New Seatec Gabbiano 2009!

[Mr. X]

The history of the Seatec factory ...
The first relevant thing to notice is the location, in the northern italian Province of Brescia. That's the historical firearms district, where some of the most prestigious firearm factories are located, some of which have been there for 5 centuries: Beretta, Perazzi, Bernardelli, Tanfoglio, Breda, Franchi, Gamba and countless others.
For those who don't know much of the firearms scene, just one hint: at the last 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, fifteen medals (15 Olympic medals) in the various shooting sports have been won by shooters using guns made in the Brescia district (Perazzi, Beretta and Gamba in the order). This says it all.

How does Seatec relate to this reality? Seatec factory employs people who have been in the firearm crafting for generations. And even now that thay make spearguns, they're still the same poeple who have been crafting some of the world's best firearms for centuries.

The current Seatec's chief engineer, Valerio Grassi, has put it clear: "our spearguns are real weapons, not toys".

He himself used to be a contractor for Beretta, making triggers and other stainless steel microfusion gunparts for Beretta rifles in Grassi's family small factory, named Officine Meccaniche Rezzato (O.Me.R.).

Being an avid spearo too, Grassi started making his own custom spearguns in the early 60's, by modifying the bulky Beuchat's available at that time (who looked like JBL's: thick spears, feeble bands and rocky triggers). Initially it was only a hobby, while making firearms parts remained the core bussiness. But then Grassi's first custom modified spearguns were so much better than the standards, that he decided to make a business of it: he founded a new branch of his Omer factory, named Omersub.
Yes, it was the actual Omer: the current designer of Seatec guns used to be the founder and owner of Omer.
In a relatively short time, Omer spearfishing gear became a world wide success between the 70's and the 80's. It is said that at one point the small factory was no more capable to manage such a bigworld wide success, to the extent that, in the 90's, Valerio Grassi sold Omer to a big conglomerate, the Beta group.

Grassi's "unemployment", though, lasted only a couple of years. At sudden he founded a new society together with the Marcelli brothers, owners of a small metal craft factory near Brescia (they had been making shafts/spears for Omer in the previous years), and with another ex Omer employee, who had started his own business with a patent for polyurethane coated alluminum tubes (the actual Gabbiano barrels). That's Seatec.

Started from nothing, just from the skills of a few small craftsmen, Seatec is now slowly gaining positions in the spearfishing gear market.
And here the music starts: "Pump and circumstance". paaaa pa pa pa paaa paaa :friday

That's Pomp & Circumstance Spaghetti.


[The words go something like this: "We hate Nottingham Forest, We hate Arsenal too, We hate Leeds United but XXXXX we love you" -- insert your favourite football team's name for the XXXXX. I hate football. What's the point? Apart from the money, fast cars and fast women -- ah, now I see]


Cool history lesson. My favourite shotgun, by far, is my brother's Berretta 20 bore over & under - the predecessor to the very popular Silver Pigeon model (he reckons it has more expensive/better barrels/barrel technology than the silver pigeon). It would be nice to think that Valerio might have worked on it but I suspect it is too new for that. I read recently that the top British gun maker Purdey were making most of their new range of over & under sporting guns in Italy - a sad day for Britain in a way but perhaps a happy day too as more affordable top class guns become available. I think the guns may be finished in England (or was it the other way round?). They continue to make their exquisite traditional models in England though. I like to look at the Marquis of Bath's gun cabinet, to the right of the main staircase in the entrance hall, at Longleat House when I visit - lots of interesting vintage guns, especially Purdey's (they were a bit miffed when I suggested their library might be one of the biggest in the country - apparently it is/was one of the finest private libraries in the world).

A fairly well known British gunsmith moved into a village a mile down the road from here. I did wonder if it might be worth getting him to make a speargun or trigger mech if I won the lottery! Come to think of it, a guy who grew up in this village trained with Holland & Holland in London & lives only 3 or 4 miles away now.

Re. weapons v. toys, probably best not to repeat that too much. Not helpful with the bunch of prigs running our country currently. The British Olympic shooters (rifles/pistols not shotguns) where reputedly having to train abroad because of the ridiculous restrictions now in place here. It is hard to be proud of a country run like this .

Darn, now you've made me want to buy a Seatec Snake 80cm!

BTW I went ahead & smoothed the edges of the wishbones notches in my Omer spear yesterday. Surprisingly quick & easy using a McKennon mini drill with a slim grinding cylinder - similar to the classic American Dremel tool. As some point, I will switch to a dyneema wishbone. Managed to catch my glove & finger last week trying to unload with a crab in one hand! I was surpised to see the Omer articulated wishbone looks jagged on its "cutting edge" (I think perhaps it came that way? I'll check my 90 to see how they compare). I also noticed that it is necessary to twist the blade (cutting edge, blade -- not good phrases for wishbones surely!) a bit vertically to get a proper positive engagement - probably part of the reason I found it so much harder to engage when I first got it (also the new spear line needed to be bent out of the way). Spaghetti can't you get the Italian companies to start using Dyneema wishbones &/or grooved spears?

