I can help with chokes. Left barrel is choked .043 which in my book is extra full. Right barrel is choked .0196, which is modified.

By serial number it was built between 1960 and 1965... Serial Numbers

 

The date code looks to be E*1 which would be 1959
Cornell Pubs has a 1960 catalog repro which would show the model

AYA 1960 Aguirre Y Aranzabal Guns (Spanish) - Cornell Publications

AYA 1960 Aguirre Y Aranzabal Guns (Spanish)13 pages, about 8 1/2" x 5", glossy soft-cover in full color. New COLOR re-print restored and digitally enhanced from a nice original. Printed on high quality 20# 97 bright acid free paper. Fully Illustrated.We are not affiliated with any arms or gun...

cornellpubs.com

900 kg/cm2 proof would be for a service pressure of about 9500 psi
The barrels are not steel proved.

 

That’s a beautiful gun. Go shoot a round or two of SC’s. You’ll get used to the double triggers pretty quickly.

 

When I shoot with two triggers, I am telling myself "Front, Back. Front, Back. Near, Far, Near, Far" and I practice slipping my finger from front to back as I say this. I say it a lot!

After missing a few birds, it's now much easier. I have yet to select the tighter choke due to how a bird presents, but it's interesting to have the option.

Those Ayas are nice shotguns. I like the light weight. I would not put big booming shells through it, because I don't think they are generally needed. An ounce and a quarter at 1220 fps is plenty of medicine for most pheasants, and that's choked like a pheasant gun. Even an ounce of #6 is not irresponsible for the bird. If you hit, it goes down hard. If you miss, you miss. It's very rare to be inbetween.

Very nice.

 

The barrels weighed 1.510 Kg at the time of proof = 3.33# so the gun is likely < 7#.

 

70 mm chambers means it is a 2-3/4” gun. Very pretty! Enjoy it!

 

You guys are of tremendous help. 😊

Yes, it has 2 3/4"chambers and the weight is around the 7 lb mark. I have shot a couple of older 1.5 oz loads that the gentlemen had and trust me, w/o a recoil pad, you know when you pull the trigger.

Does anyone have a guess on what model it could be?

Besides not being able to hit anything with it yet, it is a beautiful gun and I enjoy carrying it. However, I believe that my dog starts to sulk 🙄 when I pull it out, as he knows that we are just exercising and shooting with no reward forthcoming.

 

ColoGregs, very nice.

A detachable sidelock ejector based (copied!) on the famous Holland and Holland "Royal" model, AYA made a number of these, which were represented in UK press adverts in the 60s as an affordable substitute for the increasingly valuable London "best" versions, which were better preserved in glass cabinets. One of the features of the original "Royal" may or may not be present; the self (or easy) opening action. Disc set strikers were standard. Usually cocking indicators have a gold inlaid slot that contrasts with the finish, but I don't see that on your gun, so again it might not be functional.

I think I've seen some with a colour case hardened action as opposed to the coin finish on yours.

Yes, it has 2 3/4"chambers and the weight is around the 7 lb mark. I have shot a couple of older 1.5 oz loads that the gentlemen had and trust me, w/o a recoil pad, you know when you pull the trigger.

Errr .... I wouldn't do that, I echo Stinkypete's opinion. What you have is a medium game gun, not a heavy load pigeon gun. The Proof pressure of 900Kg shows that; a pigeon gun would be Proofed at 1200Kg, and be rather heavier that 7lbs.

I don't know what the pressure of those big shells is but regardless of safety (which I don't disregard, you should look into it) sidelocks can be damaged by heavy recoil. They have a very small area of wood in the stock head bearing on the action body so the stock will split and crack if misused. This has been proved by experiment.

So it isn't just you that's being discomforted, the gun don't like it either.

Best of luck,

Added as an afterthought ... because the locks are detachable doesn't mean you should detach them; must better left to a gunsmith that knows his trade.

 

Send AYA and email with the serial number, they will reply with pertinent records.

 

I think you should send it to me with about 2-3000 shells and I will figure out why you are missing with it and provide a detailed report of my findings.

 

Beautiful gun! Have fun!

 

AYA now requires payment for shotgun research

CONTACT AYA FINE GUNS SHOTGUNS RIFLES ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT TO COMPLIMENT THE SHOOTING HUNTING EXPERIENCE WITH SHOTGUNS & RIFLES

CONTACT AYA FINE GUNS SHOTGUNS RIFLES ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT TO COMPLIMENT THE SHOOTING HUNTING EXPERIENCE WITH SHOTGUNS & RIFLES

www.aya-fineguns.com

 

Yep 100 Euros per item. I suppose its fair really it may take a while to find all the requested information

 

I think you have a 117 model, with ejectors. Enjoy it a lot!

Nowadays is not the best moment for AYA factory

 

You guys are great sources of info and I appreciate the insights that have been provided. 🧐

I will quit using the heavy loads, splitting of the stock did not enter into my thought process.

 

For those of you that are smarter than I (there is a long line). What is the function of the lever on the side plate.

There is a website shotguns.se that has a catalog of AYA guns and I believe that my gun most closely resembles a Model 117 as Campero suggested.
Thanks for the help

 

It is the pin (screw) that holds the sidelocks to the frame. It's called hand-detachable because it serves a a lever to remove the pin so that a screwdriver is not required. You need to be sure that it is fully tight so that it does not fall out and get lost or, even worse, a lock plate is lost. Yes, it has happened.

 

OK I assume that you keep turning until it tightens?

Thanks.

 

Yes, turn until it is tight. The screw has a standard thread - righty tighty, lefty loosey.

I remove my lock plates every 2 or 3 years to clean and lubricate or if they get wet. My wife's Grulla has a slotted screw instead of the lever and I ground a Mag-Tip bit for an exact fit so I wouldn't bugger the screw slot.