Make a spear shorter

Mohawkbones · Mar 5, 2013

Hi everybody, first thread for me,
Thx for all the information to all.
Just bought a cressi Comanche 75 as my first gun after using a pole spear for some time.
For portability on airplane i want to cut spear by 15 cm , grind a new point and reinstall the flopper a bit lower on the shaft.
Do you guys think that's possible?
Is it dangerous?
Will it make the gun inaccurate?
Problem is it is a little bit to long to fit my bag.

martin366 · Mar 5, 2013

I have cut my Omer Cayman HF shaft, about 15cm. No problems at all.
Much better to move in vegetation

So, go on, cut it

foxfish · Mar 5, 2013

The gun manufactures supply what they consider the best length of spear to match the factory fitted bands, the guns wieght, design track etc... So if you cut the spear then you cant expect the gun to be as accurate as it was designed to be!
However if you dont have a choice for what ever reason then I would just buy a new shorter spear & keep the original.
Of course there is a chance that cutting down the spear - as in Martins case - will not effect your hunting at short range at all..

Mohawkbones · Mar 5, 2013

Ok Martin,just what I wanted to hear! Did you also put the flopper back?
Anyway, thx for the fast response!

Mohawkbones · Mar 5, 2013

Thx Foxfish, short range for me,mostly rocky shallow water.buying a shorter spear came up to my mind too ,but with shipping costs for only 1spear a little too expensive for now.And I do like to play with my Dremel

martin366 · Mar 5, 2013

Mohawkbones said:
Ok Martin,just what I wanted to hear! Did you also put the flopper back?
Anyway, thx for the fast response!

Yes, ofcourse!
If u have 3-4m viz, then it dont make any noticeable difference - like in my case.

Good luck!

Mr. X · Mar 5, 2013

[FYI I've moved this thread from the Freediving area to spearfishing and deleted the duplicate thread in the Freediving area.]

Jonny250 · Mar 6, 2013

Mohawk, you might struggle to drill a new hole for the flopper pin? not sure how easy that would be. worth thinking about, maybe Martin can shed some light...

martin366 · Mar 6, 2013

Jonny250 said:
Mohawk, you might struggle to drill a new hole for the flopper pin? not sure how easy that would be. worth thinking about, maybe Martin can shed some light...

Did that with stationary drill, hard but possible.

Mohawkbones · Mar 6, 2013

Stationary drill,check! Thx guys for thinking with me!
Maybe I should open another thread, but since we are on the subject....
Wich other brand of spear would fit also the cressi mechanism,just in case if I would go for the option of buying another extra spear ?

martin366 · Mar 6, 2013

Shafts are standard. So every other shaft should fit there.
I would recommend this: Shaft Blade Inox 174Ph ø 6,5 mm | Eurodiveshop.com

Durable shaft.

As its with sharkfins, then its recommended to use dyneema (or other strong line) wishbone. Its good!

My Cayman HF75 with shorten shaft, dyneema wishbone and open muzzle:

and Mares Cyrano 70
On picture there is Omers stock shaft, i have smoothen these sharp edges that i can use Dyneema wishbone, otherwise it will cut it
And my flopper is close to muzzle, so i can put line over it, then it dont make any sound. (open muzzle trick)

If there is any questions dont hesitate to ask!

scallywag · Mar 6, 2013

Just to clarify there are two types of spears for band guns.
The european style has a round notch at the end for engagment with the trigger mech, and the American style which has a square notch.

Mohawkbones · Mar 6, 2013

Very helpfull guys,Martin am I right that the use of a spear with sharkfins you need to have an open nozzle,so I can't use ot on my comanche,since it has a closed nozzle?
To shut up my flopper I want to use little dental rubbers . I'm also thinking of replacing the standard articulated wishbone for a dyneema one,just to save my fingers !I found a ready made screw on dyneema wishbone on Ebay.but i also figured out to just unscrew the metal wishbone and replace it by inserting a piece of dyneema cord into the screw on caps I already have from the articulated one.

scallywag · Mar 6, 2013

A dyneema wishbone is one of the best and easiest mods you can do.
However, unless your spear is already compatable, you'll have to smooth the spear notch to stop it cutting into the wishbone.
If you search "dyneema wishbone" you'll find lots of info.

Mohawkbones · Mar 6, 2013

Martin ,just checked the spear you sugested on eurodiveshop.
I'm not sure if I understand it correctly.This shaft with the pins ( sharkfins I presume) is suitable to use even with a closed muzzle?

martin366 · Mar 6, 2013

Mohawkbones said:
Martin ,just checked the spear you sugested on eurodiveshop.
I'm not sure if I understand it correctly.This shaft with the pins ( sharkfins I presume) is suitable to use even with a closed muzzle?

It depends how large muzzle you have. I used that shaft with my closed muzzle Cayman.
These fins aint so long, maybe 3mm or so.
You can also use without fins model just in case, its also good

hteas · Mar 7, 2013

Mohawkbones,
My personal experience was different than those mentioned here. I have a 90 cm Rob Allen with 130 x 6.5 shaft. I was using a 120 shaft to make it easier to swing. It shot wildly off and tore up fish because of the serious vibrations. The vibrations close up literally tore up the far side of fish and accuracy was terrible. Beyond about 2m it shot wild and high. Going up to a 130 shaft made the problem instantly disappear. It's now back to pinpoint accuracy, and punches a small hole through fish. Huge difference.

stingaree · Mar 8, 2013

I second this. Cutting the shaft by 15 cm will effect acuraccy of your gun significantly, unless you use longer bands (reducing power of your gun), also, unless you know what you're doing, drilling the shaft and inserting a flopper can stuffed up the shaft for good. The Australian option would be to buy an extra 7mm or better 5/16 (8mm) threaded shaft, 20 cm shorter than the original one and screw spear cluster head (pranger). This is an acurrate and deadly close range no.1 setup here "downunder" with easy (screw apart advantage) for travelling.

Mohawkbones · Mar 8, 2013

Hteas thx for your comment, nice to hear the other sIde of the story too! Doesnt make it easier to decide to get out the Dremel
I was looking already for a threaded shaft with a kind of multi prong ,Stingaree.I pressume the heavier shaft compensates the problems Hteas describes. I haven't found a treaded shaft of those diameters yet on the Internet.suggestions ? No shops for spearfishing in the Netherlands,since it is forbidden to spearfish here onfortunately

foxfish · Mar 8, 2013

Well if you think (as I know) that cutting 15mm of the spear & deifying the manufactures design might effect accuracy & performance ..... then just see what happens if you fit a multi pronged spear head LOL...
If you are really into short range hole fishing, then without doubt, a short airgun with an easy load multi prong head is the way to go but, if you are aiming for free swimming fish then forget a multi pronged head.
There are options for using a shorter spear, for instance, with enclosed track guns there would seem to be some leeway & thinner shorter spears can be used.
However if you are just talking about short range fishing for reasonable size targets then you might find the 15mm does not actually effect the gun performance that much ... however... I would still recommend buying a new simple cheap cheap rather than cutting down you standard one.
Also I would have to say it is not an easy job unless you have good confidence & some metal working skill & equipment!

Make a spear shorter

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