Omer XXV Speargun + Other Fast tracking guns?

[Pav]

How can you best adjust the flopper / flapper / barb? on the omer shaft? My Cressi shafts are round and easy adjusted for friction. Can't seem to tinker the omer flopper to stay out because of the flat section on the shaft where the flopper is fixed. Cheers.

[strangelove]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

My transaction was simpler - as we pay VAT. I used an on-line translation website to help but kept it simple. It's probably not called VAT in Italy. Maybe Spaghetti (our candidate for the next President of Italy) can help? If you use Paypal, you could probably adjust the price using the "seller discount" feature. [The seller will pay the same ebay fees & receive the same amount of money after tax as for a european buyer]

Alternatively, you could try the French website (SCUBALAND Magasin d'équipement et matériel de plongée sous-marine vente en ligne sécurisée). It was a little cheaper & shipping was less (France is closer). You need to join their free "club" for the best price. Are you getting the regular/Gold/Gold with reel?

X using the translation was what I did, but never got any replies, I was trying to get just the simple XXV, I will try contacting the french store.

Thanks

[mishu1984]

Pav: you can install simple rail guides on Commanches. i did it will all my guns. i think you can get them at subproof. its a lot cheaper than buying a new gun

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by foxfish

Surely wanting another gun is justification in itself? Anyhow you will catch more fish this season.

No, it has to be justified. I hope so but sinus, colds & weather have been conspiring against it so far.

I got a cheap but good spearing video off eBay (BTW I see Magpie is selling off some interesting spearing stuff inc. camo omer Alien mask & wooden speargun). It's all in Italian, the guy (Georgio Diaparin - something like that) is using C4 gear. Lots of deep, long, stalk-kill-surface shots at the beginning but the fish get bigger & bigger throughout and towards the end he shows more of his dispatching, stringing, fish handling & RIB entry technique (which is what I was interested in). The last big fish is speared 3 times (to be sure, to be sure, to be sure?) -- maybe that's why Spaghetti carries 3 guns. Looks like he'd camo'd one wetsuit with brush strokes of metallic gold paint & glued lead plates under rubber onto the back of another. His mask had a simple old single strap & looked like it might be one of those cheap black with yellow frame, plastic lens jobs from the beach shop. He was good though. The filming was crisp & well edited with breath hold times & depth indicated for most dives (but not obsessively). It was interesting to see how he used the reel for larger fish.

[Pav]

thaniks mishu, buts its not the commanche that causes me any problem. The issue I'm having is with the Omer shafts flopper. I find the adjustment of the flopper easy on the cressis shaft , by just crimping it in a bit. I find the sqaure section on the omer shaft makes it difficult to tweek to be able to open smoothly, but still enough friction to stay open.

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

I got a cheap but good spearing video off eBay (BTW I see Magpie is selling off some interesting spearing stuff inc. camo omer Alien mask & wooden speargun). It's all in Italian, the guy (Georgio Diaparin - something like that) is using C4 gear. Lots of deep, long, stalk-kill-surface shots at the beginning but the fish get bigger & bigger throughout and towards the end he shows more of his dispatching & stringing. The last big fish is speared 3 times (to be sure, to be sure, to be sure?) -- maybe that's why Spaghetti carries 3 guns. Looks like he'd camo'd one wetsuit with brush strokes of metallic gold paint & glued lead plates under rubber onto the back of another. His mask had a simple old single strap & looked like it might be one of those cheap black with yellow frame, plastic lens jobs from the beach shop. He was good though.

Dapiran - also referred to as the 'master' in analogy to the star wars triology - is a living legend in the med. He gave up everything for spearfishing. IMO his films are among the most instructive you will ever find, as he explains the strategy adopted for EVERY catch you see. Understanding a bit of Italian certainly helps, but not strictly necessary to gain some insight into his style of spearfishing and how to improve your own technique. Among my all time favourites are the older 'Agguato a Spigole e Cefali' and 'Agguato a Orate e Saraghi'. Since you mention that he uses a C4 monoscocca in the film you have seen, it is probably 'Aspetto Dinamico al Dentice (1)'. In his other films he is either using DIY wooden hybrid gun (Beuchat old Marlin handle + wooden 'squidbone shape' stock + DIY closed teflon muzzle) or later his own brand of band-guns, the 'Jedi' -> Videosub di Giorgio Dapiran - Arbalete
Indeed he believes in the 'attractive force' of gold camo (applied to most of his suits some of which, I understand, he makes himself and his other gear). If I remember correctly his mask is actually a Technisub 'Look' due to his preference for a wide field of vision vs. low volume.

Cheers

[Old Man Dave]

I've seen some Dapiran vid's too. I agree they are quite instructional and he is obviously an expert spearo. I use a technisub Look mask but can't claim any similarities beyond that .