 

[spaghetti]

RE Made in Brescia. Also notice that the famous Abellan woodies are made in Brescia too. I dunno if the artist who makes these unique spearguns (Gabriele Cristofolini) has a past in the firearm industry too...
I should pay a visit to his factory some of these days...
ABELLAN: Fusiles Artesanales para Pesca Submarina

RE: "real weapons, not toys":

 

[Mr. X]

That's just Italian speargun porn Spaghetti: ABELLAN: Fusiles Artesanales para Pesca Submarina

I can see why Italian's tend to use Italian products, there are so many, so much variety, hi-tech/mass produced/handcrafted and there is always another Italian product to aspire to. I see what you mean about firearms too - the one above has a synthetic Olympic-style pistol grip!

 

[mundial]

The 6.6mm RA spear is pretty butch, without being OTT. Tri-cut point is not super-sharp IMO.
Rob Allen spearguns, railguns and other spearfishing and freediving accessories.

However I like the slim 6.3mm stainless steel spear that comes on the Omer XXV's, with the recessed flopper/barb (designed by Marco Bardi?). I was thinking about smoothing the notch grooves on the way home tonight, so that I can switch to a dyneema wishbone (like Mundial, I think - any tips?) but the notches go so deep into the slim shaft that I wonder if it might weaken it too much. I think using a slim spear is great - it probably goes real fast & penetrates really well but I can't see ever wanting to go less than 6.3mm diameter (famous last words). Seatec make good gear, so interested to read Mundials recommendation.

The 6.3mm Omer spear has two notches too - can you image using two rubbers on a 6.3mm spear, esp. if the grooves have been smoothed out - the mind boggles.

I use the 6.6mm RA & 6.3mm Omer spears with a single rubber (16 then 20mm for the former, 18mm with the latter) and both work just fine.

I hate to admit it but I really prefer the stainless steel spears too, so far. They don't seem to need as much sharpening or cleaning & oiling - pretty maintenance free so far. Pity Omer don't profile the grooves for dyneema though - although I'm sure I saw some in a Picasso catalog(ue).

BTW Is stainless steel generally harder or softer than the regular carbon steel steel used in knives (440?) and/or the spring steel used in RA spears? I've read what appears to be contradictory information. e.g. stainless steel is hard to sharpen because it is so hard, stainless steel won't hold an edge because it is softer than carbon steel.

that should be told

i used 3-4 spear in my XXV gold
original ones
the last i took the sharkfin america shaft 6.3
they all made from simple material this shaft bands easy
or loose accuracy
as a matter of fact almost all Caymans used by divers here
change the spear to a better one
so the shafts of the SEATEC are not in the same class at all

look at this spear

to your question

2 bands 16 mm with original shaft dont touch it
we have a friend here that took snd place target shuting
with original snake 2 X 16 bands & original shaft
he was able to shot 2nd with spearos with wood guns !!

if you use i band ( not recomended )
on the XFIRE shaft use a 57 cm 18 mm band
the best will be a cressisub S45 17.5 mm band
good luck

 

[mundial]

MR-X
if you want to change spear to dyneema
it is easy but need to work a bit

you can buy a shaft with sharkfins

or use this guide
of our member from NZ Ron Bakker

Rons Sea Corner

 

[daveduvet]

[quote to your question

2 bands 16 mm with original shaft dont touch it
we have a friend here that took snd place target shuting
with original snake 2 X 16 bands & original shaft
he was able to shot 2nd with spearos with wood guns !!

if you use i band ( not recomended )
on the XFIRE shaft use a 57 cm 18 mm band
the best will be a cressisub S45 17.5 mm band
good luck[/quote] Thanks for the advice. My Snake 90cm should be here today!! I think i will leave the gun as it is with two rubbers and the original shaft. I have emailed Seatec to ask them their opinion on the one rubber/two rubber dilemma so I will let you know what they say.
The Gun should be delivered today. Longest two week of my life!

 

[Mr. X]

...you can buy a shaft with sharkfins

or use this guide
of our member from NZ Ron Bakker

Rons Sea Corner

Great responses, thanks Mundial.

The article by Ron (on smoothing wishbone notches / grooves in the spear for Dyneema) is just what I was searching for on DeeperBlue - no wonder I didn't find it! I recall the Autosolv - clever. I ground my grooves on Saturday with a Dremel-like tool - surprisingly quick - I tried cheap needle files originally but they didn't make a dent. I'll follow Ron's guide for the final finish. Thanks again. I'll give Ron some rep. when I see him next post too

I was surprised to see sharkfins, mini-sharkfins & "pinned spears" gaining popularity among some of the British spearos last year (Foxfish, Podge & Glowworn among others). We don't get many huge spear-bending/breaking fish that necessitate the extra strength and eurogun muzzles often can't take them. However, open-muzzle setups are also gaining popularity - I guess flexible muzzle designs like that on the Omer XXV have helped make it easier for us to experiment. Mini-shark fins look interesting to me.

