Graham MacKinlay Record turn around

[Konor]

I picked up a 16 bore AYA number 4 on Monday 7th of November from Rydales Auctioneers just North of York. 
Unfortunately the gun was cast for the left shoulder ,triggers shaped for a left handed shot and the strap metal work angled to accommodate the cast.  I arranged to deliver the shotgun to Graham MacKinlay, a gun maker with an excellent reputation, near Dumbarton yesterday , 8th of November at 4.00 pm. for him to look over and assess the possibility of altering the gun. 

I was phoned today with the news that the gun was finished and ready for pick up and so picked the  gun up today at 4.00pm 9th of November. The cast had been changed from cast on to 1/4 inch cast off. The triggers had been altered to accommodate a right handed shot and the metal work altered to fit the new cast.

I had thought that I would be lucky to see the gun returned this side of Christmas now I’ll be shooting it this Saturday.

Well done Graham MacKinlay ,I have already bought one side by side from him over 20 years ago and still going strong I’ll be be back to buy my next one from him to contribute to keeping him in business ,he’s a very rare breed.

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, any pics, nice guns those number 4s 

[Konor]

2 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, any pics, nice guns those number 4s 

Hi its a great gun for the money now that the side by side's popularity is second to the over and under. The 16 bores weight and balance is great for a walked up gun and now it fits I'm really pleased 

It’s quite a plain gun but comes up to the shoulder well . I’ll have a shot at clays at the weekend then out on game on the 19th so fingers crossed it goes well.

[oldypigeonpopper]

That looks really nice, my first new gun was a AYA Yeoman, £38.50 🤔😁

[Konor]

2 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

That looks really nice, my first new gun was a AYA Yeoman, £38.50 🤔😁

My first was an AYA yeoman too. £60 from Steve Smith’s shop in Newcastle ,around 1974 I’d guess yours was purchased around mid sixties maybe?

[Westley]

10 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

That looks really nice, my first new gun was a AYA Yeoman, £38.50 🤔😁

Mine too, but it was used and was £20  !

[Centrepin]

Nice to know there are still some proper Gunsmiths around who belive in service. 

A rare breed these days, nearest one to me is 4 hours away in Norfolk.

[oldypigeonpopper]

11 hours ago, Konor said:

My first was an AYA yeoman too. £60 from Steve Smith’s shop in Newcastle ,around 1974 I’d guess yours was purchased around mid sixties maybe?

Hello, I think I bought my yeoman when ASI started importing and the local gun shop got the range of AYA in store, maybe late 60s early 70s 🤔

[JohnfromUK]

Just keep an eye on the bend because I have been told that unless they are kept clamped with 'bend pressure' on them for a period, there can sometimes be some 'unbending'. 

[Konor]

34 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

Just keep an eye on the bend because I have been told that unless they are kept clamped with 'bend pressure' on them for a period, there can sometimes be some 'unbending'. 

Will do .It had been cast to left hand from right so I’m hoping it will be stable now that it’s been moved over. Fit seems spot on.

I was toying with getting a lighter gun and going down the xxv road but mixed reviews pushed me towards a longer barrelled 16 bore instead 

 

[Konor]

2 hours ago, Centrepin said:

Nice to know there are still some proper Gunsmiths around who belive in service. 

A rare breed these days, nearest one to me is 4 hours away in Norfolk.

I’m lucky that Graham is virtually on the doorstep it’s not the first time he has done work for me and I’ve never been disappointed. He has quite a range of guns and the shop is an Aladdin’s cave of Dicksons ,Ingrams ,Martins and wall to wall English guns

2 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, I think I bought my yeoman when ASI started importing and the local gun shop got the range of AYA in store, maybe late 60s early 70s 🤔

My Dad bought my first gun ,a single barrel Cosmos 12 with a .410 adapter in Edwards toy shop. A large toy shop with a range of AYAs and Baikals in the front window £20 at the time I think.

[Bungle The Bear]

I also live relatively close to Graham McKinlays - the best place for a browse around, and a proper gent into the bargain, think I’ll pop down next week for a chat and a wee look 😊

[Townie]

I sold a gun to Graham. Thoroughly nice man and a pleasure to deal with. 

[Konor]

8 hours ago, Bungle The Bear said:

I also live relatively close to Graham McKinlays - the best place for a browse around, and a proper gent into the bargain, think I’ll pop down next week for a chat and a wee look 😊

I’d have liked to look around more but didn’t want to hold him back. I’d feel confident buying from him as Townie  says he’s a 

“thoroughly nice man and a pleasure to deal with “ I’d also add a great source of information on British side by sides which he is happy to share

[Dave at kelton]

Graham has done a lot of work for me, bought and sold guns. He is both a first class gunsmith and lovely to deal with. I cannot recommend him highly enough. In particular he refitted a barrel loop to a set of Damascus barrels despite them being Teague lined; soldering without distortion of the tubes!

[Old Boggy]

On 09/11/2022 at 18:36, Konor said:

I picked up a 16 bore AYA number 4 on Monday 7th of November from Rydales Auctioneers just North of York. 
Unfortunately the gun was cast for the left shoulder ,triggers shaped for a left handed shot and the strap metal work angled to accommodate the cast.  I arranged to deliver the shotgun to Graham MacKinlay, a gun maker with an excellent reputation, near Dumbarton yesterday , 8th of November at 4.00 pm. for him to look over and assess the possibility of altering the gun. 

