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Internet Custom Spearguns

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GO TO the Site Below; this one is Unmaintained
http://IC_Spearguns.tripod.com
Phone: Kitto - (661) 947-3126
Phone: Klefstad - (949) 854-7552
FAX: (508) 256-6413

We set out to make the best spearguns possible for our personal use. Building on designs of innovators such as Steve Alexander and Larry Heinrich, we have developed a line of spearguns that shoot long range shots very accurately with reduced recoil. We like these spearguns so much (and so do our friends who have them) that we've decided to make them available to other divers. We like to encourage do-it-yourselfers and many of the spearfishers we know are, so we plan to add to this website all instructions and dimensions for everything we make, so you can do-it-yourself if you have more time than money. These sections are marked DIY.

If you'd like help in selecting the right gun for your type of spearfishing, check out the article Choosing The Appropriate Speargun.

The classic open-track, light-weight hardwood speargun works fine with light shafts of 1/4" or 9/32" diameter and one or two power bands as long as you use the single, flopper tip (often called a Tahitian or Hawaiian shaft). But many divers want a longer range shot or more penetration power, so they may take a classic speargun and add more power bands, but this only harms the accuracy of these spearguns. Accuracy suffers for two reasons: 1) there is more recoil which kicks the front of the speargun upward which pushes the rear of the shaft up knocking the shaft off course and 2) the shaft actually flexes (in front of the fin tabs and behind the spear tip) from the extreme power applied when the trigger is released causing the shaft to lose power and accuracy. This flexing, often called "shaft whip," occurs with as few as three power bands. Divers try to "fix" this problem by adding side stocks, sometimes called "wings", which does help reduce recoil but only enclosed track can eliminate shaft whip. Another factor that will harm accuracy is use of a spear tip that is too heavy and bulky for a light shaft. We also make light, low-profile slip-tips (inspired by those made by Steve Alexander) to prevent this.

We decided to build spearguns that were designed properly for long range accurate shots right out of the box. These spearguns can also carry our threaded slip-tips without noticeable harm to the shot range or accuracy.

We start with hand-selected hardwood (usually Teak) with very straight grain to prevent warping. Each stock is aged at least two months after gross cutting to allow it to stabilize, then it is precision straightened. We cut our speargun blocks very thick to provide buoyancy to compensate for the mass we add (via lead) to achieve a speargun with high inertial mass yet with balance at the handle while in the water. We precision machine an enclosed track (to prevent shaft whip). Our Deluxe spearguns are then ballasted with lead alloys until the speargun is balanced at the handle yielding a speargun that is balanced yet heavy enough to greatly reduce recoil. The recoil and shaft whip are primary factors causing inaccurate shots. Adding side-stocks can reduce recoil, but only an enclosed track can eliminate shaft whip. We believe so strongly in enclosed track that we don't intend to make any open track spearguns. Shooting an under-ballasted, open track speargun is like shooting a slingshot. Shooting a ballasted, enclosed track speargun is like shooting a 22 caliber rifle - deadly accurate with low recoil. A balanced speargun is so comfortable to use it is a delight to dive with and as far as we know, no one else is selling balanced spearguns.

One pioneering innovation is the use of a solid round rod made from a space age plastic, called Delrin, that is as slick as Teflon yet very tough. We use a solid Delrin rod which is inserted into a track we machine into the hardwood block. It is then pinned in place using a specially developed method to eliminate expansion stresses with stainless steel pins. The enclosed track is then machined into the Delrin yielding a track that is extremely slick and tough plus it won't swell in water as wood-only enclosed tracks can. This designed was pioneered by Bill Kitto. The Delrin is dense and it contributes to speargun ballast. This makes the hottest speargun available at any price. The Delrin insert is available for a $200 surcharge (which covers the cost of the Delrin and the cost of machining the track for and pinning the Delrin), but it is well worth it - so much so, that we encourage anyone who is searching for the best speargun money can buy to get this option. We even considered making only spearguns with the Delrin insert, and now one of us (Kitto) in his quest for excellence only makes track insert guns, but the wood enclosed track is still better than an open track and helps reduce the final cost of the speargun making them affordable for more divers. A wood enclosed track can swell and pinch the shaft and may eventually wear-out becomming loose with use, whereas the Delrin is extremely durable and does not suffer from either of these problems. We normally use black Delrin, but we made a speargun with white Delrin for better contrast to show more detail. Top-view of our Delrin speargun muzzle. Front-view of speargun.

