The working man´s gun
Charles Smith-jones looks at the AYA No 4 and how a Spanish gunmaker ended up producing something so quintessentially British Tech specs
In 1915, two young gunsmiths founded a gunmaking company at Eibar, in the Basque region of northern Spain. Miguel Aguirre and Nicolas Aranzabal produced well-made and reliable, if basic, shotguns, mainly side-by-sides with boxlock or sidelock actions. AYA was one of many similar Spanish gunmakers, but in the 1950s things changed for the pair when they were shown two English guns – a Holland & Holland sidelock and a Westley Richards boxlock with Anson & Deeley action. These were considered to be the finest examples of English gunmaking available at the time and the inspiration for what are now considered to be the classic flagship models of the AYA range: the No 1, No 2, No 4 and Best Quality Boxlock. They were to catapult AYA from being just another provincial gunmaker to the undisputed king of the Spanish gunmaking industry. Today, it is said that it is virtually impossible to join any team of Guns on a British shoot and not find at least one AYA on a peg somewhere.
While the No1, modelled on the Holland & Holland sidelock, is the ‘best’ of the range,ange, the No 4 is certainly the more affordable, while still remaining a superbquality gun. In the days before the rise in popularity of the over-and-under, the No 4 was one of the most popular shotgun models on the market and was imported to Britain in significant numbers.
Test of time
Built around a simple Anson & Deeley boxlock action, it has been in production since 1960 and has stood the test of time. It is still available new from the factory today. Its mechanical simplicity ensures that it is reliable, durable and simple to service. Despite its refined looks, everything about the No 4 is robust, from the chopper lump barrels to the disc set firing pins and automatic safety, and the attention to detail in the build is always evident. Unlike the more competitively priced No 3 (sometimes
The gun, in production since 1960, is built around a simple Anson & Deeley boxlock action
marketed in a simpler version under the name of ‘Yeoman’, also the title of an overand-under model), the No 4 boasts an ejector mechanism as standard.
While engraving work on older guns tends to be light, even today all work is still done by hand. The woodwork is usually very high quality if not ‘best gun’ standard but can be variable (the modern version is available in No 2 grade walnut), and the overall effect is an undeniably pretty gun built on what are clearly English lines.
It feels like one as well. From the very earliest days of its production, the No 4 has always enjoyed a reputation for clean, crisp
Alternative
There is so little to go wrong with a No 4 that servicing is simple and resultantly inexpensive. Unlike many other older guns, spares are readily available and can be machined if necessary by any competent gunsmith.
It’s often said that if you cannot afford an English gun, an AYA is a good alternative. So, if you are looking for an affordable side-byside that would be at home on a smart peg or in a pigeon hide, look no further than the No 4. Additionally, a lighter 20- or 16-bore would also make a perfect gun for partridge or walked-up grouse. As ever, do take care to check the proof of older models before putting steel shot through the barrels.
Martin Lamb of The Country Sports Shop in Newton Abbott, Devon, summed the No 4 up perfectly. “Quite simply,” he told me, “it’s the working-man’s English gun.” The only challenge may be finding one, as used AYAS tend to be in high demand and are often the first to leave the second-hand rack in your gunsmith’s shop. Keep looking, though. You won’t be disappointed.
CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: The No 4 has always enjoyed a reputation for clean, crisp handling