Ugartechea's
 

On another double gun forum was a post about Ugartecheas. I have 3 that I picked up at yard sale prices. They are nice guns. The 12 ga is 28 in m/f and is quite light. The middle gun is a 20 ga Grade 2 with 27 in IC/M , and the bottom is a grade1 28 ga IC/M , 27 in gun. Modern dimensions of 14 1/4, and 2 1/2 day.
The 20 is the back up for my VHE 2O IN the UP

Took the 28 with me this year. And shot 3 grouse one day over point.

:cuss:I never seem to find those yard sales.

I have two high grades sidelocks in 28 and 20 gauges. Bobby

A good Spanish double (or two or three) is on my wishlist. A 28 gauge or 410 would be ideal

I have a Ugartechea .410 Falcon Pistol grip, DT 26" barrels. It is a nice gun.

I was in Lion Country Supply one day to pick up some dog stuff. Those guys were doing their best to sell me a Uggy 410. I have handled guns that felt like 2x4s but this one was at the opposite extreme, more like a toothpick. I told them no thanks, not my cup of tea.

My first Uggie was the top gun in the picture, a model 30 12 ga. I bought it new in the box( still have the box) for $300, it is essentially the same as the Lion Country supply grade 1 gun at $1400.
The 20 ga is a grade 2 with coin finish. When I bought that gun, new ones were selling for $1800. A gent in Pa wanted to sell his--couldnt take the recoil-he was shooting 1 oz loads--ouch, in that gun. He had put less than 1 box of shells thru it--paid him $900, and at the end LCS was getting $2200 for that gun.
The 28 ga was on the write in auction at our RGS banquet where I am the chairman, and recieved no bids. Bill Goudy( RIP, gosh I miss that man), did not want to do the paperwork to return it to headquarter, and asked me if I wanted it for $750, when they stopped importing them,they were over $2000. s o, like I said yard sale prices. I think they are of better quality than the current lines of Turkish imports, certainly not as nice as AYA's( the higher grades were).
Wouldnt mind finding a 28 ga Dickinson with 30" barrels.

Wasn't there a period of time when some of the Spanish guns were accused having soft metal innards? If so, any guess when that was? Would be nice to have time period defined - sort of like Salt Wood Brownings

Uggies are the best buy in a good S/S yesterday, today and tomorrow!
I have owned many over the years and unfortunately let them go for some other current fancy.
I still have four (4), two (2) sidelocks and two (2) boxlocks.
Bob Jurewicz
PS
John, yes some of the early guns had some issues with soft firing pins. I believe the Excel imports were the ones

I read about soft metal era as mostly in the '70s and the DIARM years. Then it was supposed to be solved. So, I ordered an Arrieta 871 in 1991. Guess what?, it had soft metal in lock works.

I know many people find Spanish guns to be reliable and many of them look very nice as did mine. I have been tempted on some nice Spanish guns since, but I'll probably never buy another one.

My friend recently had sent his AYA up to New England area to replace a firing pin that mushed.

New England Custom Guns in Clairmont, NH. Not far from where live and great gunsmiths. Was there last week to drop off a 28 Gauge to have the LOP shortened and have one of there English Pads installed.

Steve, that is the place! He was going to try and change the firing pin himself and I talked him out of it because I thought the firing pin bushing was anchored in by a screw that doubled as a vent and it was engraved. We searched on line and found this place and called. After talking to them he could tell that they knew what they were doing and sent it to them.