AYA No 2 sidelock single trigger

Recommendation required please. A friend has an AYA No 2 20bore sidelock single trigger which has been in a cabinet for probably 20 years. It looks immaculate but when test-fired today there were a couple of misfires and once there was a 'double detonation'. Hopefully a good clean and professional service will resolve things - any recommendations for a gunsmith, ideally within a reasonable distance from Bristol?
 
It depends IMHO on what sort of singe trigger system is used. If it is (unlikely) a Boss system then I'd suggest that you need a gunsmith genuinely capable of working on such.

My advice is to actually contact the importers ASI who are Anglo Spanish Imports and ask them what system it is likely to be and who in you are they might suggest.

I think for whatever my opinion is worth that it is just gummed up with dry oil and that. And not broken. But again I'd not myself try and find out as if you do a DIY fix and then later it double discharges and injures someone you are in the pooh.

A Boss system shouldn't ever double discharge as it needs three pulls of the trigger. I think that it is a system where a "vane" or rubber flips from one set of tumblers to the other as the trigger is released and that the "vane" has become stuck.
 
Hello, If Swindon not to far along M4 off Junction 15 is Bozzard Gun Smithy at Baydon, He did a service on my S by S Sidelock , like a new gun after, nice chap to with small shop and work shop on site,
 
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Over time oils can gum and go varnish like. This means they are no longer lubricating moving parts such as sears and single trigger mechanisms. The latter, depending on mechanism have quite a few small moving parts weighted by little springs. Sears also use little springs. Any gumming of these parts can and will cause malfunctions.

Mostly these can be easily sorted with a good clean and re-oiling with a light non gumming machine oil. Over time little springs can and do corrode and thus break.

Boxlocks and really simple, whereas sidelocks are much more refined. What is needed is a knowledgeable gunsmith who can take basic parts, either from raw metal, or part finished, shape them to fit, harden and temper and then do the final fitting. The hardening and tempering is where the real skill and knowledge is.

Most side by sides, including AyA are assembled by hand by craftsmen taking rough parts, finishing and then fitting them. This pretty much means that parts are not interchangeable between one gun and another. But they fit well. And its why AyA sidelocks now start at well over £10,000 plus.

Its also why they need proper servicing and its not a five minute job.
 
If it’s a detachable lock, just remove it (If you have decent gunsmith tools) and was it out with lighter fluid or petrol.
That might free it up if it’s partially sized with solidified lubricant.
Ken.
 
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