Johnson Submarine Gun Item No.22

Origin:	USA, N.America	Collection:	?
Year:	?	Description by:	Online Spearfishing Museum
Maker:	Tapmatic Corporation, Costa Mesa, California	Info and Photo by:	Sea Hawk Trading Co.
Do you have more info about this item?		Last updated:	30.03.2006.

 

 

 

Description

This vintage speargun uses a 22 caliber cartridges to fire a harpoon. It measures ~90cm (36") long.

Complete gun with spear

Characteristic body has two handles, suggesting requirement for a strong grip for firing.Front handle has a built in reel with 50 feet of string, and a string retrieving handle.

Gun body detail

Body is probably made out of plastic, with barrel out of steel. From the photos it is visible that there are few levers and buttons on gun's body. One is above trigger, one button is above handle and one is on top of body. We are not sure what exactly they are for but one is most probably for safety break, and others are probably for recharging and cartridge retrieval. If somebody knows for sure, please contact us by clicking on above link.

Gun body detail - other side

There are quite a few warnings on this gun suggesting it was quite dangerous weapon, not to be used by amateurs.

Handle detail - other side

Smaller red sticker has writing: "Caution, String free line before firing. Do not fire with line attached directly from safety reel to spear." Therefore it is clear that reel doesn't have a mechanism which supports quick release of string upon firing. Instead, as caution sign suggests, string had to be taken out manually before firing. We wonder how practical was this in practice.

Writing detail

Manufacturer has made an patent application for this gun, which would be very interesting to see.

Space for 22 cal cartridge

Above picture shows a detail of space for 22 cal cartridge, but it is unclear how the joint and release was made.

Spear tip detail

Spear tip is detachable from spear itself and it is connected to spear by steel wire, further connected to about 50 ft string.

This gun was probably quite powerful, but little is know what was it used for. If you can help, contact us on link below! There is a double spear version also, see item 27. Big thanks goes to Valerie from Sea Hawk Trading Co. for submitting these photos and some basic info about this gun. Photos © Sea Hawk Trading Co. Description © Online Spearfishing Museum

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