What is a harpoon? Spearfishing harpoon

Fishing is a most exciting activity. Silence, relaxation and pleasant anticipation of the bite will leave few people indifferent. For those who are not used to “waiting for weather from the sea,” there is one way of fishing, by the way – an all-weather one, which is guaranteed to provide a catch regardless of the desires and preferences of the representatives of the fishing kingdom. We are talking about underwater hunting.

Of course, this type of recreation requires certain skills and equipment. The main attributes without which it is impossible to get an underwater trophy are a harpoon and a gun.

Crossbow

The most common and, perhaps, popular gun. Thanks to its ease of use, reliability and minimal configuration, it has received well-deserved respect among underwater fishing enthusiasts.

A rubber bowstring is stretched on a horizontal shaft; the cocked sear secures the harpoon, which performs the function of a stele. The firing range and power depend on the number of rubber rods in the bowstring, but chasing range can lead to difficulty loading and high recoil when shooting.

Various materials are used in the manufacture of this type of weapon. Crossbows made of aluminum and its alloys are the cheapest and have the necessary strength, but long-barreled models have a decent weight. Underwater guns of this type, made of specially prepared wood, are durable and have good buoyancy, which is an important factor in case of emergency situations. A fiberglass crossbow combines the advantages of the two above and is durable.

Advantages:

• Simplicity, reliability;
• Price;
• The strength and range of combat do not depend on the depth of immersion.

Flaws:

• Dimensions make it difficult to use in algae, reeds and other cramped circumstances.

TOP 5 best crossbows for spearfishing by number of sales

Omer Cayman HF CAMU 3D

An excellent professional crossbow is the undoubted merit of the Italian manufacturer. It left its rivals far behind thanks to the use of hydroforming technology, which ensures the gun's lightness and maneuverability under water. Excellent balancing can be achieved using the included lead weights. The gun has the original camouflage paint. The stock is equipped with guides for the movement of the harpoon. Well, the lowest price in the line of professional shotguns finally confirmed its title as the best crossbow.

Crossbow Omer Cayman HF CAMU 3D

Advantages

:

• Excellent accuracy;
• Easy and fast reloading;
• High penetrating power of the harpoon;
• Smooth trigger release.

Flaws:

• Heavy weight;
• The fuse is tight.

This is the best harpoon with a replaceable head, a 7mm threaded tip made of hardened stainless steel.

Seac Sub Sting

Excellent, for a budget, representative of the crossbow family. Despite the cost, it is equipped with a storm drain and more elastic yellow rods. A standard harpoon with a removable tip and a diameter of 7 mm, designed for hunting serious trophies. An ideal option for those who have just decided to try their hand at underwater fishing.

Crossbow Seac Sub Sting

Advantages:

• Price;
• Two harpoons included: a trident and one petal;
• Positive buoyancy.

Flaws:

• The included rubber rods are rather weak.

The Seac Sub Sting is made from Sandvik hardened steel rod for the best balance of strength, speed and cost.

Omer Cayman ET mimetic-293

Exclusive from this manufacturer. The patented technology for producing a barrel with a closed guide allows this model to get rid of a serious drawback of the crossbow as a type of weapon - the weakness of the harpoon due to the notches for the rods. In addition, the Omer Cayman ET mimetic-293 retains its status as the most accurate of all crossbows.

Crossbow Omer Cayman ET mimetic-293

Advantages:

• Stylish design and coloring;
• Hidden guide;

Flaws:

• Not detected.

The Omer Cayman ET mimetic-293 harpoon is made of stainless steel. There is a removable nozzle, thickness – 8 mm. Equipped with washer, spring and transport sliders. Dimensions: 40;50;70 cm.

SalviMar Metal Roller

The anodized aluminum from which the body is made is lighter than other alloys, which has a beneficial effect on the weight of the gun. The roller design of the cords allows you to increase the tension by 30% and, accordingly, the flight range of the harpoon. Trigger sensitivity calibration allows you to adjust the applied force.

Crossbow SalviMar Metal Roller

Advantages:

• The roller mechanism increased the range and power of the shot by 30%;
• Stainless steel trigger.

Flaws:

• It is possible to pull out the toe knots.

The SalviMar Metal Roller harpoon is made of stainless steel. There is a 6.5mm shark fin tip. The price is higher than average, but it's worth it.

