Spearguns
Then and now….
By Charles Skuce
I like to think that most of us are very attached to our spearguns. It probably all starts the same way: Attraction to the shiny object, research the specs and options, and then discussion with fellow spearos. For me personally, I never gave any thought to where it all began until recently.
I was visiting with my cousin Bob Jackson, now in his late seventies, and his son Steve. Both were long standing members with the Richmond Pelican dive club, and very accomplished spearfishermen. Bob was also a blue water hunter. Our conversation drifted to spearfishing, as it usually does, and Bob said he wanted to show me an old speargun that belongs to his brother Stuart. He returned shortly with this speargun that looked as if it should be displayed in a dive museum or exist among someone’s private collection.
Bob proceeded to tell me that Jack Prodanovich made the gun for his brother back in the 70’s. It was used for Yellowtail and White Sea Bass. Steve explained the spear tip is spring loaded, so when the fish run to the end of the shaft, the tip pulls out of the shaft with spring tension, but remains attached with a steel cable. The spear tip flexes from side to side to prevent the fish from tearing itself off.
Steve shared that Wally Potts made the reel. It was meant to be used like a fishing rod and reel. The line from the reel runs through a stainless steel tube under the speargun. Once you have a fish on, you lay on the surface of the water and raise and lower the rod in a similar manner as you would if reeling in a fish with a fishing pole. This speargun is 74.5” long with three bands and a 3/8” shaft.
After being absorbed in the Jacksons’ stories, my obvious question to them was, “Who is Jack Prodanovich?” With that, Bob and Steve began to share stories about Jack and his friend Wally Potts, the pioneers of spearfishing. Bob handed me a National Geographic Magazine (May 1949) that featured an in depth article featuring Jack and Wally (“Goggle Fishing in California Waters”). He urged me to read the article to learn more about Jack and Wally.
I asked myself, “Who were these first ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who put the time, effort and research into the building blocks which evolved into our current lethal and efficient instruments?” My research led me to the 1930s in La Jolla, California where Wally Potts and Jack Prodanovich spearheaded the sport we all love and enjoy today. The following are excerpts from several authors who wrote about these true pioneers of diving. If you are curious about these DIY guys who displayed a passion for our sport, then I encourage you to read the references listed at the end of this article. Fascinating.
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“Sixty-five years ago a pair of gogglers swimming off a La Jolla beach, armed with glorified pitch forks, spotted a 500 pound “reef,” which was really a giant black seabass. By today’s standards, approaching such a prize with hand-held 5-prong spears seems comical. On the surface, the two intrepid divers settled on a plan. Jack explains, “Wally was to hit him on the right while I smacked him on the left.” The fish was deeper than anticipated and only Jack was able to jab the fish with his spear. Instantly, the three prongs that managed to penetrate were bent over at 90-degrees as the beast bolted.” (1)
“An early member of the San Diego Bottom Scratchers--one of the world's first organized dive clubs--Potts worked with his close friend and fellow Bottom Scratcher Jack Prodanovich to produce innovative spearfishing and diving gear.” (2)
“Wally Potts joined the club in 1939 and together with Jack, the team pioneered modern speargun technology and blue water hunting techniques. Jack invented and designed the reel using two stainless steel pots. The name “Jackpot reel” came from this originally. Jack showed Wally the reel and asked him to help out. Wally was skilled in plastic and adapted the reel to a plastic design. Jack also designed the brake mechanism for the reel. Jack’s speargun mechanism is still considered by many to be one of the best ever developed. Jack also made the first detachable spearhead.” (1)
“The Bottom Scratchers were responsible for making spearfishing legal. Early California laws forbid taking fish with a spear. The daring exploits of the Bottom Scratchers helped make a lasting change to the fishing code allowing spearfishing by divers. One legislator observed, “Anyone who wants a fish badly enough to hunt him out in his own element deserves the right to spear him.” (1)
After being absorbed in the Jacksons’ stories, my obvious question to them was, “Who is Jack Prodanovich?” With that, Bob and Steve began to share stories about Jack and his friend Wally Potts, the pioneers of spearfishing. Bob handed me a National Geographic Magazine (May 1949) that featured an in depth article featuring Jack and Wally (“Goggle Fishing in California Waters”). He urged me to read the article to learn more about Jack and Wally.
