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.