be one of the last I'd part with.
Jim

Speaking of variations, yours has single trigger and beavertail forend, clearly made for the American market.
Mine is double trigger and splinter forend. Mine also has quite straight grain wood.
Cased two barrel set is very nice.

These guns are stocked per the buyer's order, so the beaver tail fore end and single trigger don't really signify anything other than the buyer's preference.

As an aside, SNST and beaver tail fore ends are not unusual on purpose built live pigeon guns, but that's because that configuration was popular in Spain during roughly the late 1950s to late 1960s

I think the AyA's from the 60's and 70's were probably some of the best; although the very latest offerings are excellent. The reason being is that they were being imported into Britain at a quality point to try to match the English gun but at a more affordable price. They copy certain English guns with both style and engraving. I understand the Model Number 1's were engraved and hardened in England for a while also. I have four different AyA model guns in the gun cabinet and can't fault any of them. The Number 1 I have is single trigger (not my preferred choice) but has always performed without any problem; except for me sometimes forgetting and trying to find the other (missing) trigger. Lagopus.....