I was phoned today with the news that the gun was finished and ready for pick up and so picked the  gun up today at 4.00pm 9th of November. The cast had been changed from cast on to 1/4 inch cast off. The triggers had been altered to accommodate a right handed shot and the metal work altered to fit the new cast.

I had thought that I would be lucky to see the gun returned this side of Christmas now I’ll be shooting it this Saturday.

Well done Graham MacKinlay ,I have already bought one side by side from him over 20 years ago and still going strong I’ll be be back to buy my next one from him to contribute to keeping him in business ,he’s a very rare breed.

Being a southpaw, that 16 bore AYA would have suited me perfectly. However, I`m pleased that it has been cast off to your satisfaction.

I have looked at Graham MacKinlay`s website and note that he is one of the only sites giving full details of the guns that he has for sale, including chokes, proof readings, barrel thickness etc.etc. This is most refreshing from a gunshop when sometimes even very basic information is lacking. They clearly know their stuff and continue to build on their good reputation.

I do wonder about the ability of some gunshops. I picked up one of my guns from my favoured gunsmith (an old school Birmingham gunsmith, fortunately fairly local to me)yesterday after he had done a little work to the stock. When I bought the gun about a year ago, it was advertised as having 1/4 & 1/2 choked barrels. I thought that I would get him just to check this and he very clearly showed me that they were Improved Cylinder & 1/4 chokes !!

As it turns out, these chokes suit my shooting quite well so I was, in this instance, very pleased to learn the truth.

Good luck with your 16 bore AYA.

OB

OB

[Konor]

4 hours ago, Old Boggy said:

Being a southpaw, that 16 bore AYA would have suited me perfectly. However, I`m pleased that it has been cast off to your satisfaction.

I have looked at Graham MacKinlay`s website and note that he is one of the only sites giving full details of the guns that he has for sale, including chokes, proof readings, barrel thickness etc.etc. This is most refreshing from a gunshop when sometimes even very basic information is lacking. They clearly know their stuff and continue to build on their good reputation.

I do wonder about the ability of some gunshops. I picked up one of my guns from my favoured gunsmith (an old school Birmingham gunsmith, fortunately fairly local to me)yesterday after he had done a little work to the stock. When I bought the gun about a year ago, it was advertised as having 1/4 & 1/2 choked barrels. I thought that I would get him just to check this and he very clearly showed me that they were Improved Cylinder & 1/4 chokes !!

As it turns out, these chokes suit my shooting quite well so I was, in this instance, very pleased to learn the truth.

Good luck with your 16 bore AYA.

OB

OB

Thanks Old Boggy , I did feel a bit guilty about changing the guns cast over ,even after Graham had told me it had originally been right hand cast ,but it hadn’t been mentioned in the auction catalogue description and I bid online.
I had five pheasants on Saturday which is more than usual ,and I could have shot more but there is still a lot of season to go, and that was a good enough day for me. I must say this 16 bore handled well with far less recoil compared to an older Ferlach 16 I owned around 15 years back and with its original 15 inch stock I think I could be easily converted to 16 from my 12. It seems to have the heft and balance of a better quality 12 .

As regards Graham I have found him to be both exceptionally honest and fair and have every confidence in him, I think the fact that he is a gunsmith not just a gun salesman makes the difference especially when it comes to buying older British side by sides. When I bought a Damascus barrelled non ejector twelve bore from him over 20 years ago he told me to use as often as I wished as my main gun as any problems that may arise he would be able to fix. I have done and it is still firing away with no issues it’s been a good buy.

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by Konor

[figgy]

I like AYA SXS guns. Bet you can’t wait to take a few birds with it. 

Edited December 8, 2022 by figgy

[Konor]

1 hour ago, figgy said:

I like AYA SXS guns. Bet you can’t wait to take a few birds with it. 

I already have figgy and am very pleased with the way it has performed. I’d consider buying a better/ more expensive 16 but then again can’t see the point as the AYA balances and swings well and I like a bargain. 
It takes me back to my younger days when I bought my first side by side an AYA number 4 in 12 bore and considered myself a lucky guy . 
I’ve a number 3 magnum in cracking condition and think both guns are great value for money.

 

[enfieldspares]

Nice. I am a long time "fan" of the 16 bore!

[Old Boggy]

30 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Nice. I am a long time "fan" of the 16 bore!

You and me both.

[Diver One]

I bought a 16g SxS from @wabbitbosher.  He has just done a small adjustment on it. It will be my Xmas project fettlng the wood. Shot it last Sunday ......the gun is better than I am? I Handles great , I just need to get used to it 😉

Its the closest I'll get to an AYA.....as it's a bAYArd😉😂😂😂😂

[enfieldspares]

36 minutes ago, Diver One said:

I bought a 16g SxS from @wabbitbosher.  He has just done a small adjustment on it. It will be my Xmas project fettlng the wood. Shot it last Sunday ......the gun is better than I am? I Handles great , I just need to get used to it 😉

Its the closest I'll get to an AYA.....as it's a bAYArd😉😂😂😂😂

LOL! Mine's a Manufrance Fusil Robust 28E. French from about 1924. Boxlock ejector with a twist...a self-opening boxlock ejector! Plus I've just acquired an Ugartechea 16 bore as well as an AYA Cosmos 16 bore. 

 

Edited December 8, 2022 by enfieldspares