IN THE FIELD Old retainers
Sporting Gun|May 2023
Tom Sykes explains why he still loves his old side-by-side, and why they are worth considering in a world of over-and-unders and semi-autos
IN THE FIELD Old retainers

Despite having a somewhat extensive family gun collection when I was young and first getting into shooting, I never had any access to a side-by-side shotgun. I was always led to believe that these old muskets were relics and not as superior as their over and-under or semi-automatic counterparts.

This view was reinforced by the fact that most of the people I encountered with a side-by-side were older gentlemen. They were also typically rather lacking in the skills department when it came to bagging a pheasant on a driven day or a duck on the foreshore.

I was influenced to stay away from these types of guns for fear that I wouldn’t be able to hit the proverbial barn door.

I recall seeing an old AYA thrown into a sporting auction at our wildfowling club annual hotpot supper evening. I believe the starting bid was as low as £5 and not a single hand was raised. The gun remained with its owner, probably until reaching the inevitable scrap bin in the local gunshop. I was keen to raise my hand and buy it, if only to save it from its impending doom, but I was advised to stay clear.

The AYAs handle beautifully and are a pleasure to shoot

Rare and cheap

Fast-forward many years and I found myself rummaging around in the back room of a gun shop, looking for rare and, more importantly, cheap guns that could be added to my collection. It was then that I spotted some side-by-sides in the scrap bin. I had a chat with the gunsmith, who advised that they may be a bit past it but diverted my attention to an AYA Yeoman, hiding at the back of the wall of guns.

This story is from the May 2023 edition of Sporting Gun.

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This story is from the May 2023 edition of Sporting Gun.

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