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
Guns of the legends Collection
WOW Don , this collection is unreal ,,, cant wait ... Joe
more to come, but the best will be seen by the guys that make
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