Pelletier, CO2 Speargun 1960

Pelletier, France
CO2 Speargun - 1960
Item No.PN03

Origin:
France, Europe Collection:
William Pique

Year:
~1960 Description by: William Pique, OSM

Maker:
Pelletier, France Info and Photo by: William Pique, OSM

Do you have more info about this item?
Last updated: 13.04.2009.

Description

Since very beginnings of spearguns, early inventors experimented with various types for spearguns which used CO2 as propellant. Several types are known but not many were serially produced mostly due to expensive production, complicated use for most and fact that these guns soon became prohibited in most countries for sport spearfishing.

This particular speargun is an early model commonly known as "Pelletier CO2 speargun" designed around 1950's and commercially built from early 1960's. It's inventor and builder, an Frenchmen Jacques Pelletier (19xx - 19xx) soon discovered amazing power which can be provided by CO2 and has began commercial production of such spearguns in France but many were exported all over the world.

Mr.Jacques Pelletier in his workshop

Complete gun with spear

The speargun body is made out of metal (aluminum or steel) and it is truly simple in external design. CO2 cartridge is dominating feature of complete speargun. It is painted red which we believe was the original color of these spearguns.

Loaded speargun, other side view

This particular speargun is missing ring for fixing of spear string, which is normally fixed on barrel tip (see images on early advertisement below). It also doesn't have a reel, string release mechanism or even safety catch. Quite simple indeed. Loading of gun was quite easy so no muscle power was required. This is in fact the only reason why these spearguns are not allowed by International and National spearfishing associations.

Speargun handle - detailed view

Closer view if speargun's handle shows polished metal casting without any factory writings (e.g.. manufacturer's logo, brand, model, year, etc.) Trigger mechanism externally is simple. Metal lever is hinged from the top side of the handle casing while its middle part is pressing valve mechanism which releases CO2 from its cartridge. It is unclear what is the metal nut, placed on the back side of the handle, but quite possible it is an safety valve or valve for recharging CO2 cartridge without its removal from the speargun.

Speargun handle - other side, with removed trigger and "safety valve"

Other side of handle shows a small sticker on top side which is probably manufacturer's sticker.

Another version with attached reel (moulinet)

This is another version of same speargun which shows attached original reel. From the early advertisements it is clear that reels came in two sizes an 50 and 100 meters versions.

1960's advertisement - CO2 Spearguns - "Ease of use - high precision"

The CO2 driven spearguns are the most powerful spearguns in the world. And as such are really not for normal hobbyist. Pelletier guns were marketed quite strongly and here you can see three examples of advertisement of these early 1960 models.

The first advertisement above is basically saying that this is the most powerful speargun in the world which provides ease of use and high precision. Quite impressive image of spear going through two quite thick books really shows its amazing power. Attachments for string is clearly visible on both barrel tip and spear itself.

Two models are advertised: EXPORT for export market and FRANCE model.

The difference being that FRANCE model is such as allowed by French legislation. What is the actual difference it is not clear - if you have more info contact us. Also different accessories are mentioned: trident tip, explosive tip and reels (50 and 100 m).

Second advertisement (to the right) has an interesting slogan "One day or another, you will hunt with CO2, the most powerful spearguns".

This advertisement mentions also an model BI, "armed with two shots", and PISTOLET intended for diver's defense, and to be worn on leg.

Quite possibly this advertisement was inspired by a successful kill of a big shark (see photo below). Pelletier spearguns proved quite capable of piercing and killing large fish of more than 300 kg in weight.

This for example can be done by a much larger rubber spearguns, used for blue water spearfishing, which have up to 8 rubber bands. It is questionable if such 8 band guns should be prohibited when power stored in 8 rubbers is not true power from a spearfisherman, but actually 8 times that. However that is a question for another discussion.

1960's advertisement - CO2 Spearguns
"One day or another, you will hunt with CO2, the most powerful spearguns"

1960's advertisement - "The most powerful spearguns"

Above advertisement again quite strongly presents power of this speargun by showing pierced tree. Other than optimistic prediction "One day or another you will hunt with CO2", it doesn't give us more information than what we already know.

1960's - Proud unknown spearfisherman with a 310 kg shark, speared with an Pelletier CO2 speargun

These spearguns, due to their incredible power, were intended for catching large fish, so this by default hints use in oceans especially for blue water spearfishing.

As a final note it is interesting that modern versions of such spearguns, although quite improved and modernized, are still being made and sold by an French company MACO2. However it would be interesting to know in which countries such spearguns are allowed to be used, and under what circumstances.

Thanks very much to Mr.William Pique for submitting photos and info about this speargun.

Gun Photos © William Pique
Description © The Online Spearfishing Museum

Do you have more info about this item?