SPORASUB ONE

The price is the only drawback of the model. The hydroforming technology of this gun is unique, the barrel and handle are cast in a monolithic form, the accuracy, balancing and efficiency of use are appropriate. The original design, 3D camouflage coloring, and exclusive line ejector reel make it stylish.

Crossbow SPORASUB ONE

Advantages:

• The patented STC X-Pover vacuum system eliminates the dependence of the shot force on the depth of immersion characteristic of pneumatics;
• Well-designed and convenient disassembly of weapons;
• Excellent handle ergonomics.

Flaws:

• Not detected.

SPORASUB ONE Tahitian type harpoon with good speed and excellent trophy retention.

Types of harpoons for stretch ceilings

Currently, four main types of locks are actively used. The shape and size of the harpoon depend on the design of the ceilings and the method of their fastening, as well as the design of the aluminum support profile-baguette.

For seamless panels, three types of harpoon locks are used:

• WSS profile harpoon system;
• Classic L and R – locks;
• Harpoons with WSL profile.

Important! The specific type of harpoon cord must be selected in conjunction with an aluminum profile.

So instead of sticking a harpoon profile into the molding cavity to check, you just need to read the markings on the side surface.

Lightweight harpoon L locks

Used in standard lightweight stretch ceiling models. The harpoon is a bracket or L-shaped profile. The main ones are the dimensions of the long – “B”, and short – “A” vertical shelves.

In this case, “B” is the width of the welding strip of the polyvinyl chloride stretch ceiling. “A” indicates the depth of insertion into the cavity of the baguette. The most popular are locks with a shelf of 10 mm and 12 mm.

After installing suspended ceilings using the harpoon method, shelf “A” moves away and rests on a ledge inside the baguette. To remove the installed harpoon, you need to bend part “A” towards the center of the mounting cavity of the baguette.

Harpoons for heavy loads

Not all types of harpoon locks hold the load from weight and suspended ceilings equally well. With the widespread use of seamless panels, craftsmen began to use WSS and WSL harpoons.

In addition to the increased thickness of the lock, the design uses a different method of fixation.

Instead of one support for the L shelf, this system uses several oblique “teeth”, ensuring easy entry into the lock and the impossibility of disengagement back.

Pneumatics

Pneumatics produce a shot due to the action of compressed air on the piston. For loading, the piston is placed in the firing position. The operating principle allowed manufacturers of air guns to give them compact dimensions, which is an important advantage when hunting in cramped conditions.

Advantages:

• Compactness;
• Firing range adjustment.

Flaws:

• Decrease in combat strength with increasing diving depth.

TOP 5 best air guns for spearfishing by number of sales

Pelengas Magnum 55

Pneumatics for those who want to hunt large, powerful and wound-resistant fish in any conditions. The manufacturer produced excellent guns before the 55 model, but the Pelengas Magnum 55 is so good that the previous version was discontinued. Thanks to the offset grip, which provides excellent balance and maneuverability, the gun has become a bestseller.

Shotgun Pelengas Magnum 55

Advantages:

• High quality of materials used and workmanship for serial shotguns;
• The offset handle gives the gun versatility;
• Rich equipment, from spare parts to an excellent quality harpoon.

Flaws:

• Not detected.

The Pelengas Magnum 55 Tahitian type harpoon is made of hardened 17-4 PH steel rod and equipped with a centering washer.

Cressi Sub SL Star 40

The lightweight model is adapted to the marine environment for efficient shooting. Underwater, a hunter most often shoots with his arm outstretched, so an ergonomic handle will ensure high accuracy. The kit includes an 8-mm steel harpoon D; an additional stainless steel accessory can be purchased. The compact and powerful gun has been produced for several years and has been tested by amateurs and professionals, gaining well-deserved authority among them.

Shotgun Cressi Sub SL Star 40

Advantages:

• The ergonomic handle ensures that the weapon is positioned in line with the hand;
• Positive buoyancy;
• The time for maintaining working pressure in the pneumatic chamber is 1 month;
• Universal for sea and fresh water.

Flaws:

• Not detected.

The Cressi Sub SL Star harpoon is equipped with a spring, a washer and a replaceable tip with M7 thread.