Dave

[Mr. X]

He had C4 fins (among others) & the credits mention C4. I think the first gun he used was a C4 but hard to be sure, it had a bulk rubber muzzle. Later in the video he has another gun with a mass-produced handle but wooden cuttle fish profile - probably the one you described. I love listening to the Italian commentary but understand almost nothing from it -- even so I find myself turning up the TV volume sometimes. Having read your posts & link above above & seen the video, I reckon I might give the belt stringer a try this year...just need to find a suitable pin.

Re. the attraction of Gold "camo" -- Foxfish a.k.a. the Silver Smoker was probably onto something. Must try using a gold coloured lure.

[ulysses]

X, Dapiran uses two pins both DIY: one is made from a 2mm inox spoke with an eyelet, the other is cut from a bend 6mm shaft.

I bet you have some bends shafts lying around in your garage that you could use

If you are not a DIY maniac like the master, Effesub makes a stringer with Dapiran style end attachment hole and a hard plastic sheath. I am using this for some time. Unlike the Omer/M.Bardi sheath, this one is compatible with a thick marseillaise belt.

=> PORTAPERSCI - PORTAPESCI A CAVETTO CON REGGIFUSO DA CINTURA - Effesub

Cheers

[Mr. X]

That's neat, I haven't seen an end-drilled pin before. Nice details: holder, knurling, centre & end holes & 2 O-rings, presumably to hold the pin in the nylon belt holder. You anticipated my activity well. I've already made a belt stringer but I posted the details to Spaghetti's Stringer thread: http://forums.deeperblue.net/708888-post62.html

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Pav

thaniks mishu, buts its not the commanche that causes me any problem. The issue I'm having is with the Omer shafts flopper. I find the adjustment of the flopper easy on the cressis shaft , by just crimping it in a bit. I find the sqaure section on the omer shaft makes it difficult to tweek to be able to open smoothly, but still enough friction to stay open.

Hi Pav, how are you getting on with that spear now? The flopper on my Omer spear (& RA spear) are quite loose and I don't plan to change them unless I find it causes a problem; it hasn't with the RA so far. The idea of crimping the barb is new to me -- I saw that French link -- so perhaps this is an issue specific to the flopper-on-top euro spears? Looking at Omer spears on Apnea.co.uk last night, it looks like the spear on the XXV is a special Marco B. design; not sure what difference, if any, that makes. Perhaps Spaghetti can enlighten us?

BTW The Omer instructions, catalog & website are all pretty sparse on such information. I really like the Omer catalog but it could be improved a lot by including helpful illustrations on the use of their gear & innovations & general spearing tips -- like the celebrated Petzl climbing catalogs (which are truly brilliant & have a huge influence on climbing techniques, worldwide).

[Pav]

I think in this thread and the thread under beginners and pulling in a fish has brought my attention to two issues for me. 1st the advice re. retrieving poor shots is great, but do get the gut feeling I'm missing something with this gun!

The photos below I think have highlighted an issue with my rigging (cheers to mr x for the photos).

I have mine rigged as the 2nd photo BUT I have not removed the plastic bridge. I do know that on shots my line has not cleared the bungee so may be getting held back as the line clears the gun.

I'm tempted to remove the plastic bridge and rig with the line crossing over the spear. I think it is held in by 1 pin?

Otherwise its to rig as per 1st photo. , but in my mind the 2nd photos would allow the line to clear with less chance of being held back.

Appreciate a nod from an Omer XXV Elder prior to rigging. Cheers ;>)

[Mr. X]

Pav, good to hear you found a pos. cause. OMD/Mundial/Spaghetti can probably help you with the open muzzle set-up. As mentioned earlier, I use the boring old closed muzzle configuration shown - the same as my railgun. Looking back in the thread I believe OMD might have had the same problem initially(?). The little Omer instruction book that comes with the gun (& available as a pdf file from their website) shows how to remove the bridge (I think you are right, a single pin) - but strangely makes no mention of rigging the spearline.

It's not obvious to me why using the open muzzle line-configuration with a closed muzzle would cause a problem but obviously it is not what was intended. Perhaps the the angle of the line going to the left side is adversely affected, perhaps something to do with the spearloop passing through the hood (e.g. it is probably flipped backwards) or perhaps the hood prevents the line looping up over the left hand hook properly?

[stuckinsurrey]

Hi Boys,

I have an Omer XXV and have just removed the clear plastic guide. Its pretty easy - just push the plastic pin through and the guide slides up and out. I have decided that i'd fish it open muzzle as was concerned that my crimp might catch on the guide as the spear exits dragging the spear of target! The spear is now held in place with the line. Have also put a circle band on it an its a really clean line of sight down the barrel now, just need to see a fish to try it out! The rotating frame that the band attach to can be removed by taking out the s/s pin at the front. Will try to post a picture next week.

Jim

[Mr. X]

Cool Jim. Which size did you get (sounds like the Gold version as you have the bulk rubber band)? Look forward to hearing the comparisons with Podge's Dessault!