Origin:	France, Europe	Collection:	William Pique
Year:	~1960	Description by:	William Pique, OSM
Maker:	Pelletier, France	Info and Photo by:	William Pique, OSM
*Do you have more info about this item?*		Last updated:	13.04.2009.

*Description*
Since very beginnings of spearguns, early inventors experimented with various types for spearguns which used CO2 as propellant. Several types are known but not many were serially produced mostly due to expensive production, complicated use for most and fact that these guns soon became prohibited in most countries for sport spearfishing. This particular speargun is an early model commonly known as "Pelletier CO2 speargun" designed around 1950's and commercially built from early 1960's. It's inventor and builder, an Frenchmen Jacques Pelletier (19xx - 19xx) soon discovered amazing power which can be provided by CO2 and has began commercial production of such spearguns in France but many were exported all over the world.	Mr.Jacques Pelletier in his workshop
Complete gun with spear
The speargun body is made out of metal (aluminum or steel) and it is truly simple in external design. CO2 cartridge is dominating feature of complete speargun. It is painted red which we believe was the original color of these spearguns.
Loaded speargun, other side view
This particular speargun is missing ring for fixing of spear string, which is normally fixed on barrel tip (see images on early advertisement below). It also doesn't have a reel, string release mechanism or even safety catch. Quite simple indeed. Loading of gun was quite easy so no muscle power was required. This is in fact the only reason why these spearguns are not allowed by International and National spearfishing associations.
Speargun handle - detailed view
Closer view if speargun's handle shows polished metal casting without any factory writings (e.g.. manufacturer's logo, brand, model, year, etc.) Trigger mechanism externally is simple. Metal lever is hinged from the top side of the handle casing while its middle part is pressing valve mechanism which releases CO2 from its cartridge. It is unclear what is the metal nut, placed on the back side of the handle, but quite possible it is an safety valve or valve for recharging CO2 cartridge without its removal from the speargun.
Speargun handle - other side, with removed trigger and "safety valve"
Other side of handle shows a small sticker on top side which is probably manufacturer's sticker.
Another version with attached reel (moulinet)
This is another version of same speargun which shows attached original reel. From the early advertisements it is clear that reels came in two sizes an 50 and 100 meters versions.
*1960's advertisement - CO2 Spearguns - "Ease of use - high precision"*
The CO2 driven spearguns are the most powerful spearguns in the world. And as such are really not for normal hobbyist. Pelletier guns were marketed quite strongly and here you can see three examples of advertisement of these early 1960 models.
The first advertisement above is basically saying that this is the most powerful speargun in the world which provides ease of use and high precision. Quite impressive image of spear going through two quite thick books really shows its amazing power. Attachments for string is clearly visible on both barrel tip and spear itself. Two models are advertised: *EXPORT* for export market and *FRANCE* model. The difference being that FRANCE model is such as allowed by French legislation. What is the actual difference it is not clear - if you have more info contact us. Also different accessories are mentioned: trident tip, explosive tip and reels (50 and 100 m). Second advertisement (to the right) has an interesting slogan "One day or another, you will hunt with CO2, the most powerful spearguns". This advertisement mentions also an model BI, "armed with two shots", and PISTOLET intended for diver's defense, and to be worn on leg. Quite possibly this advertisement was inspired by a successful kill of a big shark (see photo below). Pelletier spearguns proved quite capable of piercing and killing large fish of more than 300 kg in weight. This for example can be done by a much larger rubber spearguns, used for blue water spearfishing, which have up to 8 rubber bands. It is questionable if such 8 band guns should be prohibited when power stored in 8 rubbers is not true power from a spearfisherman, but actually 8 times that. However that is a question for another discussion.	1960's advertisement - CO2 Spearguns "One day or another, you will hunt with CO2, the most powerful spearguns"
*1960's advertisement - "The most powerful spearguns"*
Above advertisement again quite strongly presents power of this speargun by showing pierced tree. Other than optimistic prediction "One day or another you will hunt with CO2", it doesn't give us more information than what we already know.
1960's - Proud unknown spearfisherman with a 310 kg shark, speared with an Pelletier CO2 speargun
These spearguns, due to their incredible power, were intended for catching large fish, so this by default hints use in oceans especially for blue water spearfishing. As a final note it is interesting that modern versions of such spearguns, although quite improved and modernized, are still being made and sold by an French company MACO2. However it would be interesting to know in which countries such spearguns are allowed to be used, and under what circumstances. Thanks very much to Mr.William Pique for submitting photos and info about this speargun. Gun Photos © William Pique Description © The Online Spearfishing Museum

*Do you have more info about this item?*

Thanks very much to Mr.William Pique for submitting photos and info about this speargun.

Gun Photos © William Pique Description © The Online Spearfishing Museum

Gun Photos © William Pique
Description © The Online Spearfishing Museum