The Deeperblue.net Gun Building Extravaganza - pre poll gun shape

[deep thinker]

I have to agree with Marwan on this one. If we go the eliptical route, keep it light and compact, theres no use for huge amounts of weight in the barrel of the gun.
One thing to keep in mind, eliptical shape will make the barrel move faster side to side but what about up and down movements, these will have to have more force from the diver and be more calculated.

[ILDiver]

Originally Posted by Pastor

I see where you are coming from but unless you use a wide Dapiran style metal wishbone then the bands will pull to the centre and ride up on top of the shaft anyway at the fins.

Actually I was not thinking it would have fins really. I don't want to take anything from the taper affect. But the bands being stretched over the top would end up doing that while loaded. But who sees the gun loaded

I didn't think the idea through real well with my first image. The one attached here is not great I see short comings in it, like the muzzle. The muzzle would not have to be cut in like this. That way the angle to the muzzle allows for the band getting fatter as it comes back to it's natural shape.

Edit: I just figured out what you meant Pastor, about the bands sucking into the shaft. I guess I need to look closer to how it's done on closed track guns.

Edit 2: Pastor, after looking at it I guess my idea would be similar to yours but raising the enclosure. This makes for a more delicate track area. So it moves away from any K.I.S.S. principal...

[ILDiver]

Originally Posted by Newbie_spearo

I really like the spearotiki design, I suppose after the bands have been raised above the barrel you could then go back inot the wider more streamline cuttle fish shape. Check out my paint work below and check out spearotiki
Attachment 19218

I thought about that type of wing on the front. But I don't care for the effect it gives. It looks rather....man-ish...?? I was actually thinking the bads go up over the wing to bring then inline with the shaft. But that shape...

[Pastor]

Originally Posted by ILDiver

Edit 2: Pastor, after looking at it I guess my idea would be similar to yours but raising the enclosure. This makes for a more delicate track area. So it moves away from any K.I.S.S. principal...

That's more like I the idea I had in my head. Using the strength of the wood on the outside and higher up than normal. Usually the barrel would need to be say 35 - 40mm thick foe an enclosed track plus another 8mm for the stretched bands but if you had the strength further out the profile could be kept lower

Edit 1: I've been told that the Gits can build anything, I'd like to see a design that would test him and us all come up with something truly cool. It's from stuff like this that tomorrows mainstream designs will come from. It would be kind of cool if we played a small part in it

[ILDiver]

The other issue is unloading the gun. It looks like it would have to be fired to disarm. Maybe that is common, but I use Euro style guns and can disengage the bands without firing. I never end the day with a fish on the spear

[Pastor]

It's usually no problem to get your hands under the bands to unload so it should be ok. My concern with that idea is optical effects when sighting down a curved gun

[blaiz]

Took me a while to find this thread...

anyway, I really like the spearotoki design but think it is unnecessary for a single band gun. I really like the picture foxfish posted in the beginning. Tapered shape wood gun integrated with a euro handle. Very sexy!

A curved gun is interesting but maybe a little excessive? Also would that have had to be taken into consideration before the stock was laminated? Im getting dizzy just thinking about trying to aim. It also seems that the curved gun might add other problems... such as the shooting line exposed? would you be able to put a reel on it if you wanted?

My last question... are there any guns that have used this curve in their design?

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by Pastor

It's usually no problem to get your hands under the bands to unload so it should be ok. My concern with that idea is optical effects when sighting down a curved gun

Ooh - you raise a good point. I aim down the side of the gun, SA-style, so even a triangular side-tapered barrel (like Foxfish's elegant designs) would a problem for me. Although, while confronting a similar problem with my new Omer gun today I briefly mulled over the possibility of drilling a large hole through the loading butt to restore the line of vision; the butt is removable, so that would be another option. But perhaps I am just peeing against the wind & need to just start aiming along the top.

BTW I got my brother to hold my new speargun & was amused to see him trying to figure out how to tuck the loading butt into his shoulderrof. He was surprised that they are fired pistol-style and asked why spearguns don't have a stock. It made me think, a shooter looking to make an accurate shot would opt for a rifle rather than a pistol (even it were a Winchester repeater vs. a 6-shooter). The only response that came to mind was "don't need one" but there is probably more to it (e.g. maneouvrability, overall length, short range, close confines - more like a bar room shot than a "shot across the pass").

[Pastor]

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Ooh - you raise a good point. I aim down the side of the gun, SA-style, so even a triangular side-tapered barrel (like Foxfish's elegant designs) would a problem for me. Although, while confronting a similar problem with my new Omer gun today I briefly mulled over the possibility of drilling a large hole through the loading butt to restore the line of vision; the butt is removable, so that would be another option. But perhaps I am just peeing against the wind & need to just start aiming along the top.

Alison used to turn her gun on it's side when she aimed so that the biggest variable of the aim was aligned with the long axis of the fish. It certainly is a technique that has worked when I tried it with my old Rob Allen. It has had me thinking recently with all this gun design talk that another option would be to have the shaft mounted on the side of a gun. That way you wouldn't have to cant your hand over and the gun could be kept very low profile to aid any swinging needed

[Marwan]

that sounds like a mean tommy machine gun steve

[spearslinger22]

while a curved gun would look sexy, so did the delorian....might be tricky to aim is all i can figure, i think maybe the sexyness should be incorporated into the bottom of the gun, if anywhere. the sighting line should be straight as the spear.

[Marwan]

i dont know about the curved gun, its not just about aiming, i would imagine hydrodynamincs could also be affected..maybe on the way down as you try to keep the gun to your side, the water resistance will build under the curved part and move it up creating drag... I dont know ?? maybe a cross section like a Rhombus, so that it would be hydrodynamic in up-down motion as well as side to side...my drawing skills are not too good, if anyonbody understands what i mean please draw it...
also the barrel would start thicker near the trigger and get thinner as you approch the muzzle to give you a light agile 90 speagun

[Marwan]

ok found a pic of what im talking about, the rail/track could be etched on the top of course
Google Image Result for http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/GoldenRhombus_1000.gif

[blaiz]

Originally Posted by Marwan

ok found a pic of what im talking about, the rail/track could be etched on the top of course
Google Image Result for http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/...ombus_1000.gif

Thats a pretty cool idea, my only concern would be that the sharp edges of the wood would get nicked real easy. Maybe if you rounded them up somewhat? Thats also going to be tricky to cut that, especially if you want a taper.

[Pastor]

The cross sectional shape could be introduced no matter what the general shape of the barrel ends up as. Have you ever noticed the shape of the arse end of a Great White immediately in front of the tail? That's the cross sectional shape I would choose. Anyone care to go and saw off ones tail and trace the outline?