Voit Swimaster Speargun

[nofr1ends99]

I just found my dad's old 48" Voit Swimaster under the house. I'm thinking it's from the 70's sometime. Looks like the shooting line and shaft is in pretty good codition, but the band could definately be replaced. Is this thing worth even putting a new band on and trying it out? I can't find any info on these guns at all! Does anybody knwo anything about these guns?

[Bill McIntyre]

The gun is an ancestor of JBL.

The guns started as Swimmaster. I still have one that I bought in the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange in 1961. Then Voit bought the rights to the gun, and it became Voit Swimmaster. There may have been one other company in the chain, but I'm not certain. Anyway, the gun design was eventually purchased by JBL.

I had guns with all those brand names on them over the years. They were fine for their time, but there are definitely better guns available today. However, it might be worth the price of a band to use as a halibut or dirty water calico gun. Then you could say you used the same gun as your Dad.

[mudhole]

Voit made good guns. . . compared to other guns from the 70's. They are not as good as a $300 or $400 gun today, but they were safe to use and lasted well even when used a lot. I have a couple of guns from that time, but I hunt with a 4 year old riffe, and it's a lot better gun to go get supper. Replace the bands, and replace the shooting line, so you won't lose a good fish and go get supper once.

[Superfrog]

I would say to get it up and running.

It belonged to your father. The gun is obsolete, but the history of that particular gun changes all that. Family stuff is cool to have, there are so many regrets.

I think it would be fun to shoot, maybe at a dive club get together etc.

Looking at Bill's gun, band elevators, slide ring etc. not too much has changed.

[nofr1ends99]

yeah, It looks alot like the gun Bill has up there! I think I'll put a new band and line on it and try it out. Maybe I could even shoot a nice fish and brag to my Pops about it!

...what size band should I put on it? I think it's around a 48" gun. I wouldn't want to put something to thick/strong and bend the shaft.

Thanks for all the replies guys!

[Bill McIntyre]

I don't even remember what size bands my gun used, but I bet a couple of 9/16" would work. There is no way you will bend the shaft with any band that you could pull.

[baja haha]

The spear gun as pictured has significant historical value.

It is a miniature commercialized version of SD Bottom Scratcher gun. It was designed by the BS tribe in 1939 and produced in limited qualities, (less than 100 were produced) for selected divers in the SD area. In the early 1950s Paul Hoss acquired a BS and produced about 40 guns for the Yankees in LA and OC.

The spear gun in question was first marketed by Art Brown of the Spearfisherman Company of Laguna Beach and later Huntington Beach in the late 1950s. He sold his company to Ken Norris of Norris Industries who continued producing the gun as the Swimaster for about two years in the very early 1960s.

Ken entered into a license agreement with Willard Voit to Market the gun. After a few years Voit purchased the Swimaster line as the "professional" line of Voit.

It was marketed in three models;
* 2G42 Competition -3 slings 3/8 shaft --length OA 68 inches
* 2 G40 Tournament model- 2 slings 5/16 shaft -length OA 53 inches
* 2G32 Custom -2 slings 5/16 shaft Length OA 30 inches.

I believe from your description and the picture of the salvaged gun yours is a 2G40

Joe Lamonica of JBL was not involved in any way at this time. The Voit -JBL replaced the Swimaster in 1965, its last year of production, At that time Voit was only offering the 3G32. You may want to refer to my post of 6-16- 2008 "JBL - a little information" for additional insights in to JBL and the man behind the gun.

The Swimaster as you have described had a number of problems:
* It was a single trigger/sear--difficult to fire
* It originally had a very very small weak muzzle.. (picture is not of the original muzzle appears to have been replaced with a JBL). It would often crack and break under load. Be very careful with this--- I drilled a hole diagonally in the muzzle and inserted a large pin diagonally for strength..Do not recommend that you do this --it would destroy the historical significance of the piece.
* The gun was made for 1/2 inch or less slings--(historically they were black) It is not recommended that you use 9/16s as some has suggested. It would grossly over power the gun and possibly break the muzzle.

