my day today- Riffe factory

Are they the Padauk or a new wood?

Are they just using Padauk for the antiquated competitor line, or are they going to do it for the euros too?

Why do you consider the competitor line antiquated?

I've made three solid teak spearguns so far with no warping. I'm going to continue making guns with a non laminated stock.

Sounds like a fun trip.

Mike

I consider them antiquated in that their Euro line is a lot more sophisticated (ergonomics, handling hydrodynamics, accuracy, more bells and whistles etc), while being essentially the same species of gun - a rear handle woodie. At least at local stores to me, they are very similarly priced, although online the Euros are a bit more pricy. The Comp is one of Riffe's original designs from the 80's.

I think that moving the Euros (which seem to be their most popular gun at the moment) to a lower price point with Padauk would be a good business decision, but maybe there are technical issues that hinder this. Or maybe they are just feeling the market...

I've used both guns. If I had to use one of them it would be the competitor, I would replace the handle. The only advantage of the euro series are the available lengths. I like a gun a little longer than the C3 but the C4 jumps to much beefier stock.

Quote from O2 deprived

had a really great day today albeit I was not in the ocean. The weather here has been so crummy. I did pool training this morning with a new buddy and his brand new C4s then I went down to San Clemente to Riffe. Jill and Jay showed me the new stuff they are working on ; a non-laminated, less expensive ,gun and new soft blades that Brandon took to 125ft recently in testing. Anyway, you guys would have loved it, too.Sooo many guns, floats, shafts, suits......

I think Brandon could go bare foot like you to 125 ft.:D;)

I saw Jay at the last Neptune meeting with a fin but a was talking to Terry Mass and trying on the the safety vest before I could take a look. If any of you guys are temped to build a gun from Padauk just remember the wood dust is toxic. I have found that even with a charcoal respirator I need to wear goggles to keep the dust from driving my eyes crazy,

Carla are you back from France or on your way ?

Cheers, Don

Quote from O2 deprived

[quote='Don Paul','http://spearfishing.world/forums/index.php?thread/&postID=33778#post33778']I think Brandon could go bare foot like you to 125 ft.:D;)

I am working on 170 ft barefoot- almost there!

Carla are you back from France or on your way ?

yes, it took me 35 hours but I finally made it home :angry5:

Carla

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I know I could do 170' bare foot..... but swimming back up would be a big issue, I suck without my fins.
Maybe I would have a chance with Terry Mass's vest though.:laughing3:
I got spoiled at the age of 4 by a pair of green voits.;)

Want to hit Laguna Sun if the water clears up ?

Cheers, Don

Competitors are the quintaessential spearguns IMO.

They are great and shoot great. The only thing that could be improved upon, is the fact that the handle could be improved ergonomically wise. Other than that is hard to beat the basic and sheer fish killing capabilities of the mentioned spearguns.

Quote from monster slayer

Competitors are the quintaessential spearguns IMO.

They are great and shoot great. The only thing that could be improved upon, is the fact that the handle could be improved ergonomically wise. Other than that is hard to beat the basic and sheer fish killing capabilities of the mentioned spearguns.

I agree - the competitors are great small/medium game guns, the standard series are good medium game guns,... & the mid-handle guns just need a lot of tweaking and ballast.

With an average sized hand, the Riffe handles are among the worst in the industry for me ergonomically. The newer(last 5yrs or so) mid-handle handles are a litle bit better being smaller/textured... but also sit unnecessarily low below the stock. Nevertheless, it's cool to see Riffe pushing the envelope over the last 5years with new products/designs. They just have an odd blend of new & antiquated products/designs.

fuzz, what are your weight ranges for small, medium, large game?

Quote from Dan

fuzz, what are your weight ranges for small, medium, large game?

Come on Dan... leave my ambiguity alone.

Hard to define since length of gun, range, viz, & fish type are just as important factors. So many variables, I hate to nail it down since any miniscule change could alter what's appropriate.

Let me ramble about a scenario with range not being a huge issue & regular fish (not armor plated like pargo). I think of guns mostly in terms of their optimal band/shaft configuration. For the competitor series, it seems like the optimal config is 2 5/8 & 9/32... which I would use primarily for fish up to 30# or so. It can take bigger fish of course and I'd feel completely comfortable shooting considerably larger tame fish like amberjacks... but that seems like a nice sweet spot for comfortable results. If the fish were running bigger up to 100#... I'd prefer something like the standard with 3 bands & a 5/16" shaft just for the extra punch & insurance. Fish larger than that, more bands, bigger shaft. If the fish is armored like pargo... then I'd go with more power as well. More range needed... can either go with longer length or more power. etc.

I agree with what GR mentioned before, most fish can be taken with 2 bands & a 7.5mm shaft. However, I like to have that extra cushion when taking on bigger fish. As I said once, I'm not a super diver like GR & company, so I need all the help I can get.

Quote from fuzz

I agree - the competitors are great small/medium game guns, the standard series are good medium game guns,... & the mid-handle guns just need a lot of tweaking and ballast.

That pretty much sums it up. I don't think there is enough innovation in spearguns to say a basic design is antiquated. It is what it is.

Quote from ladvr

I don't think there is enough innovation in spearguns to say a basic design is antiquated. It is what it is.

I agree.

I do feel the handle is a bit antiquated; however, the basic gun design is still a standard for teak guns.

I am lucky(or maybe not) to have the right sized hand for the riffe handle.

Yeah,me to.luv the comp 3 S.and Ive been told a have very large hands:D