Alpinasub RPP 5ex

Cheap and convenient are the two main characteristics of this gun from its owners. The original system of protection against involuntary firing eliminates the accidental release of the fuse. The barrel diameter reduced to 12 mm had no effect on the power and range - 5 m. Complete harpoon with a removable tip. The highlight of the Alpinasub RPP 5ex: the handle is offset to the center of the body, which is not typical for air guns, but is very convenient for aiming. The owners will also be pleased with the modernization: the line releaser is automatic, the fuse is a button, a handle with holes for water drainage.

Shotgun Alpinasub RPP 5ex

Advantages:

• Price;
• Maneuverability;
• Eccentric harpoon lock;
• The reduced barrel diameter provided an increase in power;

Flaws:

• Not detected.

Salvimar Predathor Vuoto

Excellent balancing minimizes deviation from the line of fire at the moment of shooting, ensuring high and stable accuracy. The location of the revolving line releaser on the side allows you to diversify your underwater hunting by installing a flashlight or camera. The factory harpoon is made of stainless steel. The design is sealed and prevents spontaneous release of compressed air.

Shotgun Salvimar Predathor Vuoto

Advantages:

• Sealing the barrel from water eliminates the effect of depth on the power and range of the shot;
• The pneumatic vacuum muzzle increases the service life of the gun;
• Tahitian harpoon made of hardened spring steel.

Flaws:

• Not detected.

Salvimar Vuoto Air

The new Italian pneumatic gun is a typical representative of shotguns in the class of optimal price/quality ratio. Equipped with a strike force regulator, which is useful when hunting in weeds and conditions of limited visibility. The new sliding sleeve reduces the sliding resistance of the harpoon when fired. Very rich equipment for a budget employee. The design of the pneumatic vacuum nozzle not only increases the force of the action, but also improves the buoyancy of the gun.

Shotgun Salvimar Vuoto Air

Advantages:

• The pneumatic vacuum attachment provides an increase in combat strength and range by 15-20%;
• Wide range of guns by barrel length;

Flaws:

• Not detected.

Galvanized harpoon with replaceable tip.

Choosing a weapon for spearfishing is a difficult task, especially for a beginner. The range is wide, the vast majority of models are of high quality and excellent design. To simplify the task, you need to narrow the range of choices by answering the following questions:

• Where is spearfishing expected?
• What kind of fish and what size are found in these places?
• The budget that is appropriate to allocate for this activity.

The crossbow, which is not without reason considered the first weapon of beginners, is ineffective in fresh water with visibility less than 1 m. Sadly, at such a distance it will not be possible to see even the tip of the harpoon. For most reservoirs in our country, the ideal weapon is a compact pneumatic gun with a firing regulator, and a harpoon that pierces through the fish and is tightly stuck in a snag will simply ruin the fishing.

How to choose the right harpoon?

For an experienced hunter who has been engaged in underwater fishing for several years, it will not be difficult to choose the right harpoon for any type of fish and fishing location. What does a beginner need to know when choosing a tool for underwater fishing?

• A harpoon with an arrow whose diameter does not exceed 6.5 mm is suitable for small-sized fish. Small fish are more difficult to hit, and a gun of this diameter has a high rate of fire;
• For medium-sized fish, arrows with a diameter of 7 mm or larger are usually chosen;
• For large fish species, the harpoon must be made of titanium and have a diameter of 8 millimeters or more.

The method of tying the line to the rod is of great importance in fishing. Not only the accuracy of hitting the prey depends on this, but also the distance at which you can safely hunt underwater.

Hydropneumatic weapons

The principle of operation is similar to pneumatics, but there are differences: the force on the harpoon boom is transmitted by air through a plunger system, directly to the water filling the barrel. The effect allows the gun to achieve greater power than its pneumatic counterparts.

Advantages:

• Great fighting power;

Flaws:

• The complexity of the mechanism and its maintenance.

The best types of hydropneumatic weapons for spearfishing

RPP – 4

Silver medalist of the “100 Best Products of Russia” competition. A compact, powerful speargun for underwater hunting with good combat accuracy at a distance of up to 5 m. The working pressure in the pneumatic chamber varies from 10 to 17 atm, and is regulated by the intensity of injection. After the shot, pumping is not required; the operating pressure is maintained for 4 hours. The offset handle is convenient for aiming from different angles.

Shotgun RPP – 4

Advantages:

• Price;
• Power;
• Positive buoyancy.

Flaws:

• Short duration of storage of working pressure in the pneumatic chamber.

