doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com AyA Quality Question

Hi all, was wondering what you all think about the quality, fit, finish and overall workmanship of AyA sidelocks made in the 1970's?

I know each gun is different, but just want to get a general opinion.

Thanks as always!!!!!

Greg

1970 guns were with beutifully finished stock, very compact ,balanced shotgun with excellent pattern....but now quality is questinable......

Anyone else?

Thanks!

Greg

I certainly do not agree that today's AyA guns are of "questinable" quality. They produce a leader line of guns that is of lower quality than their upper end guns, as does every maker just about that you can name. Well, save those VERY few that truly do make only Best guns. AyA's upper lines of guns are of very good quality, equal quite likely to any Spanish gun currently made. I have two older guns currently, one is a 20 gauge model 53E that is absolutely an upland hunters dream, a wonderful sidelock top of the line gun in every respect, and I also have a model 207 pigeon gun, 12 gauge, a European model not commonly seen here. It's a scalloped back boxlock action with very good scroll engraving over maybe 80% or so of the action, and is a very strong and very well made gun for heavier use. I have had other AyA guns as well. In general, the upper lines are very nicely made guns, IMHO.

I bought a #2 AYA in 1965 and it has never given any problems,still looks like a nice gun. The price was a little better in 1965. $176.00.

I am with the Chief on this one Greg. And I am also surprised by a perception that their current production is of questionable quality. If anything, AYA has done a tremendous job over the last couple of decades getting stability into their middle grade guns (their first quality guns have always been excellent). I do not have a SXS from that era, but I do have a model 37 OU. It is a full, detachable side lock (Merkel design), and is as finally a constructed gun as I have ever seen.

A couple of months ago I bought a AYA from a local pawn shop. The gun is in excellent condition. It is a sxs boxlock (not sure of the model #) with 27 1/2 tubes. It was imported by Sears. At 400 bucks, I felt like it was a bargin compared to the price you would pay to get into a new low end AYA today.

Is this gun close to what you would buy today from AYA, or is it like comparing apples and oranges?

Regards,

Max

Max the Sears gun is a solid boxlock but was part of the problem that AYA had (has) with its product line. The same gun maker was/is building sidelocks in the multi-thousand dollar range which were competitive with "Best" guns anywhere. It is a challenge for marketing to sell to both the well-heeled and the utility market under the same brand.

I have owned several No.2's. My 12b is a late 70's production and my 20b is an early 90's production.

There are night and day differences in the finish. The 90's production is excellent in wood to metal, and metal to metal.

The 70's production is equal in terms of wood to metal, but not in metal to metal. The 70's production isn't nearly as tight where the sidelocks nest in the frame. This isn't associated with wear and tear.

That said, it has still gone bang every time I pulled the triggers, which is probably about a thousand times.

If you get one at the right price, go for it. But I've found that there hasn't been a lot of difference in price between earlier and later No. 2's.

Hope this helps......

Since AyAs are all hand-finished guns, they should be judged individually.

I have two No. 2s and two No. 53s, with proof dates of 1975, 1978 and 2009.

You have to look close to find flaws with any of them.

The most noticeable qualitative difference is that the 1978 No. 2 has the plainest wood.

If I could keep only one, it would be one of the 1975s, a No. 53.