IN THE FIELD Old retainers

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

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.