Arrieta and Pedro Arrizabalaga are two traditional gun manufacturers. They were founded more than one hundred years ago – Arrieta – and more than seventy years ago in the case of Pedro Arrizabalaga, and now under the same ownership.

Arrieta

Avelino Arrieta established himself as a gunsmith in Eibar in 1919. The Arrieta family lived and worked in the industrial town of Elgoibar, a short distance from Eibar on the Deba river. The workshop has included over the years a variable workforce producing mainly sidelock shotguns on the bench. With very little machinery, these tough craftsmen have modeled their guns on the English ideal: Holland-pattern sidelock, with assisted-opening mechanism and Purdey triple-bolting system. And both shotguns of all the calibers and gauges and express rifles have been completely manufactured in the basque region and exported and sold all over the world.

Pedro Arrizabalaga

Pedro Arrizabalaga became an independent company in 1944. His family name has been a part of the trade at least since 1748, with documents that link Tomas de Arrizabalaga, working in Eibar. Recent history records Pedro Arrizabalaga as the most elegant “best guns” in the basque production.

Today

By 2022, with the reputation of both custom gunmakers no longer to be built, the company is evolving. New over & under shotguns have been developed and you will be able to appreciate them in this brochure, alongside the traditional side by side. Rejuvenated by the new craftsmen, experienced and young, most from the Basque country and other as imported foreign gunsmiths, all eager to face the challenge of giving continuity to a Manufacture that offers a bespoke service to the most discerning shots all over the world.

Our Ambassador

Jaime Patiño, Earl of Teba, architect and game-shooter. History scholar and technology enthusiast. Man of the outdoors and sophisticated art-lover.

lt is little wonder that Jaime is involved in the new era of Arrieta & Pedro Arrizabalaga. Through family, upbringing, personal interest and passion, his destiny was to join us in a fruitful partnership.

Brought up in and around nature by his grandfather, “Bunting” — the best gun in Spain of the 20th century — Jaime grew up in “Ventosilla de Doña Sol”, probably one of the best driven partridge estates at the time and still today. Jaime is our great source of encouragement, inspiration and help in our tireless pursuit of perfection.

Our Team

Our designs are brought to fruition to satisfy the most demanding game and competition shooters. Our customers request that we supply faultless shotguns, for a superb partridge shoot culminating in a magnificent bag. Pairs or sets of more guns. Express rifles for big game on the Savannah or wild boar in a narrow gap between the trees.

 

To this end, we have assembled a team comprising the most skilled of today’s gun technicians and engravers and we have provided them with the latest CAD-CAM tools, all in Elgoibar on the banks of the river Deba in the Basque Country. We strive to keep alive the finest traditions with a personalised service for our new customers and future friends, who will have the benefit of pieces with the status of works of art which will grow in value over time.

Ricardo de Serdio

Owner

Jaime Muñoz-Rojas, María Martín, Miguel de Oriol and Javier Oraa

From Madrid’s office

From left to right:

Inma Fernández Actioner

Patxi Carrasco Finisher

Xeber Arriola CAD-CNC

Javier Oraa Finance

Miguel Oriol Gun Design and Testing

Angel Mazorriaga Master Gunsmith

Julen Ibarlucea Quality Control

Oscar Sánchez Engraver

Antton Osoro CAD-CNC

Iñaki Azcue Engraver

Expert opinion & Media

 

Arrieta sidelock over-and-under

The Field 2023
Michael Yardley

A New Sporter From Arrieta & Arrizabalaga
Marks a Sea Change in Traditional
Spanish Gunmaking

Shotgun Life 2023
Irwin Greenstein

New Basque Bests / Visiting Spain´s
Arrieta & Arrizabalaga factory

Shooting Sportsman 2023
Douglas Tate

Arrizabalaga sidelock

The Field 2023
Michael Yardley