Arrieta 803 two gauge set in 410/28

[Kenny Graft]

I am looking at a hi grade Spanish shotgun all optioned up. This is a pre-owned gun that is like new in its makers case. My price is less than 1/2 what ordering one like it would cost for a base model 803 two gauge set. I have been wanting a nice, light 28" 410 with M/F chokes....looked at lots of 410-s most for less money but this is a English best knock off, hand engraved with up-graded wood! It comes in at 5lbs-14oz with the 410 barrels and 5lbs-13oz with the 28ga. set. Both sets of barrels are choked F/F and can be opened up if need be. I will most likely leave them as is. Stock dimensions are just about right and hope it fits me proper. It has a three day return if I do not like it...(-:
Question...any one have anything to say about these guns? Likes or dis-likes, shooting qualities or resale values??? thanks all SXS Ohio

[David Noble]

If it's the same gun I saw it is a very attractive piece!
I've never owned one but have handled many Arrietas while perusing through William Larkin Moore's inventory over the years. He has been offering them for probably twenty or more years. They seem to be well made and usually light and nimble in hand. If "your price" is that good a deal and it fills the bill of what you desire, then I can't think of a reason to not go for it! It might be a long time before you find another.

[Greg Baehman]

I assume it's the 803 that WLM has listed. If so, you're going to love it as it's a real beauty! All Arrietas are wonderful handling dynamic guns and that one will be as well. I own two Arrietas, a 12-ga. 2-bbl. set and a 20; and if you're anything like me the 1st thing thing you'll notice upon shooting one is the trigger pulls. Our Parkers have good and decent trigger pulls, but the Arrieta's trigger pulls are in a different league. The only shortcoming that plagues Arrieta and the other quality Spanish doublegun makers is the ability to hold their value. I don't fully understand why, but that's the way it is.

If you haven't yet seen the YouTube video of the Arrieta shop and Arrieta's skilled and passionate artisans, take a look at this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J5HoKCDwmD8

[Kenny Graft]

WOW...that was fun...thank you Wild Skies SXS Ohio
You fellers know ware the guns are. WLM has the little gem I am looking at. I have never owned a Spanish made gun that was in my safe and part of my personal collection Over the years I have herd good things about Arrieta shotguns. Michael Macintosh like them, I should go and read his book Spanish best. The 803 has a couple things going for it.....Its a two gauge set. First as much as I enjoy the 410 gauge its not much of a hunting tool, the 28 gauge is way better for upland birds that I like to chase. A stand alone 410 gets little use and is a big investment. Second its a hi-grade example. I am like a old crow and like shiny things or is it that I have expensive taste? or both. If I am going to own a item I like it to be the best I can afford at the time. Normally I do not get attached to items and I like to upgrade my tools from time to time. That said if down the road I want to peddle it, I would hope to recover most or all of my investmenton for a well kept pre-owned gun. I have a good track record with Parker guns, Reproductions, Fox guns and other American shotguns. Brand new guns will get a fella in trouble most of the time that's a given. Pre owned is a good thing at the correct price. Dan and Dave at WLM took 1500.00 off the gun...still a boat load of cash for a Spanish gun. In a few years or so will it recover the my investment when put up for sale? Or should I stick with something else? Steve Barnet has a sweet little CSMC Fox DE-spl. 410 that was owned by the same guy who owned the DE-spl 28 that I bought a couple years back....I'm choking on the price of that one, impossible to justify... but still...its sweet for sure. Any good reason not to own a Arrieta before its too late....I would like to have it for the P.A. grouse opener.....(-: Thanks all.... SXS Ohio Yip-EEEE it October finally......

[Greg Baehman]

Actually Kenny, it was Terry Wieland that authored Spanish Best The Fine Shotguns of Spain. It's a great read, especially the 2nd Edition which contains ~100 more pages, oodles more pictures and a whole lot more info than the 1st Edition. The Arrieta 803 is a mid-level offering from them and is a self-opener. Self-openers take a little getting use to, many love them, others not so much.

In regards to holding their value . . . I'd like to say that quality built Spanish sidelocks should be a good bet, but that has not been the case. Here in the USA, mid to high end American guns with condition have outperformed their Spanish counterparts. I would look for that to continue. This is not to take anything away from an Arrieta, they are built in the Old World tradition by highly skilled craftsmen and are a very delightful handling and aesthetically pleasing gun.

[Kenny Graft]

I did not pull the trigger on the Arrieta as yet...still on the fence? I question the resale value and do not want to take a big hit later. If I had the gun in hand it would be a big help. Steve Barnet still has the CSMC Fox 410 that I really would like to have, he even called me back and we talked turkey, cash and trade. I could get it done but...Its more than I want to invest on a gun that would sit in my safe allot, just can't justify it....)-: Its lots of fun looking when you have real intent to buy. Thanks for all the info and feedback above....I'm still working on it, just can't find the right one....I know...I will post a wanted thread for a Parker Bro's original 410. SXS Ohio

[John Dallas]

Presumably the gun has already taken the hit everyone has described. Hard to understand why it should take a further hit.

[Kenny Graft]

The 410 dilemma has ended.....A deal was made a couple hours ago. I bought a light gun 5lbs-9oz choked F/F This gun fills my needs for a light late season rabbit gun, preserve gun, or just to look at gun! It goes well with my other heavier Parker Reproduction 410-28-28 set, 410 is 6lbs-4oz choked IC/Mod. The new 410 Matches the little CSMC DE-spl. 28 gauge that was bought a year ago from Steve Barnett and was ordered and owned by the same person. The 28 gauge was made in 1997. The guns are almost identical except for the engraving pattern of birds and a setter. Both guns were engraved by Richard Roy. With a big $ trade and a little cash the deal is made. I am into the little Fox right and the hunt is over...(-: Thanks all for your wise input...SXS Ohio

[Kenny Graft]

Horse trade....My new little 410

[Eric Eis]

Very nice Kenny, very nice........