But it did have some redeeming features;
* A positive safety (but nosey)
* A very positive line release--one of the first offered with this feature.
* Used flat book binders screws for barrel attachment..No protrusions


* The slide ring as pictured on the salvaged gun is an early model JBL -Voit unit. It is apparent that it has been retrofitted.
* The muzzle appears to be a retrofitted JBL unit..certainly not standard on this gun

It is a historical gun.... almost 50 years old with strong family ties, therefore I would urge your not to use it and possibly destroy its historical value or even loose it. Clean it up and hang it on the wall of the den and share it with your diving friends.

I sincerely hope that this post provides some historical insight to your treasure--If it doesn't I certainly have wasted a lot of my time

[Wil]

i have one just like this my father used when he was diving, except mine does not have the butt extension bracket on the rear of the gun. mine has a saftey slide on the left hand side and the original muzzel which holds 2 half inch or 9/16 bands. i use to use it 15 to 20 years ago and it shoots sweet. largest fish i shot with this gun was a 65 lb Gar fish. mine still operates well but i no longer use it.

[sciencemike]

Originally Posted by baja haha

The spear gun as pictured has significant historical value. . . .I sincerely hope that this post provides some historical insight to your treasure--If it doesn't I certainly have wasted a lot of my time

Man i love the info you dish out on this forum. Your posts are actually informative and interesting. Keep it up.

Your wasted time made a difference to me.

[z1taz]

Originally Posted by sciencemike

Man i love the info you dish out on this forum. Your posts are actually informative and interesting. Keep it up.

Your wasted time made a difference to me.

+1 thanks

[drbabs]

Originally Posted by baja haha

The spear gun as pictured has significant historical value.

It is a miniature commercialized version of SD Bottom Scratcher gun. It was designed by the BS tribe in 1939 and produced in limited qualities, (less than 100 were produced) for selected divers in the SD area. In the early 1950s Paul Hoss acquired a BS and produced about 40 guns for the Yankees in LA and OC.

Hey, Encyclopedia Brittanica just called, ...... Thats some impressive history!

[FishHunter]

It seems pretty similar to a JBL Super Carbine. I wonder what it compares to one in terms of function. My first gun was a Super Carbine and all I can say is it was a POS.

[nofr1ends99]

That was great info baja haha! Thanks alot! I'm actually gonna clean it up and shoot it a couple times. I'll make sure I put 1/2" bands on it. I believe the gun I have has the original muzzle.
Thanks again for all the work you put into finding out that info!
Hope to share some pics of the feesh I get with it!

[baja haha]

Originally Posted by Wil

i have one just like this my father used when he was diving, except mine does not have the butt extension bracket on the rear of the gun. mine has a saftey slide on the left hand side and the original muzzel which holds 2 half inch or 9/16 bands. i use to use it 15 to 20 years ago and it shoots sweet. largest fish i shot with this gun was a 65 lb Gar fish. mine still operates well but i no longer use it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If if does not have the balance bar and does not have a provision for a balance bar it is an original Swimaster made by either Brown or Norris. This would date it as being produced in the late 1950s and not later than 1962. Therefore that gun is 55+ perhaps as old as 60 + years old.

It was made for 1/2 inch bands--not 9/16 inch bands.

Treat it with respect --your father left you a piece of early spearfishing history

[OPIE1979]

Thanks for all this info, my father purchased a set of these most likely from the PX sometime after he got back from Vietnam.
He has one of each of the
2G40 Tournament model- 53 inches
2G32 Custom -30 inches

So I've always kept an eye out for Voit Dive gear. He gave me his beautiful full sized Voit dive knife as well. I've had many a diver ask to buy it when they come to my house (would never dive with it)

I just started working for a warehouse, and going through the "junk" found another 2G40, the front plastic piece is a bit broken, but the trigger assembly is in better shape that my dad's. One of the older warehouse worker said when he started there were 15-20 of the spearguns scattered around out there, but it seems they were taken, or thrown away.

I found another piece yesterday...maybe you can help me ID it.

It's in a black plastic protective tube with red end caps
It's a brand new 3/4" 2 foot "extension" with a female thread on one end, and male on the other.

The case has a silver sticker that reads:
Voit Swimaster
2G30 Spear Pole Extension
To be used with 2G48 or 2G66 Spear pole
"For Divers that Demand the Best"

I can't find any reference to Voit "POLE SPEARS" or the #'s referenced. Any idea guys?