We feel our spearguns represent value. If you take a classic speargun and add side stocks, you may pay $1000 (or more) yet you may still have problems with shaft whip and the balance is likely to be incorrect. Our Basic models are price competitive with mass-market designs that lack the innovations such as enclosed track and ballasting, plus you'll find our wood stocks are much more substantial than those of our competitors. Our spearguns also come with a more durable Epoxy finish (instead of Tung oil that washes out after a few dive trips) so they look nice longer. You may outgrow the classic speargun and go searching for a better speargun later (spending much more in the long run) but you will not out-grow our spearguns. Picture of gun rear view with reel.

Our Deluxe models are `fully-loaded' with Delrin insert, appropriate size of side stocks, muzzle stablizers, and full gun ballasting and balancing. These are the spearguns we use and recommend. You can get them finished or unfinished. The Unfinished Deluxe models are by far the most popular. Our Basic models are fully-rigged, wood enclosed track, finished spearguns that are still superior to other spearguns on the market. Basic models are not ballasted or balanced because they lack the side-stocks necessary for attaching ballast. We also offer a Partial Speargun Kit for do-it-yourselfers who don't have access to a machine shop, but can do other wood work.

We provide everything you need for spearfishing including spearguns, spear tips, side stocks, float lines, bungies, big game floats, speargun rigging, machining tools, and other accessories.

Summary of Speargun Features

• We use the best components available including beefy hardwood gun blocks.
• Enclosed track for shaft - contributing to more accurate shots by preventing shaft whip
• Handle is located forward from the butt as is necessary for proper balance and more stable two-handed shots. Handle location is customizable, but we won't even consider placing the handle at the rear. A rear-mounted handle yields a speargun that can not be balanced and thus is very uncomfortable and awkward while diving. Proper handle placement depends on the length of the diver's fore arm. Proper fit is when you hold the handle in your hand with elbow bent, the butt should fit firmly against your bicep. This allows optimal range of movement and proper bracing with other hand. Much shorter and you can not achieve proper speargun balance at the handle. Much longer and you lose ease of mobility and risk serious dental or face injury - particularly on under-ballasted spearguns.
• Rear-located trigger mechanism - for maximal band stretch and maximum power yet not so far back as to become difficult to load. We feel the ideal placement is where the rear-most fin tab is 6 inches forward from the speargun butt. However, we will put the mechanism wherever you like.
• Four (or more) power bands - for high power, long-range shots
• Our Deluxe spearguns are ballasted so you can shoot them one handed with a bent elbow (if you like) and you will not get hurt from recoil - even on our largest models.
• All spearguns float with the shaft out - to reduce chance of losing speargun while fighting a fish
• All spearguns come rigged with power bands, threaded shaft, and your choice of Jinkai monofilament shooting line - the best monofilament available, or space age 'Spectra' 500lb for 5/16 or smaller shafts or 725lb for the 3/8 in shafts. Spear tips are not included. For monofilament we usually use 300 lb test line for 5/16" shafts and 500 lb test line for 3/8" shafts, but you may choose any from 300, 400, or 500 lb test. You may substitute 500 lb test coated 49 strand stainless steel shooting line for an extra $10, but note this will reduce the range and accuracy of your shot - more so on the lighter shafts than with the heavier shafts.
• Guns typically have 4 inches of shaft overhang (extending over the end of the speargun muzzle) without tip, so with a 4 inch tip, they will have 8 inches of shaft overhang. This is also customizable if you prefer more or less shaft overhang. It is a myth that you need lots of shaft overhang for sighting. If a speargun shoot where you aim it, you don't need it. Some find extra shaft overhang aids in aiming a speargun that shoots low (or lobs the shaft to the target). Too much overhang yields a speargun that is also difficult to balance unless you add side stocks that extend well in front of the handle. Pool tests indicate excessive shaft overhang contributes to loss of accuracy on a high powered speargun by allowing the shaft to whip.
• All Deluxe spearguns are balanced for a specific shaft and spear tip combination. Commitment to a specific shaft and spear tip combination is critical to achieve proper speargun balance. If you plan to use different weight spear tips, we balance with the lightest then the speargun becomes slightly muzzle heavy when you use one of your heavier spear tips which is preferable to a speargun that is too light in the muzzle.
• We have developed our own computer designed and computer machined trigger mechanism that accepts all standard notched shafts (without shaft modification as is required with some mechanisms) yet it is strong enough to handle over 10 power bands and still allows easy, reliable trigger pull. Here are the details of our Millenium model trigger mechanism, which is the industry stand out. Our mechanism is the best you can buy, but we will substitute the Alexander mechanism which is also very good, if you prefer, for the difference in our cost ($75 more). The Millenium model retails for $70 - an associated line release and allen screw retails for $12. Picture of our mechanism internals.
• Our spearguns shoot standard shafts made by Alexander or a major manufacturer (whose name rhymes with "life" although some think it rhymes with "jiffy") so replacement shafts are available at dive shops world-wide. These shafts have power band fins resembling shark fins and the front fin has a hole for attaching the shooting line. Shooting line is usually attached to the shaft fin, but you can substitute a slide ring for an extra $10.
• We usually "open up" the last 4 inches of the enclosed track (towards the tip) to allow for easier reloading without harming shooting accuracy. If you prefer, we can leave the entire track enclosed.
• Epoxy sealer finish with Tung oil top coat - for a durable finish that is protected from UV sunlight. An extremely durable ultra-high-gloss Polyurathane top coating finish over the Epoxy sealer with 5 year guarantee is available for $200 more.
• Although we make standard models designed for a variety of divers and conditions, we can do custom spearguns for left handed divers or for divers of various sizes. For example, we can place the handle or trigger mechanism wherever you like, or we can make a speargun for your favorite shaft. There is rarely an additional charge for custom work - only if it requires us to do additional work.
• If you are visiting this website, you are probably a diver and so we hope you understand. Manufacturing a quality hardwood speargun takes quite a lot of time - approximately 36 hours just to make one unfinished Delrin speargun. We are divers who have regular full-time jobs during the week and we can only make spearguns on the weekends as a side-line. During the diving season (May through October), we spend most of our weekends diving rather than making spearguns. During the off season (November through April), we make-up inventory of our most popular speargun models. We can make you a custom speargun (to your dimensions) during the off season, but during the diving season, we are only able to sell the inventory we made during the previous off season. Send email or call to find out what we have in inventory closest to what you want. All other products we provide are available all year round. We can also do smaller jobs like mounting reels, side-stocks, muzzle stablizers, and gun balancing year round.
• DIY - Make your own hardwood speargun.

