07-Sep-2026
The side-by-side has quietly become the most interesting corner of the British gun market. While over-and-unders dominate the clay ground, the game field has never let the classic double go, and because a generation of shooters moved away from them, the used side-by-side market offers more gun for the money than almost anything else you can buy. A well-made English or Spanish double that cost a working man a year’s wages when new can now be had for the price of a mid-range sporter.
The catch is that “side-by-side” covers everything from a £400 Baikal to a £40,000 best London gun, and the differences are not always obvious in a photograph. This guide walks through what your money actually buys at each level, which makers to look for, and the checks that matter before you commit.
Under £1,000: honest Spanish and Eastern European boxlocks
At the entry level you are looking almost exclusively at boxlock ejectors and non-ejectors from the Eibar gunmaking region of the Basque Country, plus the occasional Russian-built utility gun. The names to know are AYA, Ugartechea, Zabala, Laurona and Victor Sarasqueta. These were built in serious numbers for the British market through the 1960s to 1990s, which is exactly why so many are available now.
What you get is a properly made, properly proofed double with genuine field manners, light between the hands, quick to the shoulder, and forgiving on driven birds. What you generally don’t get is fine engraving, hand-detachable locks, or tight chamber tolerances by modern standards. Many at this level are 2½in chambered, which matters for cartridge choice.
The honest advice at this budget is to buy the best condition example of a modest maker rather than a tired example of a grand one. Barrel wall thickness and a clean, tight action are worth more than a famous name with worn-out lockwork.
Browse: AYA shotguns · Ugartechea · Zabala · Laurona · Baikal
£1,000–£2,500: The sweet spot for a proper game gun
This is where the side-by-side market becomes genuinely exciting. The upper AYA grades, better Ugartechea models, Victor Sarasqueta sidelocks and a good many British trade guns sit in this bracket. So do the Spanish sidelocks built on the Holland pattern, guns with hand-detachable locks, chopper-lump barrels and real hand-finishing, at a fraction of what equivalent English work commands.
British trade guns are the quiet bargain here. Provincial makers and London retailers sold enormous numbers of well-built boxlocks under their own names, and because they lack the marquee cachet of the top three, prices stay reasonable. Names like W W Greener, Cogswell & Harrison, William Powell and E J Churchill turn up regularly, and the build quality is frequently excellent.
At this level, insist on seeing recent proof and, ideally, measured barrel wall thicknesses. Old English barrels that have been honed to remove pitting can end up thinner than is comfortable, and that is the single most common problem with guns of this age and price.
Browse: W W Greener · Cogswell & Harrison · William Powell · E J Churchill · Victor Sarasqueta
£2,500–£6,000: Sidelocks, and the good American doubles
Cross £2,500, and the field opens up considerably. Top-grade AYA sidelocks, Arrieta, Grulla and the better Spanish houses compete directly with mid-grade English boxlocks and the occasional lesser English sidelock. This is also the bracket where the classic American doubles become relevant to UK buyers; the Winchester Model 23 in particular has developed a genuine following here, and searches for it on Rightgun.uk have been climbing steadily.
The Model 23 is worth understanding because it sits oddly between categories. Built in Japan to Winchester specification, it is mechanically closer to a modern gun than a vintage one, with 2¾in chambers, sound steel and none of the barrel-thinning worries that shadow older English work. For a shooter who wants a side-by-side to actually use hard, rather than admire, it makes a strong case.
Spanish sidelocks in this bracket deserve the same scrutiny as any other used gun, but the good ones are very good indeed. Look at the fit of the lock plates to the wood, the crispness of the chequering, and whether the barrels ring true when suspended and tapped.
Browse: Winchester Model 23 · Arrieta Crown · Grulla · Winchester shotguns · Webley & Scott
£6,000–£20,000: Proper English guns
Here you are buying English sidelocks and the very best boxlocks, Westley Richards droplocks, good Churchills, quality provincial sidelocks, and entry-level examples from the London best makers when condition or configuration works against them. A gun with unfashionable barrel length, a short stock, or heavy restoration can sit well below what an equivalent gun in original trim commands.
That is the arbitrage in this bracket. A 28in-barrelled English sidelock with 15in of stock is a hard sell to most buyers; add a stock extension, and it shoots exactly as well as one that costs half again. If you are having the gun fitted anyway, buy on barrels, action and bores rather than on stock dimensions.
Restoration history matters enormously at this level. Re-blacking, re-browning and re-chequering are normal and acceptable; sleeved barrels, re-jointed actions and heavy re-cutting of engraving all affect value materially and should be disclosed.
Browse: Westley Richards · Holland & Holland · Boss & Co · James Purdey · Shotguns for sale
Above £20,000: Best guns and pairs
The top of the market is a different business entirely. Best London guns from Purdey, Boss and Holland & Holland, matched pairs, and exceptional examples of the great provincial makers trade on originality, condition and completeness of documentation. Original case, original accessories, unaltered dimensions and a clean factory record all add materially to value.
Buying at this level is as much a research exercise as a shooting decision. Factory records can usually confirm original specification, and any deviation from it, different barrels, a replaced stock, altered engraving, needs to be understood before the money moves. The gun should also fit, or be capable of being made to fit, without compromising its originality.
Browse: James Purdey · Boss & Co · Holland & Holland · Gun dealers directory · Gun safes and cabinets
What to check on any side-by-side, at any price
Four things separate a good buy from an expensive mistake. First, barrel wall thickness: have it measured, not estimated. Second, chamber length, because a 2½in gun fed modern 70mm loads is being asked to do something it was not proofed for. Third, action tightness: the gun should come off the face cleanly and stay shut without rattle. Fourth, stock condition through the hand and around the lock plates, where old oil soaking causes hidden softening.
None of these require you to be an expert. They do require you to ask, and any reputable seller will answer them without hesitation.
Browse: AYA shotguns · Miroku · Lincoln · Gun parts and accessories · Shotguns for sale
Frequently asked questions
Are side-by-side shotguns harder to shoot than over-and-unders? They shoot differently rather than worse. The wide, flat sighting plane suits instinctive game shooting; the lighter weight of most doubles means more felt recoil with heavy loads. Most shooters adapt within a few hundred cartridges.
Can I use standard cartridges in an old side-by-side? Only if the chambers and proof marks say so. Many older British and Spanish guns are chambered 2½in (65mm) and proofed accordingly. Check the barrel flats before buying cartridges, and if in doubt ask a gunsmith.
Is a side-by-side suitable for clay shooting? Perfectly, for sporting layouts and skeet, though the lighter build makes long practice sessions more tiring than with a dedicated clay gun. Competition trap shooters will be better served by an over-and-under.
What is the best value side-by-side maker in the UK? For most buyers, AYA at the mid grades offers the strongest combination of build quality, availability and resale. Below that, Ugartechea and Zabala represent honest value; above it, British trade guns from provincial makers remain underpriced relative to their quality.
Find your next side-by-side
Whether you are after a first game gun at under a thousand pounds or a matched pair to see out a shooting lifetime, the side-by-side market rewards patience and homework. Browse the current side-by-side listings on Rightgun.uk, compare makers and grades in one place, and connect directly with dealers and private sellers across the UK.
Browse: Shotguns for sale · AYA · Webley & Scott · Winchester · UK gun dealers
Further reading: AYA shotguns, Holland & Holland shotguns buyer’s guide, Winchester Model 23, Shotgun fit explained and Purdey vs Holland & Holland compared.
