Grulla and AyA Rifles

[Dwight Beagle]

I’m just curious because I’m sure I’ll never purchase one. Both companies make fantastic SxS shotguns that are well known. Their websites advertise double rifles but I’ve never seen even a picture of one, much less heard of anyone owning one.

Have any of you seen one or owned one? If so what did you think?

 

[rookhawk]

Spanish double rifles are usually small bores. Overpriced for what they are. Impossible to resell.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

Thanks for the post rookhawk. I guess a lot of people have the same amount of experience I do with them.

 

[Red Leg]

I am pretty much tracking with Rook. As recently as fifteen or twenty years ago, one didn't know what one was getting with a Spanish SxS. Most makers built everything from high-end copies of the H&H to boxlock clunkers which would have given the Belgium equivalent a good name. Even the best guns could be perfect or suffer from indifferent heat treating of springs/ strikers and poor regulation. The better manufacturers have straightened out most of those issues on their better guns. However, very few Spanish big bore rifles have ever been built. Hence their is little industry experience in producing them. Thus, even new production can reflect that lack of experience. The older guns have the same quality control as the older shotguns. Victor Sarasqueta probably built more big bore double rifles than any of the other Spanish manufacturers combined. He often employed a copy of the Beesley action. They can look very English. However, I have known three owners - one had a .470, one a .375, and one I can't remember. But all suffered some sort of malady.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I know that their reputation suffered for a while because they started making inexpensive shotguns at a price point for some importers. That isn’t the case any more. The only two I know of still in business are AyA and Grulla. Everything they put out today is excellent.

 

[Red Leg]

I know that their reputation suffered for a while because they started making inexpensive shotguns at a price point for some importers. That isn’t the case any more. The only two I know of still in business are AyA and Grulla. Everything they put out today is excellent.

The other two major production houses (to the extent any Spanish maker is large) are Arrizabalaga and Armas Garbi. There are at least a half-dozen other very small makers (i.e. LARM). These four makers are responsible for turning around the reputation of Spanish gunmaking. Their "best" guns (meaning shotguns) are just that. I know that both Grulla and AYA will build a rifle to order - and in a DG caliber. I know of no one who has one of these current production rifles.

 

[rookhawk]

Arrieta built a very nice DR also. I saw one for $17,000 in 375HH. I chuckled to myself realizing that what it cost new was irrelevant because no one is going to buy a rimless medium bore DR from a non-English, Belgian or German maker for anywhere near that money. That’s kinda the statement for Spain and also Italy: they can make beautiful DRs but they don’t understand them. They make the wrong calibers. They make the wrong ones O/U. They are not known to regulate them well, and if they do it’s witg RWS ammo you’ll never find again.

So basically: they have the raw talent but lack the empathy to what a customer would want and why.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

The other two major production houses (to the extent any Spanish maker is large) are Arrizabalaga and Armas Garbi. There are at least a half-dozen other very small makers (i.e. LARM). These four makers are responsible for turning around the reputation of Spanish gunmaking. Their "best" guns (meaning shotguns) are just that. I know that both Grulla and AYA will build a rifle to order - and in a DG caliber. I know of no one who has one of these current production rifles.

I thought those two went out of business, guess I was wrong.

Where are you located in the Hill Country?

 

[Red Leg]

William, Larkin, Moore carries Garbi still. Not sure whom if anyone represents Arriz.

Near Georgetown

 

[Dwight Beagle]

William, Larkin, Moore carries Garbi still. Not sure whom if anyone represents Arriz.

Near Georgetown

Ah, lived outside Boerne from 91-97. Sadly the job took me away from the hill country.