- Polespear
A polespear (or pole spear) is an underwater tool used in
spearfishing , consisting of a pole, aspear tip, and arubber loop. Polespears are often mistakenly calledHawaiian sling s, but the tools differ. A Hawaiian sling is akin to an underwaterbow and arrow , since the spear and the propelling device are separate, while a polespear has the sling (rubber loop) attached to the spear.Description
The pole is usually between four feet and eight feet long and made of
fiberglass ,carbon fibre ,aluminum , orwood . Longer versions often break down into two or more pieces that screw together. The tip is either threaded to accept different kinds of spear tips or already has a fixed tip attached. The most popular spear tip on polespears are the paralyzer (often called a three-prong), and the Tahitian shaft (a single pivoting barb). At the butt end of the spear is an elastic loop, usually made of surgical tubing or a band of rubber (abicycle inner tube , for example).The spear is operated by placing the rubber loop in the crook of the thumb, then reaching up the spear shaft to stretch the elastic band and grabbing the polespear to hold the band in tension. On flimsy spears, it's useful to twist the spear as the band stretches to keep the spear from bending. Shooting the spear involves simply letting go of the spear shaft. The effective range of a polespear is about the length of the spear, necessitating a close approach to the target.
External links
*cite web|url=http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnmay00/hunting5.html|title=Pole Spear Hunting|author=Dale Sheckler|publisher="California Diving News"|date=May, 2000|accessdate=2007-11-01
*cite web|url=http://www.vindy.com/content/outdoor/311184851835880.php|title=Primitive fishing presents challenge|author=Susan Cocking|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers|date=2006-07-29|accessdate=2007-11-01
*cite web|url=http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/gl3/hs1.htm|title=The Pole Spear|author=Glen Lewis|publisher=The Outdoor Reader|date=2004|accessdate=2007-11-01
*cite web|url=http://www.foldspear.com/use.html|title=Foldspear Tutorial
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