48 (Small) Magnum Gun

• speargun is 48" long
• shoots a 48" by 9/32" threaded shaft or 50" by 9/32" Hawaiian shaft
• powered by 3 bands
• for around the reef or in the kelp
• maximum range is about 19 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $650.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $950.
• Finished Deluxe model: $1150.

55 (Standard) Magnum Gun

• speargun is 55" long
• shoots a 55" by 5/16" shaft
• powered by 4 bands
• for around the reef or in the kelp
• maximum range is about 21 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $700.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1025.
• Finished Deluxe model: $1225.

60 (Long) Magnum Gun

• speargun is 60" long
• shoots a 60" by 5/16" shaft
• powered by 4 bands
• for around the islands, the outer side of the reef, or for blue water hunting
• maximum range is about 23 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $750.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1075.
• Finished Deluxe model: $1275.

65 (Extra Long) Magnum Gun

• speargun is 65" long
• shoots a 65" by 5/16" shaft
• powered by 4 bands
• for around the islands, the outer side of the reef, or for blue water hunting
• maximum range is about 25 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $795.
• Basic model with recommended small side stocks: $795.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1225.
• finished Deluxe model: $1425.

The Blue Water models shoot larger 3/8" diameter shafts and therefore have more penetration power plus more punch at longer range shots. We strongly recommend you get these spearguns with ballasted side-stocks or they will have noticeable recoil, but they are available as Basic models without them.

60 (Small) Blue Water Gun

• speargun is 60" long
• shoots a 60" by 3/8" shaft
• powered by 4 bands
• for around the reef, in the kelp, or for blue water hunting
• maximum range is about 23 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $750.
• Basic model with recommended small side-stocks: $950.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1075.
• Finished Deluxe model: $1275

65 (Standard) Blue Water Gun

• speargun is 65" long
• shoots a 65" by 3/8" shaft
• powered by 4 (or 5) bands
• for around the island or for blue water hunting
• maximum range is over 25 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $850.
• Basic model with recommended medium side stocks: $1100.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1225.
• Finished Deluxe model: $1425.