Shotgun Accessories

If you are choosing your first speargun, be sure to read this article or watch the training video. This will be extremely useful for a novice spearfisher.

Now let’s look at each accessory in detail:

1. Line shock absorber. This is this thing: https://www.mpd-shop.ru/katalog-tovarov/product/view/11/2412 It is mounted on the gun in a hole in the headband and a working line is attached to it, which then goes to the harpoon. To better understand what a shock absorber is and why it is needed, watch a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sobN39tkbk

Also, the line shock absorber can be a connecting link between the line from the reel and the working line. The shock absorber on the gun performs the following functions: When slinging the gun by stretching the shock absorber, we have the opportunity to pull the line onto the line release so that it does not dangle and is tightly stretched, because of this function of the shock absorber, when operating the gun without a reel, the shock absorber is a mandatory element, you just You will not be able to use a gun that is not equipped with a reel without a shock absorber, since you will not be able to adjust the length of the line so that you can pull it onto the line release under water with a glove, and if you make it a little longer, it will constantly fly off when hunting. The shock absorber is also equipped with a carabiner, and with the help of this carabiner it is convenient to remove fish; you do not need to pull the tip with the petals opening in the fish through the fish or unscrew the tip in the water, risking losing it. You just need to unfasten the carabiner and pull the line through the fish. The third function of a shock absorber is to absorb the jerks of the fish and reduce the chance of the fish breaking and running away.

2. The second most important accessory is a reel and a line for it. 90% of novice hunters, when choosing their first gun and hearing the word reel, think that if a reel is installed on the gun, then when fired, the line unwinds from the reel and the working line, which is wound along the gun when loading, is no longer needed. This is a big misconception. There is always a working line and the line does not unwind when fired from a reel. The coil starts working in two situations:

— When you dive to some depth, let’s say 3-5 meters, there is some kind of blockage made of logs, and you shoot a fish in this blockage, in a split second it entangles your working line in these snags, you understand that You won’t have time to untangle it on this dive, since you need to take a breath and if there is no reel on the gun, you have to surface, throwing the gun. If the transparency is not the best, there is a current and the fact that the fish continues to pull your gun, there is a chance of finding it on the next dive, but it is very small. Accordingly, if your gun is equipped with a reel, you relax the clutch and calmly float up with the gun in your hands, and as much line as needed is unwound from the reel. You calmly recover on the surface and dive along your line and take out the harpoon and fish.

The second situation in which a reel is used is hunting for large and soft fish, such as catfish. If you get an unsuccessful hit, for example, in the stomach, if you just immediately pull the fish towards you, there is a high probability that the harpoon will simply break out of it and the fish will go away to die and you will not get it, and this is perhaps the most offensive situation. Accordingly, if you have a reel, you have the opportunity to cast a certain amount of tench to the same catfish, you have time to surface, turn towards the fish and swim after it, and all this minimizes the chances that the fish will break and leave. This photo is a prime example of using a reel: (note the hole in the middle of the fish.)

Not a convenient shot - the harpoon hit the catfish in the stomach. I had to reel in 20 meters of line from the reel and swim for another 15 minutes for this catfish, and all the while it had a hole in its side the size of a melon. If in this situation the gun had not been equipped with a reel, this trophy would have been lost anyway.

You need to wind at least 20 meters of line onto the reel, and ideally wind it as much as it can fit, as a rule, it is 40-50 meters. Because tench tends to be used up over time and situations vary.

