If you could bring one gun back from the dead, which would it be and why?
- Thread starter Sqwirl57
- Start date
I'd love another chance for a HW77 and a Sig Saur ASP 20. How could Sig stop making such a fine gun so soon? Oh shucks, I'd like another Sheridan Silver Streak too. I shouldn't be playing at this . . . Way too hard on my wallet. Orv.
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Probably the only gun that needs resurrecting…although they only ever made 50 odd the first time out.
The Imperial Express….Built as if a fine Shotgun, beautifully sleek, following the lines of a side by side 12 bore and made of solid steel components and walnut.
Minimum number of pumps for full power. No reliance on bottles, or tuning….outstanding robustness to the valve and sealing components.
The Imperial Express….Built as if a fine Shotgun, beautifully sleek, following the lines of a side by side 12 bore and made of solid steel components and walnut.
Minimum number of pumps for full power. No reliance on bottles, or tuning….outstanding robustness to the valve and sealing components.
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I hadn't hear that but it certainly is a very interesting possibility if true. I've owned several Theoben airguns over the years and I marvel at their quality. I only have one now. An SLR98 in pristine condition. .177 carbine with Hyedua stock. Knocks my socks off every time I take it out and admire it.
Bill
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I have one of these still functioning and somewhere a stash of parts. Cool little gun. May be on the chopping block at some point, though.
As for my choice, I've always liked the older BSA Lightning. I've got one of the XL, pre SE versions...but it's not quite the same.
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I saw 2 votes to resurrect the SLR 98, my favorite gun of all time...I've owned 4 since 2010 and shot them extensively in both .177 and .22. I made it my hobby to learn as much about SLRs as I could including in person discussions about them with Martin Rutherford, who told me he assembled most of them and David Slade who was the importer and both still service them. I've often examined SLRs with a machinists/tool makers eye...considering what it would take to build them from scratch...they would not be easy...jigs and fixtures would have to built...I just can't imagine ANY company investing the time capital and locating qualified people to do the work, ( I would come out of retirement to do it...lol.) They were expensive in the day and originals are going up every day...BUT still can be had if you want to go up against serous collectors...be cheaper than new builds. I have a feeling Theobens and their build quility are "GONE WITH THE WIND".
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I didnt mention the SLR98... why? Because I had a chance back in the day to get a .177 SLR98 that was beautiful and reasonably priced.... and I didnt. Now, I'm not sure I want spend the premium that folks ask 'when and if' they are available. For sure, it's one of those guns that were I to win the lotto... I'd get at a premium. I've held one once, when I was visiting Mr. Whiteside... and I tried then to talk him out of it, but he wasnt budging. Simply stunning guns.
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Of all sad words of tongue and pen the saddest are these "it might have been"...JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER...Don't beat your self up everyone of us has a might have been story...I have several actually...for whatever it's worth HW97s will out shoot any SLR98 I ever had (I know cause I have two 97s) and the triggers are no contest. SLR 98s are a dime a dozen compared to SLR 88s, just TRY to find one of those...
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Actually, that's worth quite a bit... and I know others may disagree with you. I'll choose to believe it wholeheartedly! I do love my 97LK in .177. Sold my TX and kept the 97 and reckon it'll remain. Hearing that does ease the sting a bit!
Far as the SLR88... I've been around airgunning for a minute and I have to admit I've never heard of it. Time to see the wisdom of Google!
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The 88s were hand made on manual machine tools they were the forerunners of the 98s which used CNC machines for parts...Google "The classic air gun show" English guy named Olly? has a series about various Theobens,
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I was never much interested in multi pumps but this past spring I picked up a crosman 140, 4th variant. Very impressive shootin iron.
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I am in the process of buying one but the seller warned me he is very slow to pick one out he would sell . Been about 3 weeks now waiting or an answer.
Might never happen ?
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First,the Gold Star carbine was the motivation for Theoben to build the SLR 98 carbine. Great!
Nice guns, the Gold Star, but they belong in the grave like every other gun BSA ruined with that stupid Maxi Grip scope rail. It places the scope too high with any rings available and only BKL and Sportsmatch make anything to fit oddball 14mm bases. To be expected from them as when the Mark 1 Meteor came out in 1959 (the first airgun ever produced with scope dovetails) they picked the unlikely proprietary 15.5 mm. So you pay a premium for rings that don't even really fit the gun properly.. I can successfully remove and replace those Maxi Grip rails from the action but it's a daunting process for most home tuners.
Don't get me started on the Eclipse that was already eclipsed when it hit the market. A fine gun that missed the mark by a typical British trigger.
So as frequently done when British manufacturers take aim it's unfortunately at their own foot.
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