Theoben Evolution. ...Goldilocks of the line?

[kingfisher61]

Recently I was privileged to purchase a true keeper of a rifle....a Thumbhole Theoben Evolution in .177. It is an unmolested one owner jewel in mint condition. Beyond its looks, lying underneath the gorgeous dark bluing is a power plant which is probably one of the best ever conceived in spring gun history. Not to powerful and not to weak....just right!

The Theoben "gas-ram" system is a leap forward in the mechanics of the spring rifle. It's simplicity, durability and adjustability for power promote the idea that even springers can be made better.

The gas system makes the lock time inherently faster than any spring powered rifle. This translates into the pellets exiting the barrel quicker. Theoretically , this should improve accuracy. The buffered piston on the Evo eases any vibration and recoil. All in all, it adds up to a rifle that is comfortable to shoot extensively.

The Anshutz barrel is match grade adding to the overall accuracy and again defining the Theoben commitment to nothing but quality. This rifle oozes with it!

So, hats off to the British for creating the Theoben line. It's a shame that it didn't last. But at least a quality example can still be had. The way they were manufactured makes them the Rolls Royce of

e of spring guns. I'm sure many will be around long after I'm gone from this world.

 

[Bob-in-WV]

Congrats, that is a beautiful gun. Thanks for sharing.

Bob in WV

 

[kingfisher61]

Thanks Bob. She is certainly a head turner. Do you own any Theobens?

 

[Vetmx]

Wow!! That my man is a pellet gun.

 

[stoti]

Wow, that is a beautiful gun! 
Stoti

 

[intenseaty22]

Gasp! Wow, gorgeous! Congrats! I’m so Jelly!!

 

[Gear_Junkie]

Wow, that gun is gorgeous!!!

 

[kingfisher61]

Thanks for the oohs and wows guys!! Anybody else have a Theoben pic to share?

 

[Gear_Junkie]

Thanks for the oohs and wows guys!! Anybody else have a Theoben pic to share?

I WISH!

 

[Flintsack]

Excellent, way above average grain on that one!



mike

 

[SteveV]

Absolutely gorgeous!

That in a lefty stock or a lefty SLR carbine in .22 would be my dream squirrel guns.

 

[Vetmx]

Just stopped by to look at that gun again. Good grief. I should have bought one.

 

[kingfisher61]

Excellent, way above average grain on that one!

Thanks Mike! Coming from you , that's a tremendous compliment.

 

[Duckfish]

John, you have all the good guns. Thanks for making me want one.

 

[kingfisher61]

Thanks for making me want one.

You want them all Ed!

 

[sonnysan]

This looks like a 12FPE model that came from over the pond. Are my assumptions correct?

 

[kingfisher61]

HI Sonny

This Evo....as with most Theobens....has an adjustable gas ram. Some guys like to pump them all the way up for greater velocity. I prefer mine sub 12ftlbs. Easy to cock and the piston seals don't burn up therefore last much longer. Plus it is much more accurate at lower speeds.

The beauty. ...besides the quality of the unit....is in the ability to change the pellet speed depending on your needs. You just can't get that from other gas ram units. Unfortunately, in later models, even Theobens became unadjustable. Too many guys were either burning up the seals or just plain overloading them causing failure. Definitely a drawback IMO.

This particular unit has never been altered from factory spec according to the seller. The Thumb hole stock was what really drew me to it. I have had several Evolution rifles in the sport stock and never cared for them. I had an SLR TH that I liked, but the system on it didn't work for me. I'm a break barrel guy. So, when I found this one, I knew it was a fit. Plus the beautiful stock didn't hurt. Lol

 

[sonnysan]

I too have a Evo thumbhole (stock is nowhere close to your in looks - but it is FAC), but I think the goldilocks of the line is the Olympus. Similar to a SLR stock, and smaller than most other Theoben stocks (Fenman is another smaller stock). The Olympus is so hard to find, and it would fit most people. I've only seen one stateside in the last 20 years and I purchased it.

I've always thought the factory kept the nicer blanks on the 12FPE guns UK stateside, while the more powerful ones with bland stocks were shipped overseas. 

The thingie on the end has never made my Theobens less quite. The solution is to purchase a PCP so you can urban snipe more effectively.

While JB welding more of the thingies to my Theobens one day, it looks like the gas tube is identical for all 20FPE models. The differences in the line were offering different stocks with different barrel lengths. The eliminator and crusader line were larger rifles so the stocks are not compatible.

What you have there is a very rare find. Congratulations!