AYA make double barrelled shotguns in both side-by-side and over-and-under versions, in boxlock and sidelock versions, as well a double rifles, and all models share a common denominator: their exceptional quality.

Today’s story is a stirring tale of two English brothers, Peter and Andrew King, who set up a hugely successful importing business. In the 1950s they went on holiday to Barcelona and were very taken by what they saw in Spanish gun shops – so in 1958 set up a company called Anglo Spanish Imports or ASI. Looking around for suppliers they were impressed by Aguirre y Aranzabal, better known in the UK as AyA.

The brothers were taken by the care this Spanish gunmaker took to listen to them and learn about what British shooters were looking for. AyA is based in the Basque Country of Northern Spain.

In the 1980s they were briefly members of a partnership of Basque gun makers but then reformed their own company in 1989. There are AyA over-and-unders but the company is renowned for its side-by-side game guns, which are the most familiar models. Investigating the second-hand market AyA side-by-side guns are generally known by numbers.

The and are both sidelocks, with the more expensive No.1 largely influenced by the Holland & Holland design. The No.3 was a non-ejector boxlock, and there was an even simpler version called the Yeoman, which is not to be confused with an AyA over-and-under of the same name. The boxlock ejector is the No.4. The boxlocks have Anson & Deeley-type actions, originally built to resemble a Wesley Richards. AyA no longer make non-ejector guns.

Shaun t rockin body workout free download. I’ve named the basic models here but there are other choices, like the Model 56. This is a high-rib side-by-side sidelock competition gun.

You may also find the occasional Model XXV game gun with 25-inch barrels in sidelock and boxlock versions. You may also find guns in the smaller bores, right down to.410s. Some of the more expensive guns – particularly the sidelocks – may have been built to special order with non-standard features or special engraving. I haven’t been able to find many secondhand AyA over-and-unders being sold at the moment, although you can watch out for the occasional Yeoman boxlock or County sidelock. The best-handling AyA was probably the Coral and if you find one you are in luck.

The Coral was so like a German-built Merkel that some shooters believed they were made in the same factory. However when I asked some gunsmiths about this they told me this was not the case and Merkel and AyA parts are not interchangeable.

New AyA guns There’s an excellent range of side-by-side sidelocks. Most are available in 12, 16, 20, 28 bores and.410. The AyA No 1 and 2 are available in round action variants. The most expensive is the Anniversary – a beautiful hammer gun. However it comes in at a steep price of over £24,000.