I asked myself, “Who were these first ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who put the time, effort and research into the building blocks which evolved into our current lethal and efficient instruments?” My research led me to the 1930s in La Jolla, California where Wally Potts and Jack Prodanovich spearheaded the sport we all love and enjoy today. The following are excerpts from several authors who wrote about these true pioneers of diving. If you are curious about these DIY guys who displayed a passion for our sport, then I encourage you to read the references listed at the end of this article. Fascinating.
******
“Sixty-five years ago a pair of gogglers swimming off a La Jolla beach, armed with glorified pitch forks, spotted a 500 pound “reef,” which was really a giant black seabass. By today’s standards, approaching such a prize with hand-held 5-prong spears seems comical. On the surface, the two intrepid divers settled on a plan. Jack explains, “Wally was to hit him on the right while I smacked him on the left.” The fish was deeper than anticipated and only Jack was able to jab the fish with his spear. Instantly, the three prongs that managed to penetrate were bent over at 90-degrees as the beast bolted.” (1)
“An early member of the San Diego Bottom Scratchers--one of the world's first organized dive clubs--Potts worked with his close friend and fellow Bottom Scratcher Jack Prodanovich to produce innovative spearfishing and diving gear.” (2)
“Wally Potts joined the club in 1939 and together with Jack, the team pioneered modern speargun technology and blue water hunting techniques. Jack invented and designed the reel using two stainless steel pots. The name “Jackpot reel” came from this originally. Jack showed Wally the reel and asked him to help out. Wally was skilled in plastic and adapted the reel to a plastic design. Jack also designed the brake mechanism for the reel. Jack’s speargun mechanism is still considered by many to be one of the best ever developed. Jack also made the first detachable spearhead.” (1)
“The Bottom Scratchers were responsible for making spearfishing legal. Early California laws forbid taking fish with a spear. The daring exploits of the Bottom Scratchers helped make a lasting change to the fishing code allowing spearfishing by divers. One legislator observed, “Anyone who wants a fish badly enough to hunt him out in his own element deserves the right to spear him.” (1)
“This rubber powered speargun and others which followed it, enabled freedivers to take fish that they could see with their goggles and early face plates. Effective equipment like this put dinner on the table on many occasions. But the divers were not well-prepared for the enormous fish they would discover on the edge of the submarine canyon. Huge broomtailed groupers and enormous black seabass defied the divers attempts to take them with these weakly powered spearguns. The best rubber that the divers could find was tire innertube or thin surgical tubing. It worked for small fish, but the spearshafts bounced off the tough hide of the largest groupers.” (4)
“I can't really remember the exact year that I met Jack. It was certainly 10 years ago or more. I distinctly remember seeing his incredible giant speargun capeable of shooting the largest fish that swimmed in the ocean. I had a preview of this impressive hunting device years before, when it was revealed in a newspaper article about Mike Goodwin. At the time, Mike was a high-profile freediver that was on the "cutting edge" of bluewater hunting. The article showed an enormous speargun. Back then, bluewater hunting was really in it's infancy. This gun was developed by one of the grand masters of spearfishing, Jack Prodanovich. I have since become familiar with this unique, specialized design masterpiece. If Leonardo daVinci's "Mona Lisa" is the most appreciated painting by that master, this hand-built, stainless steel design creation by Jack Prodanovich is the equivalent in freediving history.” (3)
“After considerable research shooting large pelagic fish, Jack Prodanovich built his Lapped Sling Tuna Gun. It basically, was two 40" guns combined together, each having a brace of five, 100 lb. high-modulus rubber slings. He calls it a lapped-sling gun because both sets of slings overlap. The gun holds 1000 lb. of power in it's bands. This spearfishing device is made entirely of stainless steel, with an open stainless track for the arrow. After much experimentation, the arrow, or "bolt", ended up to be 5/8 inch diameter body, with stainless steel "fletches". The point is a large "stem-point" which is designed to fold over from it's spring loaded receiver after it is lodged in a fish. This point is fastened to a 3/8 inch stock. There are two "tabs", each holds 5 bands.” (3)
“I can't really remember the exact year that I met Jack. It was certainly 10 years ago or more. I distinctly remember seeing his incredible giant speargun capeable of shooting the largest fish that swimmed in the ocean. I had a preview of this impressive hunting device years before, when it was revealed in a newspaper article about Mike Goodwin. At the time, Mike was a high-profile freediver that was on the "cutting edge" of bluewater hunting. The article showed an enormous speargun. Back then, bluewater hunting was really in it's infancy. This gun was developed by one of the grand masters of spearfishing, Jack Prodanovich. I have since become familiar with this unique, specialized design masterpiece. If Leonardo daVinci's "Mona Lisa" is the most appreciated painting by that master, this hand-built, stainless steel design creation by Jack Prodanovich is the equivalent in freediving history.” (3)
“After considerable research shooting large pelagic fish, Jack Prodanovich built his Lapped Sling Tuna Gun. It basically, was two 40" guns combined together, each having a brace of five, 100 lb. high-modulus rubber slings. He calls it a lapped-sling gun because both sets of slings overlap. The gun holds 1000 lb. of power in it's bands. This spearfishing device is made entirely of stainless steel, with an open stainless track for the arrow. After much experimentation, the arrow, or "bolt", ended up to be 5/8 inch diameter body, with stainless steel "fletches". The point is a large "stem-point" which is designed to fold over from it's spring loaded receiver after it is lodged in a fish. This point is fastened to a 3/8 inch stock. There are two "tabs", each holds 5 bands.” (3)
Currently, we have an endless array of choices when it comes to selecting a speargun. Whether mass produced or custom built, these crude experimental weapons of the past have been honed into highly efficient and effective instruments.
