| Description |
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This vintage speargun is called Sea Hunter and was made by US Divers
Co. Complete gun is made out of stainless steel and plastic. Shaft length
is 15-5/8" long and 3/8" in diameter. Total overall length
of gun is 17-1/2". Handle depth from base of butt to the top of
stock is 6-1/2".
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Complete gun with
spear and string |
It is driven by carbon
dioxide (CO2) cartridges of the bulb type that are
used in soda syphons for producing carbonated water.
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Complete gun -
other side |
Spear tip is attached
by a threaded connection to the spear's body so a variety of spear tips
can be used.
The safety catch is
pushed forward to "fire" and folds back flat against the grip
for "safe". When the gun is holstered this action helps push
the safety catch to "safe". The gun can be reversed in the holster
to be worn of the other side of the body in which case the safety catch
lever can be taken out and reinstalled on the other side of the gun by
pulling out the pivot pin and a spring washer.
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Loading of CO2
cartridge |
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The gun is broken open by pressing the rear lever and lifting up the
top section so that one can then open the rear door to insert a new
carbon dioxide cartridge. After closing the rear door the upper section
of the gun is pushed closed, this action cocking the firing mechanism.
This procedure can be carried out with the safety lever in the "safe"
position. The gun can then be holstered and is immediately ready to
fire or alternatively the gun can be closed while holding down the trigger
to disengage the cocking mechanism. That allows the gun to be carried
with a new cartridge inserted, but not ready to fire. In this situation
one has to lift the top section up and close it again to cock the firing
mechanism, although the cartridge is already in position. You would
want to remember which way it was done before attempting to shoot something
using a "quick draw" technique!
The picture above is not the same gun as previously shown. Note the
string clip which is not original. The rear line retaining clip was
originally moulded nylon, but they could be bent by carelessly inserting
the gun in its holster if the reversed holster arrangement was used,
so more recent models have a rubber coated spring clip. The one shown
above will not allow string release when the gun is fired.
Shooting string length as originaly supplied is 8 feet.
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Holster top view
- A groove for up to six CO2 cartridges |
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Each shot consumed
the contents of the cartridge, so you only had as many shots as the
number of cartridges that you could carry. There is a groove in the
holster that can carry up to six spare cartridges.
Since the gun is
so small it could be tied to the belt and leg for easy use, but as such
it is not intended as a serious hunting weapon.
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Holstered gun |
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The holstered pneumatic speargun was a better proposition than one of
these, except that the Sea Hunter could be drawn from the holster and
fired immediately. Swimming with a loaded gun not in your hand has always
been a concern for spearfishermen.
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Big thanks goes to
Valerie from Sea Hawk Trading Co. for submitting some photos and info
about this gun.
Some photos © Sea Hawk Trading Co.
Info taken also from Skin Diver Magazine Test Report article by
Jack McKenney, September 1968, pages 26, 27 and 61.
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