I recently came across an AyA Matador 12 gauge from several decades ago. It had unusually well-figured and finished wood and its metal was in 99% condition.

I know that the Matador was the line that was mass-produced by AyA and is not comparable to their very fine and pricey doubles, but what do people think of a Matador (likely from the 1950's) as a shooter, and what should I be willing to pay for such an extraordinarily clean old gun?

Quality-wise they're built every bit as well as the higher priced guns. Solid, durable box locks. They cut back on the embellishments and the single trigger isn't the prettiest but compared to the basic Stevens 311 they are a lot prettier gun for similar money on the used market.

Their reputation was unfairly impacted downward by a flood of cheaper Spanish shotguns coming in around that time that were much lower quality but being sold for similar prices new.

I see 12 and 20 ga guns go for $150-$450 depending on condition. 10 ga brings an extra $100-150 and $410 guns approach 8-900 in excellent condition.

Thanks for the comments. This gun isn't even in the same hemisphere as a Savage 311. It has European walnut in both the buttstock and forearm that has both figure and feathering worthy of any custom gun, and also has a shadow cheekpiece. I owned a 20 gauge Matador briefly about two decades ago, but as I recall its wood was much plainer and dully finished, whereas this wood has a hand-rubbed sheen.

Did AyA possibly make more than one grade of the Matador? This one certainly appears a couple of notches above the handful I've paid any attention to.

I followed AyA guns for a short while and I don't recall a multi-level grading system for the Matador imported by Jana. There was a Matador II with a vent rib and a little extra scratching on the metal imported by Firearms International. Toward the end there was also a Matador III but those were late guns in 12 and 20 that had 3" chambers and were not an upgraded designation. I suspect it could have been special ordered with a wood upgrade, especially considering the cheekpiece. Or re-stocked at some time? But then again my memory isn't what it used to be. Could also be like some of the early #1 Rugers; if you dug through the stack you could often find an example with stunning wood.

The Matador II will also have an inletted forearm latch. I saw a near-mint one go for $695 recently and it was a much nicer gun than a Browning BSS. Never seen one with a cheek piece, though.

For someone wanting a 10 ga "just in case" or for hunting on a budget, the 10 ga Matador is a bargain and a half. I don't know if they'll handle steel, though.

One other thought; the Matador was called the AyA Model 400 in other markets. It could be had almost anyway one wanted and it may be that FIE special ordered a 400 for someone and had it marked as a Matador at the factory.

This one is marked with the Firearms International import mark. Being an FI, about what age range would that make it? Perhaps younger than the 1950's as I was told? It has a solid, not ventilated rib. I never thought about it possibly being restocked. I'll look it over to see if I can find any clues to indicate if that is the case, but it's hard to imagine spending the kind of money professional restocking would take on an "economy" priced shotgun.

Again, thanks for the guidance!

I have only heard one negative about them and that was about the single trigger not being that reliable. No first hand info but I remember a 'smith telling my dad that if he wanted one to go with the double triggers. That was a long time ago.
C.G.B.

The first of this gun to come here in numbers was the Model 100 J.C. Higgins by AyA for Sears. Year was 1954 and it was supposed to be competition to the Win Model 21. Fantastic guns and stocked more traditionally than the later Matador. If you get a chance to throw up both guns from that era you'll keep the AyA to shoot. The Matador is the same gun mechanically but I don't think they were imported as "Matadors" until 55-56 when FIE picked up the line. There was some overlap with the Model 100 and Matador. Here's a minty J. C. Higgins (not mine unfortunately):








There are some sources on the net to age a Matador. I don't thinkthe serial number will give you an exact year but only a range.