Sea Sniper, a custom speargun company, located in San Carlos, CA was founded in 2003. Three friends with a passion for diving brought hard work and imagination together to build high quality spearguns. It sounds reminiscent of Jack Prodanovich and Wally Potts. Working from the building blocks of the past, Sea Sniper combines technology, craftsmanship and art to produce beautiful custom spearguns.
Sea Sniper, a custom speargun company, located in San Carlos, CA was founded in 2003. Three friends with a passion for diving brought hard work and imagination together to build high quality spearguns. It sounds reminiscent of Jack Prodanovich and Wally Potts. Working from the building blocks of the past, Sea Sniper combines technology, craftsmanship and art to produce beautiful custom spearguns.
Sea Sniper offers four speargun models: Rear Handle Open Track, Rear Handle Closed Track, Pro and Pro Custom. Each is available in a variety of lengths, finishes and options. The SSRHE 130 shown above is finished in Blue Digital Camo and the SSPC 60 is finished in Tan Digital Camo.
Spearguns have come a long way since the 1930’s, but the passion and ingenuity that Jack and Wally put forth is still alive today.
References
(1) Terry Maas, 2005, Blue Water Freedivers
(2) Dennis McLellan/Times staff writer, LA Times, February 16, 2002
(3) Jack’s “Tuna Gun” article by John Warren, 1/25/2000
(4) Jack Prodanovich’s “Rollerguns”, An educational demonstration of design development, author- John Warren, 2/20/2001 (edited 12/16/02)
Spearguns have come a long way since the 1930’s, but the passion and ingenuity that Jack and Wally put forth is still alive today.
References
(1) Terry Maas, 2005, Blue Water Freedivers
(2) Dennis McLellan/Times staff writer, LA Times, February 16, 2002
(3) Jack’s “Tuna Gun” article by John Warren, 1/25/2000
(4) Jack Prodanovich’s “Rollerguns”, An educational demonstration of design development, author- John Warren, 2/20/2001 (edited 12/16/02)
Powder Coating Lead Diving Weights
- Brian Ishida, Oct. 24, 2016 -
I decided to powder coat my dive weights. A trip to Harbor Freight for powder paint. I chose red (white and black available). One jar will probably do dozens. I did my four weights in less than two hours. After this trial I can probably be done in one hour.
Materials
Powder Coat Paint: Harbor Freight, approx. $5
Plastic Tupperware Container
Heat Gun
Oven
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
Protocol
Heat lead weight (placed on a block of wood) until almost too hot to touch.
- Brian Ishida, Oct. 24, 2016 -
I decided to powder coat my dive weights. A trip to Harbor Freight for powder paint. I chose red (white and black available). One jar will probably do dozens. I did my four weights in less than two hours. After this trial I can probably be done in one hour.
Materials
Powder Coat Paint: Harbor Freight, approx. $5
Plastic Tupperware Container
Heat Gun
Oven
Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
Protocol
Heat lead weight (placed on a block of wood) until almost too hot to touch.
Place in plastic container containing few tablespoons powder paint. Seal container and shake. Paint will stick if lead is hot enough.
Remove lead weight and knock off excess paint. Thinnest layer is best. Any excess paint should be scraped off. Place on aluminum foil.
Place on cookie sheet or metal baking pan. Bake 15 minutes at 400° F melt and bond paint. (use a disposable toaster oven if you are concerned of lead poisoning)
Cool fully before attempting to peel off aluminum foil. Some foil may stick but so what.
Final Product.