1. Spare harpoon and spare working line for it. Different guns come with different harpoons. It’s easier with crossbows; all harpoons fit equally to all crossbows, but pneumatic guns all have different pistons and, accordingly, different harpoon shanks, so you need to take a spare harpoon along with the gun, since then it’s not a fact that you’ll buy the one you need in any store harpoon. Well, let’s say you went spearfishing for a week. On the very first day, the harpoon was lost or broken, and this often happens to novice hunters, and that’s it – the underwater hunting was over. In our practice, there were a couple of cases when people took a gun without a spare harpoon and then had to carry the harpoon with them in a taxi 400 kilometers away. As a result, the harpoon cost the price of the gun. ))) But the hunt is not over.
2. Spare tip. He's the right tip. This point applies to 99% of air guns, since 99% of crossbows have cast harpoons, where the tip, in principle, does not change. So, why is it needed: Firstly, the same situation as with a harpoon on the first day of hunting: you lost the tips or hit a stone and it crumpled so that it can no longer be sharpened and that’s it, if there is no second tip, the hunt is over. Well, the second point: all guns come with the most miserable tip made of the simplest steel, and it makes sense to take a higher quality tip, for example, made of hardened steel and with a triangular or tetrahedral sharpening, so that it has more penetrating power.
3. The buoyancy compensator, this accessory, also applies only to pneumatic spearguns. It’s just very difficult to attach it to a crossbow, and there’s nothing to attach it to. A buoyancy compensator on a pneumatic gun is needed to make the gun lighter, the hand to be less tired, and it to float up after a shot. Basically, compensators are used on guns that have a lot of other things attached to them: a camera, a flashlight, a mount for a flashlight, and something else. Because just a gun, maybe equipped with one coil, is not so difficult to hold in the hand, but if there are a bunch of accessories hung on it, after an hour the hand begins to fall off and then a buoyancy compensator is needed. By the way, let’s immediately make a reservation that our team is firmly against hanging a large number of accessories on a gun, since the gun becomes heavy, clumsy, and it can get caught on something. In general, we do not recommend attaching anything other than a line reel to your gun.
4. Underbarrel flashlight and mount for it. Yes, this is also an accessory for a gun. And in this area, the opinions of underwater hunters are divided in half, one half says that it is convenient and useful, the other, on the contrary, that it is not convenient and useless. If you simply evaluate the facts, the picture is as follows:

Disadvantages of attaching a flashlight to a gun:

- The gun becomes heavier - the hand gets tired faster.

- The gun becomes less maneuverable - at the right moment we will not be able to quickly turn it towards the fish and fire a shot.

— Most flashlights have a concentrated beam of light and a halo of glow around it. It is 100% fact that when spearfishing at night, when you point a beam of light directly at the same pike, the brightest part of it, the probability that it will get scared and leave is much higher than if you keep it in a halo of light - at the edge of the light of a flashlight. In this case, the light at the edge of the flashlight’s light beam is quite enough to take aim and fire a shot. Accordingly, when we have a flashlight attached to a gun, we always aim the light at the fish in order to shoot at anything. Although it is worth making a reservation that there are flashlights without a focused beam of light, they are called wide-angle.

“And no matter how stupid it may sound, unfortunately, there are more than one precedent. Two hunters are diving, one swims up to the other, wants to shine a light on a friend’s cukan, to see what he shot, a flashlight is on the gun, the gun is loaded, an accidental shot occurs, the harpoon ends up in the partner’s leg.

— You have to touch the gun by touch, there is no way to illuminate it with a flashlight, it hangs on the gun.

Pros of attaching a flashlight to a gun:

- When you swim at night and you have a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other, you can forget and shine in one direction, and hold the gun in the other direction, and when you see a fish, you won’t have time to point the gun at the fish.

—Your second hand is free when the flashlight is attached to the gun. But all underwater flashlights have a rubber mount on your hand, and if you let go of the flashlight from your hand, it will not fall to the bottom, but will remain hanging on your hand.

Total five minuses and two pluses. You can draw your own conclusions.

1. Bag for transporting and storing a gun. Far from being mandatory, but at the same time a convenient and useful thing, the gun is always in place, it is protected, the pump is always nearby, spare harpoons and tips and chargers - all in one place.
2. The safe loader also applies only to air guns. Any gun comes with a very simple plastic charger, and it’s worth buying a spare one, because they, these chargers, tend to get lost. Well, plus the safe loader pulls the harpoon out of your fingers and in the event of some failure of the harpoon during loading, the harpoon will not fly into your fingers, but will pass by them.

All these accessories, except for the shock absorber, are not necessary in order to get your first gun into working order and start spearfishing. But they are useful and of course it is advisable to have them in your arsenal.

Installation of all additional accessories in the MPD store is free of charge and you will receive a completely finished gun.

Gunpowder weapons

The weapon, popular (at one time) due to its power, minimal configuration and ease of handling, left all ratings due to its operating principle. The impact force is created by a capsule-type squib. The cost of one cartridge has made underwater guns of this type a record holder for the price of one shot. In addition, it turned out to be one of the firearm types with all the ensuing consequences. Now, in order to purchase or see such a gun, you need to try or visit a spearfishing museum.

Advantages:

• Powerful and easy to use.

Flaws:

• Restricted use.

