Grulla Armas: the Spanish Shotguns loved by the Duke of Northumberland

When you hear the name of Ralph Percy, Duke of Northumberland, the mind immediately conjures up tales of remarkable exploits on the grouse moors of Alnwick, executed with a pair of hundred year old side-by-side shotguns made by one of the ‘big three’ London gunmakers, but that picture is only partly accurate, because, perhaps to your surprise, His Grace actually uses shotguns made by the Spanish firm Grulla Armas.

The Eibar-based gunmaker was established in 1932 when five of the best master gunsmiths in the city joined forces to work together on unique handmade pieces. Today, the craftsmen who work side-by-side in Grulla’s workshops employ the techniques learned from generations of artisans who came before them.

“I have a beautiful 100 year old pair of Purdeys but they were becoming unreliable,” comments the Duke. “About 30 years ago I saw a pair of Grullas that belonged to a Spanish friend and was really impressed by their looks and their balance. Shortly after that I ordered a pair of Grulla ‘Royal’ with the Holland & Holland-style engraving and gave them to my son, and then another pair for myself.”

English style, Spanish made shotguns

The Grulla Royal is based on a Holland & Holland style assisted opening action with demibloc chopper-lump barrels. The true sidelock shotguns feature hand-engraved lockplates, fences, extended trigger-guard and toplever, as well as specially selected, hand-chequered, exhibition-grade walnut fitted with gold ovals. Royals are available with four distinct engraving styles: H&H, Purdey, Churchill and Celtic. They are available with traditional square or round-body actions.

Today, the Percy family own twelve pairs of Grullas, including a pair that the Duke commissioned for his wife on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary, which feature a skull and crossbones motif, a reference to Alnwick Castle’s famous Poison Garden and  the Duchess’ book inspired by the garden.

When it comes to shotguns, Grulla specialises in side-by-side shotguns, not something that presented a problem for the Duke. “I am lightly built, not very strong and most of my shooting is snap shooting for grouse and partridges for which a side-by-side is fine,” he says. “Having used them all my life I think I’m too long in the tooth to change.” He adds that when it comes to high bird shooting he doesn’t need to concern himself as to how the side-by-sides handle heavier cartridges, since he sticks to 30g loads, noting: “They seem to work OK!”

It would appear that keeping things simple is a character trait. While the Duke’s have stocks made to his measurements, the only other personalisation they have are recoil pads and changeable chokes. “I use the same guns for everything if possible,” he notes. 

In a feature in the Shooting Times in 2011 the Duke described shotguns as “working tools” and is particularly a fan of the reliability of his Grullas, adding that they are “easy to fix when parts wear out.” Nevertheless he acknowledges that a shotgun is an expression of personal style and taste, likening them to a favourite stick, fishing rod or tennis racket. 

Being handmade in small numbers (around 130 a year) and by craftsmen means that you can order a gun made to your exact specifications, including stock dimensions and personalised engraving. The Grulla range of shotguns includes 8 basic models, all true sidelock side-by-sides.

The Duke’s ‘Royals’ represent the top end of the range, with a starting price of around £23,700, a fraction of the cost of a London-made equivalent.

At the other end of the range is the 209 H, which will set you back around £10,700. Even at this price point, the guns are handmade throughout the process in Grulla’s Pais Vasco workshop. 

Visit the factory

Grulla’s workshop is found on the same road in Eibar as that other titan of Spanish gunmaking, AYA. The team are keen to welcome those interested in ordering a Grulla (or Grullas!) to visit the workshops and see their craftsman in action.

Eibar lies between the Basque cities of San Sebastian, famed for its cuisine, sweeping beaches and film festival, and Bilbao - home to the Guggenheim Museum, making it a wonderful region to visit. With regular flights to Bilbao from London, Bristol, Manchester and Dublin, a long weekend taking in both factories, a 3 Michelin Star meal at Akellarre in San Sebastian, a stroll on the beach and a wander around the Guggenheim is a pretty attractive proposition!