Sea Hornet Handspear Gun

[popgun pete]

I recently found this schematic diagram of the "Sea Hornet" Handspear Gun which came in two versions, a full length and a telescopic two-piece unit, all stainless steel tubing. I had one of these in my early days and still have it, but have not used it for years as either the fish got too smart or I got too slow, probably the latter!

[popgun pete]

The "Sea Hornet" telescopic handspear was the best of the telescopic models from all manufactures as it never jammed because it had a free-floating collet and was basically the same as the Handspear Gun minus the sliding handle and the large diameter stop washer and rubber ring (a rubber grommet) at the butt.

[popgun pete]

The advantage of telescopic all metal handspears is that their weight and momentum crash into the fish driving the barbs right in. Often used with the multi-tine pranger heads there are very few escapees unless they tear themselves off. Being not in the best of shape they then often rest up for a breather after a short flight to freedom distance when you suddenly descend on them for the fatal stick in their noggin.

The handspears are launched when your release your grip on the shaft body and the length of the rubber extends your shooting range, so you have the length of the handspears and the length of the cord attached rubber propulsion band. In my first few years of diving I used a handspear all the time except for a few excursions with a gun.

Early model handspears were often made from chrome plated brass tubing with the telescopic front section being stainless steel tubing, however in later years these spears were stainless steel from end to end, although usually the twist locking knurled center handle was always chrome plated brass.

Attached is an old slide photo of myself and my dive buddy Richard with our telescopic handspears back in the day. Parkway wetsuits, Espadon Compensator dive masks and Voit "Skin Diver" foot pocket fins and weight belts packed with multiple home-made lead weights. Note as a safety measure the pranger heads are pushed onto the sand rather than pointing upwards and maybe taking someone's eye out!

[popgun pete]

Although a copy of the Sea Hornet handspear gun this one looks like it uses the clone sliding handle with an all new three section titanium polespear. Sells at 330 bucks which is not too bad considering the use of titanium.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Triggered-P...-/273579343551

[Dbrown]

Pretty interesting. Like the vintage photo as well! Thanks.

[popgun pete]

Here are some photos after just now rinsing the dust and dirt off my garage stored polespears which are both telescopic units. The one on the left is my very first polespear which I am holding in that vintage photo on the beach and the other is my handspear gun from Sea Hornet. My second polespear which was a telescopic Sea Hornet and when still new was given away to a friend's son as for sentimental reasons I stuck with my first polespear which is an Undersee with a brass main tube (chromed) and a stainless steel tubular telescoping section. Many fish have died under their “pranger” barbs which have been renewed and replaced on countless occasions. The handspear gun was OK to use, but I shot a lot more fish with the other one due to more rapid reloading for the next fish.

[popgun pete]

Originally Posted by popgun pete

Although a copy of the Sea Hornet handspear gun this one looks like it uses the clone sliding handle with an all new three section titanium polespear. Sells at 330 bucks which is not too bad considering the use of titanium.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Triggered-P...-/273579343551

No one wanted to pay the money so the item has been withdrawn.

[manoa matt]

There was a Craigslist posting I was looking at last month. A person here in Hawaii on Oahu had a Sea Hornet handspear gun for sale. The listing was for the handspear which was coupled with a yellow fiberglass 3-prong spear, and an additional traditional 3-prong sling spear. The seller wanted $60 for both. Not is as good condition as yours Pete, the black plastic was all scratched up from years of use. I considered purchasing it for the novelty and for my collection, but quite literally couldn't pull the trigger. The listing is now gone.

[Mikel_24]

Congratulations on that last purchase Pete!

I cannot picture myself using one of those as I started fishing directly with a Nemrod Cazador gun. Crappy one by today's standards but a gun with a trigger nonetheless.

Here in Spain we cannot spear while on scuba, but so far the law allows to fish with rubber or pneumatic guns no problem. If they ever want to regulate it more, they will probably forbid any kind of spearfishing alltogether. I hope that day does not arrive anytime soon...

Mikel