70 (Long) Blue Water Gun

• speargun is 70" long Top view. Side view.
• shoots a 72" by 3/8" shaft
• powered by 5 (or 6) bands
• for hunting in clear blue water for big-game
• weighs approximately 18 lbs, but is neutral in the water
• maximum range is over 27 feet
• Basic model(wood track): $1050.
• Basic model with recommended large side stocks: $1350.
• Unfinished Deluxe model(delrin track): $1475.
• finished Deluxe model: $1675.

Slip-Tips

• All our slip-tips (AKA "drop-tips") use the self-centering ball and taper adaptor design developed by Steve Alexander.
• Reef Master Slip-Tip: a double-flopper hardened 17-4 stainless-steel cast tip for 5/16" & 3/8" Shafts: $65.
• Blue Water Slip-Tip: a double-flopper cast 316 stainless-steel tip for 5/16" & 3/8" Shafts: $65.
• Slim Slip-Tip with single flopper: with your choice of tri-cut or pencil-point end-tip (we recommend you use Loc-Tite Blue thread sealer to hold the end-tip secure and you may want to use a drop on the shaft collar to secure the adaptor)
  • for 7mm or 9/32" shafts: $65.
  • for 5/16" shafts: $65.
• Replacement parts for the Slim Slip-Tip.
  • tri-cut end-tip: $12.
  • pencil-point end-tip: $12.
  • 6mm adaptor for 9/32" or 7mm shafts: $15.
  • 5/16" by 24 adaptor for 5/16" shafts: $15.
  • new 5/16" by 24 adaptor for 5/16" or 3/8" shafts: $18.
  • tip-body: $25.
  • 9/32" shaft slide-ring: $7.
  • 5/16" shaft slide-ring: $7.
  • cable: $1. per foot
  • cable stops: $.30 each
• DIY - Make your own slip tips

Ballasted, Balanced Side Stocks

• Ballasted, balanced side stocks will reduce recoil (thus increasing accuracy) and add distance to your effective shot (because less energy is lost to recoil).
• All side stocks are made from hardwood and are balanced with lead to add ballast to and reduce recoil of a speargun that is too light.
• All are designed for comfort while diving and loading.
• Any of these side stocks may be added to the Alexander Magnum, Blue Water, and Tuna guns to eliminate the high recoil of these otherwise excellent spearguns. For these models we recommend the Small for the Magnum, the Medium for the Blue Water, and Large for the Tuna gun. You can step-up a size for even more reduction in recoil. On some spearguns, we may have to relocate your quick release bracket to the top-side (or under-side if you prefer) of the side stock.
• We can also make custom side stocks for almost any hardwood speargun. We recommend against using full-length "wings" because they will act like airplane wings underwater reducing manuverability of your speargun to the point of making it too difficult to track a fish. Rear-mounted side stocks do not cause any noticeable reduction in manuverability.
• Our side-stocks are neutrally balanced so they won't change the balance characteristics of your speargun. We will mount and custom balance our side stocks to your speargun/shaft/tip combination for an extra fee of $50. This will correct any pre-existing balance problem.
• Our larger spearguns (65 Magnum and all Blue Water guns) come standard with these side stocks.
• All side stocks come with attached butt pads which also help reduce the discomfort some divers feel from the butt pressing into your chest or thigh while loading by increasing the surface area of the speargun butt.
• Our side stocks come with two (or three) through-bolts and the proper size extra long drill bit for your ease of attachment. All you do is clamp the side stock where you want them located and drill through our pre-drilled side stock holes with a hand drill. Two though bolts attach them to your speargun. All side stocks are finished.
• Extra Small (approx. 12" long): $175.
• Small (approx. 18" long): $200.
• Medium (approx. 24" long): $250.
• Large (approx. 30" long): $300. Top view. Side view.
• Extra Large (approx. 3 feet long): $350.
• 6 inch SS machine screw 10x24 with 3/4in SS coupling nut(for Side Stock attachment):$6 a set.
• DIY - Make your own side stocks.

Muzzle Stablizers