The best models of gunpowder weapons for underwater hunting

PPO under the capsule “chewed”

An excellent underwater gun - simple, compact and reliable. The harpoon is inserted into the barrel, the bolt is retracted into a magazine designed for 4 capsules. Charges are inserted, the bolt is closed, the hammer is cocked and the gun is ready to fire.

PPO pistol

Advantages:

• Power and range unrivaled

Flaws:

• Prohibited use in sport and recreational fishing.

Varieties

The classification of harpoons implies their division into two main groups depending on the design features:

1. Devices equipped with removable tips that can be installed or removed by screwing. Such models are most recommended for beginners, as they are distinguished by their versatility and ease of use. You can take with you a whole arsenal of tips of various shapes, which allows you to select the most suitable options directly on the spot, depending on the conditions in which you will be spearfishing. The main disadvantage is the fragility of the thread, which wears off if used too much. Even minor depreciation can negatively affect shooting accuracy and also increase the risk of the harpoon failing.
2. Cast devices in which the tip is securely integrated into the harpoon. A distinctive feature is the simplicity of design, high reliability and strength, and long service life. At their core, they are modernized versions of classic tools that have been used by hunters since ancient times. Even under significant pressure or maximum loads, the risk of deformation or unauthorized detachment of the tip is eliminated; In addition, it reliably holds the caught prey, minimizing the likelihood of it getting lost. However, removing it will also be quite difficult, and there is no possibility of using the rod with other types of tips, if such a need arises.

An alternative classification involves division depending on the method of interaction; in accordance with it, the following varieties are distinguished:

1. Devices with release mechanisms without clamps. Such models are very close to the classic tools of ancient hunters; they are distinguished by their simplicity of design, and they are still the most common and popular option. Such harpoons can be equipped with spring and pneumatic guns, as well as crossbows for underwater hunting, if the release mechanism is located on the rear side.
2. Devices in the design of which a hole and groove are added. This is a more modern variety; its use becomes relevant in the presence of guns or crossbows, in which the trigger mechanism is located at the front.
3. Devices with a lock added to their design. They are used only for spearguns with a rear trigger mechanism, if their design has grooves and grooves.

Spring weapon for spearfishing

The energy required to impart killing power to the harpoon is created by the mainspring. Simplicity of design and reliability ensured, at one time, the widespread popularity of this type of weapon.

Advantages:

• Simplicity and reliability.

Flaws:

• Noisiness;
• Heavy weight;
• Strong recoil.

Best spring gun for 2021

Seac Polpone from SEAC SUB

The best spring gun for beginners and spearfishing enthusiasts, and the best for learning spring crossbow hunting for the rest of us. The spring is cocked into the firing position when charging the harpoon with automatic safety setting. Simplicity and unpretentiousness are the two main characteristics of this model.

Seac Polpone shotgun from SEAC SUB

Advantages:

• Size – 45 cm;
• Price.

Flaws:

• Short firing range.

How to make a harpoon with your own hands

Unfortunately, not every person can afford to spend money on their next whim. Therefore, many fishing enthusiasts who want to save money are interested in how to make a harpoon themselves. It consists of two parts: a pole and a tip. The first one should be long, about two to two and a half meters. For this, a regular beam is used, but it is worth noting that a shovel handle will not work in this situation. It is necessary to carve an even pole out of it.

It's going to be a little more complicated with the tip. You need to take a piece of metal and weld several sharp metal pins to it. Spokes from old motorcycles are best suited for this. On the other hand, it is necessary to weld a short pipe, comparable to the handle. Then connect the two parts of the harpoon together. Yes, it won’t be the most elegant weapon for fishing, but it will cost much less.

Prison

The very first of the spearfishing tools, thanks to which our ancestors first learned the taste of fish.

Sargan sling 2

Advantages:

• Simplicity of design;
• Reliability;
• The safest of all the varieties listed.

Flaws:

• Use requires certain skills and special training;
• The damage range is limited by the length of the spear.

The best spearfishing fort

Sargan sling 2

It is a modernized fort. There is no need to hit the prey with your hand - the defeat is caused by the compression force of the stretched rubber. The ring attached to the harpoon is put on the hand and pulled tight, but as soon as the spear is released, it flies to the target. The striking range is up to 1 m, but there are enough fish in the water that allow the hunter to approach such a distance. The model is collapsible and convenient for transportation.

