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A Royal Shotgun From Saudi Arabia

 
MAY MUSEUM WITH SEAL

Setting up the first national television network in Saudi Arabia was just one of the many memorable assignments that came the way of American TV network executive Sheldon Gilbert. As a token of appreciation, he received this Aguirre y Aranzabal (AYA) 12-ga. shotgun, bearing the golden seal of the royal Saudi family, as a wedding present in 1965.

This AYA No. 1 Deluxe side-by-side sidelock was engraved by Geoff More and was updated with a Silver’s recoil pad to change the length of pull. Donated in 2011 to the National Firearms Museum, this fine smoothbore is one of the many elegant shotguns represented in the collection’s holdings.

The National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va., is open seven days a week (closed selected holidays), and its galleries are filled with thousands of arms that captivate the imagination as visitors travel through centuries of guns and history. Admission is free (donations are appreciated), and you can find out more by calling the staff at (703) 267-1600, checking out our website at www.nramuseum.com or by e-mailing nfmstaff@nrahq.org.