Though the Spanish double gun firm of AyA (Aguirre & Aranzabal) has long been popular among the shotgunning cognoscenti, I never laid my hands on one until my wife and I toured the factory on a recent holiday in Spain.

There, I learned that AyA has been building guns in Spain's Basque Country since 1915. But it wasn't until the company started making high-quality copies of a sidelock Holland & Holland and a boxlock Westley Richards for the London gun trade that American and European shooters recognized the quality for which the small firm is known today.

AyA still employs the classic, long workbench for which Spanish gunmakers are known, and each gun is still passed down the bench and largely hand-made by talented gunsmiths. But modern CNC machines that whittle solid chunks of bar stock down to actions before they are placed on the bench speed the process along. Though the manufacturing process is more modern, the quality of these fine shotguns is decidedly old-world.

I was sufficiently impressed with AyA's mix of old-world craftsmanship and modern manufacturing methods that I ordered one of the sidelock No. 1s in 28 gauge while at the factory. Since I knew it would be a while before I would receive my new quail gun, I asked AyA USA to send me one of the No.2s for testing and evaluating.

The No. 2 Up Close
AyA's No. 2 differs from the No. 1 that I ordered for my personal use in that its wood is not quite as fancy, and the engraving is done by machine rather than by hand. Both share AyA's sidelock action, which is a copy of a classic Holland & Holland design. AyA's version is CNC-machined from a solid block of steel with double underlugs and hand-detachable sidelocks. The sideplates are removed by turning an engraved lever on the left side. Seven polished pins are clearly visible on each side of the color-casehardened action. The lovely scroll engraving is well-done.

Disk-set strikers allow easy replacement of the striker or striker spring, a feature common on English best-quality guns but rarely seen on guns that cost less than a new truck. Another nice touch is a replaceable hinge pin, which allows a heavily used gun to be made tight again by a qualified gunsmith. Intercepting safety sears prevent the tumblers from moving forward and firing the gun in the event of a fall or a hard knock.

Forged, chopper-lump barrels are another AyA standard feature usually found on much more expensive guns. Since they are made from a single forging, chopper-lump barrels are expensive to make, but they are far more solid when done right. The No. 2's 28-inch barrels are topped with a concave rib. The 12-gauge chambers are 2¾ inches, and the fixed chokes are Improved Cylinder and Modified, which are ideal for a game gun. The barrels wear a deep, rich black finish.

My test gun has double triggers, with the front being an articulated design.

In keeping with its classic lines, the oil-finished stock has a straight, English-style grip. The wood is dark and nicely figured. While the hand-checkering on the butt doesn't soften the No. 2's recoil, it looks great. The splinter fore-end and grip are also hand-checkered. The work is nicely done with crisp, sharp points and straight lines.

Bela Karolyi shoots skeet with the AyA No. 2. Bela liked the gun so much he bought it when the author completed his testing.