Advantages:

• Disassembles, easy to transport;
• Does not require maintenance.

Flaws:

• Small striking distance.

The device of a gun (crossbow)

The design features of harpoons and their appearance in the 21st century have remained almost the same as they were 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 years ago. The harpoon structure still includes a long and strong rod, a sharpened tip with a hook of one shape or another that prevents the prey from getting rid of it, as well as a hole for the line, which allows you to pull the harpooned fish or animal towards you. The main difference between a professional modern harpoon and ancient tools is, first of all, the use of durable stainless steel with a high coefficient of rigidity, since flexible rods are not only unreliable and not accurate, but also dangerous. In addition, modern universal harpoons have acquired replaceable tips that screw onto threads, and in some versions, special fasteners, holes and/or grooves.

AMS “Gator Getter Point” harpoon for spearfishing

Harpoons for underwater fishing

A harpoon is an element of an underwater gun that hits a target and holds it. Special requirements for it are justified - in underwater hunting there are not only accurate shots that bring trophies, but also annoying misses.

Large cross-section harpoons, designed for hunting larger fish, are heavier, which has a bad effect on the shot range. You need to know: some manufacturers make them titanium: the material is not inferior to steel in strength, but much lighter.

Classification of harpoons for spearfishing

By type of tip attachment

• Removable - allows you to quickly (in field conditions) change the tip, but has a drawback: the threaded connection is a technologically weak point: deformation of the harpoon is possible;
• Fixed - the tip is one-piece with the harpoon body. The disadvantage is that you need to have a set of harpoons with different attachments.

The tip is the striking element of the harpoon and its task is not only to hit, but also to hold the trophy. To carry it out, depending on the situation, different types of tips are used.

According to tip shape

• The trident is flat;
• Three-dimensional trident;
• Tip;
• Single petal tip;
• The tip is two-lobed.

The choice of tip depends on the object of hunting.

According to the method of fixation on the barrel bed

• With a lock in the front;
• With lock at the back;
• Without lock.

And finally, one more variety - a harpoon made by yourself. Material – steel or titanium wire of the required diameter is sold in specialized stores. The triangle-shaped tip is made using a regular angle grinder and a sharpening wheel. If there are technological holes, their location and diameters are simply copied from the original.

The petals are holders for holding fish; they can be made from ordinary stainless steel; plastic from an ordinary PP bottle is suitable for the pattern. The finished petals are attached to the harpoon with a steel paper clip.

A harpoon made by yourself is unlikely to take a place in the ranking, but it will cost much less and will bring trophies to the owner.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that a correctly selected harpoon can neutralize the weapon’s shortcomings. The purpose of the article was to help make the choice of a harpoon capable of hitting and holding the long-awaited trophy.

The device of the harpoon and its history

Many centuries after their invention, harpoons have changed little in appearance: a long and strong shaft, a tip with notches of different shapes, a hole in the shaft for a special rope (line) in order to pull prey to the boat. Only the materials from which the harpoons are made have changed. The rod of a harpoon arrow is made of solid stainless steel, and the tips are made replaceable. The purpose of harpoons, as many centuries ago, remains the same - hunting fish or whales and seals.

Whale hunting with a harpoon is one of the most ancient types of hunting. Scenes depicting whale catching have been discovered on rock paintings that are over four thousand years old. Norway is considered the birthplace of whaling, and the first evidence in Europe of this type of hunting is found already in 1000 BC. From the 12th to the 17th centuries, this type of commercial hunting spread throughout the world from the Arctic to the shores of North America and Japan. Previously, when ships were sailing and were small, whalers hunted whales on lighter and more maneuverable boats, and their main weapon was a hand-held whaling harpoon. Later, in the 19th century, when the Norwegian Sven Foyn invented the harpoon cannon, whale hunters expanded their geography and moved to the southern waters of the Pacific Ocean. The design of the whaling harpoon also underwent some changes: now it was a heavy (50 kg), two-meter spear, with spikes (or claws) on the tip, the petals of which, getting inside the animal’s body, opened and did not allow the whale to escape from the pursuit of hunters.

Today, not only professional whalers use harpoons. Recently, underwater hunting has become popular among amateurs, for which even special types of guns that shoot harpoon arrows have been invented. The harpoon itself for underwater hunting can be divided into several types, which depend on the design features of guns or crossbows for harpoon shooting.