The Dr Bob Vendetta Block: A Block To Far.......
The whole Dr Bob Vendetta project started in the summer of 2016 with the famed Dr. deciding that he would add a block that was a like for like a copy of the mk2 Theoben bock but incorporating the same improvements that Chip Smith in the states had included on his block when he had designed them 4-5 years earlier, these improvements being Picatinny rail, longer block to allow more air to be stored in the pre-chamber (complete with valve standoff built into the valve cap due to the longer valve pre-chamber), double-barrel clamp screws and extra plug on the bottom of the block to enable both a quick-fill and a gauge to be fitted or left blank other than these improvements all other parts from a Theoben mk2 post-2007 mk4 triggered block were completely interchangeable other than the valve cap which a stand-off could be made to fit in it. From what is believed a deal was struck with Chip Smith for the cad drawings and work was set about assessing them to get them manufactured in the U.K. (chip smith had never exported his blocks to the U.K. believing it was not worth the hassle and only x2 block ever made it into the U.K. as private imports) after a while and with the support of the Rapid 7 Owners Club forum (www.rapid7ownersclub.co.uk) in the way of both paying the deposit (the blocks were a hefty £350 a block and deposit was £100) to enable the project to get of its feet and with support from one of the R7OC's resident engineers in terms of Cad drawings an engineering company of good standing(or so it appeared…) was appointed to convert the cad drawings into a CNC program and manufacture 20 prototype blocks there were Known as the PP blocks……

All should have been good other than the fact that instead of taking the design as it was decided to try and improve on it and make the block ambidextrous so that the bolt handle could be switched from the right side and transferred to the left side making it a left-handed block and a blanking plate fitted to the right side or the left side dependant on what configuration it was used in, now start the issues…….

1. As soon as this is done the hammer lost support on the left-hand side, this then allowed the hammer to porpoise its way down the hammer bore making the hammer pip clip the valve stem at best or miss the stem bore and jam up the first issue caused massive fluctuations in velocity consistency and if jammed a strip down was required to release the hammer as it then over travelled the sear and locked the action up, this could have been avoided by properly testing the PP blocks before they were sent out to customers as it would have shown up straight away that there was an issue.
2. In addition to the ambidextrous Modification to the original Chip Smith block design, it was also thought it would be a good idea to have a quick change barrel functionality, and the barrel locating screw that goes into the top of the block was changed to a larger size and that of a ball detent type that would mean you could slacken the barrel pinch bolts on the side pull the barrel out and push a new one in and it locate in the dimple on the barrel then nip the pinch bolts up and off you go (obviously changing the pellet probe to the new cal.) all without having to take the scope off…….. All sounds brilliant does it not! Unfortunately, the Engineering company either misread the plans or they did not care that much about the project but when they drilled and threaded the hole for the larger diameter ball detent type screw they went too far with the drill and tap and also threaded the port from the block to the barrel port……… Not ideal for smooth airflow.

3. Another issue is that the hammer cap was not threaded as per the original mk2 metric size but instead was threaded to mk1 spec which is imperial not the end of the world but not mk2 spec as was meant to be.
4. Another issue found was that the Magazine slot had been machined too deep allowing the mag to move on the pellet probe and barrel locating extrusion meaning that it is possible for the mag to move and then jam up on the pellet probe or in extreme cases the pellet probe become bent if shoved hard enough or at best damage the magazine!
5. Trigger pocket machined too deep meaning the hammer would jam up on the sear and release correctly…….
6. Stock bolt crew instead of being threaded to ¼ BSP instead threaded to 2ba


In addition to the above issue’s the finish was anodized as per the original Theoben blocks but the blocks were not inspected first and had multiple marks on them before being sent for anodizing after anodizing these were made more obvious when the Vendetta was engraved into the anodizing some have been done better than others, but none are satisfactory on a new gun…….

Now Fine you may say these are all part of the Prototype process the learning and trying to fix the issues to make a better final product for the consumer be the best it can be? But there must be questions on why these were accepted in the first place as being testable…… like has already been above massive amounts of feedback and ideas from all the Tech boffins on the R7OC was given before anything was made but it seems none of this advice was heeded? Also, people have handed over hard-earned cash for a block that had been sold to be fully compatible with a mk2 block other than the need for a valve stand-off.

Most of the above faults were fixed by the Lathe Boys on the R7OC with some quite ingenious ideas to stop the Hammer movement issues and to prevent the hammer coming into contact with the trigger block and Velcro strip being added to the mag slot and not a lot being done about the threaded port….. to make a block that works but not as good as it could be and not a patch on the Chip Smith blocks or the Theoben blocks but at least it is working!! Some chaps on the R7OC had bought x2 blocks and had well over 1k invested in them and the associated parts to build them up…….

What was Dr Bob's response to the above? Not a lot to be fair other than to say that the next blocks would be better and the original PP block issues had been taken on board and that the original PP bock purchasers would be offered the chance to swap their blocks or buy another improved block at a discount……

I should add to this that my block is now fully assembled into a working rifle, its performance is thanks to the diligence of Bucketboy on the R7OC but it is a gun I can’t seem to gel with even though it is kitted out with a StevenB TTR laminate stock, Bucketboy internals and shroud and is in the wonder calibre .20 but I think all the issues with it have tainted the gun somewhat.

Part 2 to come that covers the new vendetta blocks…………