Guns of the legends Collection

  • This first post is just a quick unprofessionally photographed preview of some of the twenty vintage guns
    being displayed at the Spearfishing Legends Meet in San Diego held by the Pistoleros on Feb 26 2011.


    Please give me some time to delete and add better images in the upcoming weeks along with answering questions. ( I'm recovering from a hurt back)


    Most of the guns were owned by the Great Spearfishermen; Big Jim Christensen. with the exception of the roller gun and Blue camo John Warren tuna gun which was owned by my close friend and Long Beach Neptune pres Billy Kroll who drowned at Catalina Island.


    The first gun is a custom Safari from 1969 that was presented to Big Jim by Scuba Pro.


    This from the Scuba Pro catalog in 1971: If you want to own the finest speargun made this is it. The magnificent weapon, the SCUBA PRO Safari is the first custom-tailored speargun. The stainless steel precision firing mechanism and shaft of the SCUBA PRO 48" are mounted in a hand-crafted wooden stock. Alternating layers of the finest Beech, Walnut and Mahogany (wood) are individually fitted to form a strong, exceptionally attractive stock. The stock is then finished by hand with a glossy clear penetrating lacquer, which both preserves the wood and enhances the appearance. Meticulous workmanshiip, inherent quality and the conspicuous performance puts this speargun in a class by itself.


    Price was a huge for the time, $125.00 + tax.
    The Safari speargun shows up in the 1971, and 1969 product catalogs. The President of SCUBA PRO in 1969 was Gustav Dala Valle, a famous champion European diver (Gustav Dala Valle came from Healthways). In 1969 Jim Christiansen was the Western Sales Manager for SCUBA PRO. (Jim's personal gun is shown on the previous Safari page). National Sales Director, and Vice President was Dick Bonin. Chief engineer in charge of research and development was Bob Roberts. Eastern Sales Manager Joe Schuch, Midwest Sales was Mike Brock. Additional information may possibly be available from SCUBA PRO - Italy.


    The gun was featured as Skin Diver Magazine advertising endorsed by Roy Weatherby (creator of the Weatherby Magnum Rifle a true 'elephant gun') Roy Weatherby built the some of the finest Africa big-game 'safari rifles' and also provided endorsement for the SCUBA PRO Safari as the 'finest hand-made speargun'. Quote: John Warren

    Cheers, Don Paul



  • Next set...

  • Next two are Mel Clark Addict club types...

  • Super rare Dimitri Rebikoff
    Jim's Co2 gun and Scuba Pro mid handle called The Big Jim.
    More later....


    Cheers, Don Paul

  • Thanks guys, this is a start. The finger prints on triggers of all the guns except two (which were not Big Jims ) are from their their legendary owners. I'll list them and add details later.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

  • :thumbsup5: WOW Don , this collection is unreal ,,, cant wait ... Joe


    I want to put a smile on Art Pinders face.;) more to come, but the best will be seen by the guys that make
    it to your clubs great meet.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • Just WOOOOOW!!!!!!!!, incredible collection and they all look in great shape:thumbsup2:

    Pucho
    Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

  • Thank you for sharing these pictures. Incredible collection. I can't wait to see these in real life.


    Thank you!
    Darren

    South Bound.

  • BTW, the best smile I have ever seen on Mr. Pinder's face has to be the shot of him from the Speargun Hunter episode...he surfaces with Sheri and they each have a solid Black with a shaft in it and the look of sheer "stoked" on his face is epic...this man has seen and taken fish bigger than cars and he is still stoked on a nice Black

    i like to spear fish

  • BTW, the best smile I have ever seen on Mr. Pinder's face has to be the shot of him from the Speargun Hunter episode...he surfaces with Sheri and they each have a solid Black with a shaft in it and the look of sheer "stoked" on his face is epic...this man has seen and taken fish bigger than cars and he is still stoked on a nice Black


    I have a framed Sports Illustrated Ive been saving for him to sigh when I see him along with the oldest Cyprus wood speargun from Florida I have ever seen.Looking foward to showing him the gun and asking if he recognizes it at the Legends day.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • hi don,


    thanks for posting those pics! i first saw the mel clark gun about 13 or 14 years ago hanging in the rafters of mel's garage. i met mel by accident, as one of my friends was in the same airplane club as mel.


    as soon as he found out i was a diver, the first thing he asked me was " so, have you built a gun for yourself yet?" sadly, all this time later, i still haven't. ( i have "modified" all of them, though.)


    i miss mel. cool old dude who was friendly and always keen to share good advice. how did you come across the guns? are they on loan, or are they yours now?

    stinks like pee



  • Great to know that you appreciate spero history and the tools that helped write it. I have pictures of Mel's big Bass and hand built prototype plane, I miss him too, he was one of my hero's.


    I have been a collector going back to my first pocket knife, long before anyone cared about old rusty spears.Some of guns were bought one at a time over 30 years. They are in trust for my son to share with the Southern California spearfishing community at some point.
    When I come to the Legend's meet I will be available to tell some of the story's of their provenience.
    There was also part of a large collection in the old surf museum in Huntington Beach, but I haven't been there since the gala opening many years ago, I am not part of that association.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

  • Approximately 25 vintage Spearguns will be brought to the Event from a Private collection.
    The vintage guns were once owned by some of the fathers of spearfishing and include spring guns, Co2 bottle guns, Co2 soda charge guns and band guns. All except the Bill Kroll gun were last shot only by their owners.
    Big Jim Christiansen
    Jack Prodanvoch
    Charlie Sturgill
    Herb Sampson
    Mel Clark
    Dick Jappe
    Dick Bonin past Pres of Scuba Pro ... very much alive and well.
    Billy Kroll Past Long Beach Neptune Pres drowned at Catalina Island
    Red Fiberglass under water sled featuring twin mounted spearguns and a viewing port.(rumored Sea Hunt)
    Two of the oldest Cyprus wood spearguns from Florida ever to be found.


    Guys will have to attend the meet to see guns in this once in a life time showing.


    Cheers, Don Paul

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

  • I CANT WAIT , thanks again Don ,,, your the man



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