Besides the visual appeal, the promise of gorgeous handling is what gets me excited about beautiful shotguns like the AyA.
I first saw an article about these guns when I was in USMC School of Infantry back in 1995, and I've thought about them off and on since. Because I hunt bobwhite quail here in South Texas, I might be able to justify buying one.
Mass produced guns are great, and American joes like myself are pragmatic and utilitarian, which is why a sweet little Spanish copy of a $50,000 English gun might just be the ticket. But I'm also looking at some of the fine, (relatively) affordable American shotgun builders.

So what happened to the dinosaur killing new Beretta mystery gun announcement?

Just wonderin'

Phil I can remember looking at the same catalogs and seeing them in Gun Digest and other paper icons of the time. If I can remember correctly they were less than 1/4 of what they catalog for now. Just out of reach then and still just out of reach now. It is awful hard for me to justify spending that much on a shotgun, no matter how much I would like to have one. Life still has too many other requirements but we can still look at the ads and dream can't we? Maybe in retirement...

My wife actually scored an older AyA 12 ga. sxs at an antique/estate auction a few years back. She bops into the house going "Look at what I bought honey!" She knew that she had found a good deal among the flotsam and jetsam you see at those things, and you can imagine my surprise and shock. I will not repeat what she paid for it as to not antagonize anyone, or cause male egos to be bruised.

She has not let me forget that this is HER shotgun....I 'borrow' it every time I can. It truly is that good.

Moral: If your wife says she wants to go to an estate sale or auction, it may just pay to check their listings and at least look. I now take the time and go to these things. Most of them are crap. However I have turned up some truly golden firearms deals at them. I scored a Les Baer .45 at one not long after she found the sxs. That alone keeps me motivated.

Beautiful guns. Have to take a couple off the shelf each time I visit the local Cabela's Gun Library. Very light handling.

If you hit the gun auctions, you can find some lovingly used English guns for less money, but you have to buy the quality and not the name. They may not have Purdey or Boss engraved on them, but the bargains are there if you look.

Beautiflul guns and even though seemingly high priced they are a bargain for the work that goes into them. Just compare them to guns that cost twice as much and you won't see much difference. They also will only go up in value so it's hard to go wrong.

I have had two AYA 12 gauge side by sides (still have my favorite) and I agree they are extremely well made guns. For some reason I can shoot skeet better with this side by side than with my O/U or my A--5, and recoil is not a bad as some of my other side by side doubles, which puzzles me. These guns are so well machined that all of the screws and holes lime up perfectly paralell to the barrell. Wonderful guns: I'll never sell this one.

I remember about 25 years ago when I had an opportunity to buy a brand new Merkel double in 16 gauge for $2,850. I couldn't afford it, and for years that haunted me. Then I was able to shoot some expensive doubles while shooting at a wealthy fellow's private range, and found I couldn't shoot any of them nearly as well of my Model 12s. So I no longer suffer from lack of a Merkel or any other double gun.

I bought a Spanish-made, AYA look-alike, s/s 20. Beautiful metal work, excellent all-round fit and finish. What could go wrong? At 16 yds on the shot pattern board, the RH barrel shot 4" left of center.
Lesson learned: Go big or go home.

My Stevens 311 is not as pretty or as expensive, but I hit birds with it and that is what counts.

ricefarm,

Do I detect a little malice here?

Moishe,
You want to sell that 311? I've had two, no need to explaine why I don't have them now. They really are great guns for the money. I want mine back.

Jim in Mo, Not really I bought it Originally for my sone, he gave it back after about three years and I have had it for about 35 years this time. they are getting scarce (in Excellent shape anyway)you can fine old rusty ones in pawn shops but who wants one of those? ;)