More Theobens!!

The missing Fenman...

It was 1995/6 and I bought a Theoben Fenman, a compact 12ftilb break barrel air rifle with a Hydeau stock - An african hardwood used in this application as one of the few materials that could withstand the harsh and abrupt snappy recoil of such a gun. I didn't find the recoil bad at all, a mild nudge in the shoulder. The stock did look quite odd though, but again I loved it, I found it very ergonomic and ridiculously accurate, I could put a .22 hole in a fence post at the bottom of my parents garden, a distance of 20 yards, pull the old pellet out and replace with a .22 rimfireblank, then go back and from a sitting position with my arm wrapped around my knee without fail I could hit the blank. Shooting wasps and flies became great fun.

I ended up foolishly selling this air rifle to fund the purchase of my Mk1 Theoben Rapid 7. I really regret selling this amazing gun.

Taken from an official Theoben leaflet

Fast forward to 2020 and I'm doing quite a bit of shooting and I'm really want a self contained sub 12ftilb air rifle for inside barn work. Self contained as due to Covid I am unable to get my precharged air bottles filled and my rapids are both in bits anyway!

I start to fondly remember my Fenman and recall the accurarcy and get into my head that this would be the answer! I scour the internet for one and find a Theoben Evolution, which was the successor. Its quite a late model too (2006? - the trigger guard gives it away) and the guy selling it even throws in the original tin of pellets (see the blue tin of Eley Wasps), he reckons he has fired less than 50 shots through it but here comes the issue.... the Gas ram is flat... I go ahead anyway and buy it:

The barrel is slightly longer at 10", the fenman I think was 7.5" and it has a Walnut stock, there is a small mark on the bluing but this is ok as I have sent it off for a complete reblue, refurb and tune to sort the gas ram. But before sending it off I noticed this on the stock...

There is even the original price sticker on the stock!

Still awaiting this back from being rebuilt

The Theoben Eliminator...

I was at our local gunshop speaking about handing in the old Rapid for disposal and noticed in their gun rack something that stood out:

The gun in the middle with the dark wood stood out as it was such a large break barrel air rifle, I had a hunch what it might be. A Theoben Elminator, I'd never shot one only heard storys. This one was in a bit of rough condition but appears to be a later model by the trigger guard, yet has a muzzle weight instead of the silencer and rough bluing. I'm thinking whilst I'm waiting for the parts for the Rapid and the Covid issue stopping me getting the gas bottles filled this could be an interesting gun to own and have in the safe!

Did a test shot with it and it came back at 25.7ftilb which was spot on for a .22 version. Aim is to use this quite a bit and then when the Rapid is built up get these refurbished.

Did a bit of research on the gun and its a September 1994 Model.

This is what it should look like:

As purchased, The metal work is in better condition than I first thought and the Walnut stock is pretty beautiful, typical of the earlier Theobens.

Removed the dampamount (for 1 inch diameter scopes) and fitted a pair of Theoben 30mm rings and VisionKing 3-12fpp. What I did notice when looking through the sight at the botton the barrel weight/silencer is visible!

Removed the Theoben barrel weight and replaced with Theoben Vortex silencer. Cue even more of the Silencer in the sight! may have to install some sight risers!

December 2021

Got the Evo back! looks amazing! New piston seal and refurb by Impact Airguns and reblue by ISP Rifles:

Took the nasty rail off, bluing is stunning!!