AYA

Miguel Aguirre and Nicolas Aranzabal, two Basque gunmakers, had worked with Eduardo Schilling, a German gunmaker based near Barcelona.¹ In 1915 they returned to Eibar in Spain’s Basque country and established Aguirre y Aranzabal, or AYA.¹ At first AYA made components for other companies.¹ In 1938 it began making complete guns, with its name engraved on the barrels.¹

AYA’s British connection came through Andrew and Peter King, who established Anglo Spanish Imports in 1958.² The brothers supplied two guns as patterns: a Holland & Holland sidelock and a Westley Richards boxlock with an Anson & Deeley action.³ These became the basis for AYA’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 4 de Luxe.³

In 1988 the DIARM consolidation of Spanish gunmakers collapsed.⁴ Imanol Aranzabal bought the remaining AYA parts and set up a workshop on Bidebarrieta in Eibar.⁵ By 1989 the revived business was again making fine double guns.⁶ In 2001 it moved to Otaola Hiribidea.⁶

AYA occupied the building now known as Portalea from 1940 until the mid-1980s.⁷ The building stands at Bista Eder 10, Eibar.⁸ The revived company worked on the second floor of a building on Bidebarrieta before moving to 25 Otaola Hiribidea in 2001.⁶ Its head office is now on the third floor of Avenida Otaola 25.⁹

AYA credits its cooperation with ASI for the No. 1 de Luxe.⁶ It has invested in machinery that makes its own parts and those of other local firms.¹⁰ In 2025 its New Deal announcement invited customers to the Eibar factory.¹¹ As AYA’s British importer, Manor & Co. also handles aftermarket care, servicing and warranties.¹²