 

[foxfish]

The problem with mini sharkfins (for me anyway) is they are not actually large enough to fix your line to.
The bigger fins have a hole drilled through the back fin, this means you dont have to damage you line by forcing it into the trigger housing.
Other benifits are - you can use 2 or even 3mm dynema for wishbones & you can use them in enclosed track guns.

 

[Padaxes]

I just got my Gabbiano 90 from Spearo Dave and was surprised to find it was the 2009 model as the images on his site are the old model.

Done a bit of research and it looks like I have "SEATEC TRB GABBIANO OPEN 90 NEW 2009".

First impressions are that its a nice solid bit of kit. Longer than my old gun which is making it hard to try loading, I feel like the articulated wishbone , and the added length make it a real hazard to my fingers! Wont know until I get it in the water so I can load it properly. But that will be three weeks Cant wait to try it!

 

[spaghetti]

I just got my Gabbiano 90 from Spearo Dave and was surprised to find it was the 2009 model as the images on his site are the old model.

Done a bit of research and it looks like I have "SEATEC TRB GABBIANO OPEN 90 NEW 2009".

First impressions are that its a nice solid bit of kit. Longer than my old gun which is making it hard to try loading, I feel like the articulated wishbone , and the added length make it a real hazard to my fingers! Wont know until I get it in the water so I can load it properly. But that will be three weeks Cant wait to try it!

Don't worry, loading a gun is all psychological: you MUST BELIEVE you can make it, it's all mental.
Wear your gloves, place the gun butt on your abdomen (one inch over the belt), bow your back towards the muzzle, grab FIRMLY the wishbones and PULL, pull WITHOUT HESITATION with a single, continuous, fluid movement.
The wishbone will be in the notch before you could say "blueberry pie"

 

[azapa]

Don't worry, loading a gun is all psychological: you MUST BELIEVE you can make it, it's all mental.

that spago, is so true. its like starting and old chainsaw or petrol lawnmower (with the pull cord): if you have doubts in you head when you pull, it won't start!

Top marks to for the OMeR story, great reading. You could do a book on the history of the Eurogun

 

[Mr. X]

The problem with mini sharkfins (for me anyway) is they are not actually large enough to fix your line to.
The bigger fins have a hole drilled through the back fin, this means you dont have to damage you line by forcing it into the trigger housing.
Other benifits are - you can use 2 or even 3mm dynema for wishbones & you can use them in enclosed track guns.

My spears all have two holes for the spearline, so I could opt to use the foremost hold for a similar affect (I don't - rather have a few extra inches of range). Would the mini-shark fins accept the thicker dyneema?

I figure full shark fins will definitely require an open muzzle while mini-shark fins might pass through the RA muzzle (quite large hole) but not the Omer XXV muzzle in closed muzzle mode (v. small). I figure they would cause extra drag on the spear too -- but for a high-power set-up perhaps less concern - but easier to load I expect.

 

[Mr. X]

that spago, is so true. its like starting and old chainsaw or petrol lawnmower (with the pull cord): if you have doubts in you head when you pull, it won't start!
...

rofl Good point Spaghetti/Azapa. Like the focus used to break blocks in karate. And splitting logs with an axe -- in fact I'm real careful to make sure I have a clear head before using an axe:martial. What was it Yoda says in Star Wars:

"Do or do not, there is no try."​

 

[Murat]

snake is very deadly

it become even better after few modification i made to it.

First, i changed the 150cm 6.5mm shaft, because i lost some fishes with it. Flooper was very slim design and it was on top of the shaft. Not ideal for me to hold the fish and ballistic point of view. I put on 6.5mm devoto on it. More rigid shorter shaft worked incredibly well.

Second i changed original reel with dynamic one (one with a metal clips on it) was heavier, so i need to put floating plastic into the handle.

Third change was putting short 16mm bleu "power" latex band on it. What a great band they are very porgressive. Shots are like lightning.

 

[daveduvet]

I have a question about the line release on the snake. Does the line go through the left and right sides of it or just one side?
Thanks!!

 

[mundial]

I have a question about the line release on the snake. Does the line go through the left and right sides of it or just one side?
Thanks!!

you took a short gun ( 90 )
so
you can use one way , i mean to the muzzle & back
you can choose the side you want

when you have a large gun 110
you can use dobble way line which go to the muzzle & back
2 times than you can choose to put the line in one place
or once in the left one in the right

good luck:friday

 

[daveduvet]

Thanks mate..you are a good help!

Take it easy!

 

[Padaxes]

My Gabbiano is growing on me, I`m not a big fan of the loading, the open muzzle and the fact that the spear is quite hard to get into the loading slot makes it slower to load than my old gun.

But having taken it out in some deeper water I've found the accuracy at longer ranges to be excellent, I`m making shots I wouldn't have even considered with my old 75.

 

[Artur]

hey to all, I have a question I was looking everywhere about seatec snake 2009 there is one in carbon and one in aluminium, I would like to know what is the difference in weight between snake carbon and aluminium? I was told that aluminium is balanced better in the water and less recoil!Any information or opinions will be appreciated !

 

[Broseidon]

Ordered a Gabbiano 90 yesterday - will post pics when it arrives!