Shafts for spearguns

Shafts for band-powered and pneumatic spearguns. Shafts with pins, shark fins, or notches. Single-flopper, double-flopper, or threaded shafts. Available in various diameters, lengths, and configurations.

Spearfishing Shafts

The shaft is the spear of a speargun. It is the component that, driven by the energy of the bands in a band-powered speargun or by air pressure in a pneumatic speargun, travels through the water and reaches the fish. Despite its apparent simplicity, the shaft is a technical component that directly affects shot accuracy and fish-holding performance.

In this category, Deep Blue offers over 25 models of speargun shafts, divided by compatibility with band-powered spearguns and pneumatic spearguns, fin tab type, diameter, features, and size. These are complemented by numerous related products, including Spare Parts and accessories such as floppers, cones, o-rings, rings, and thread adapters. The assortment covers a wide range of needs, from standard replacement shafts to the most technically advanced solutions.

Types of shafts available

The shafts in this category are mainly distinguished by two criteria: compatibility with the type of speargun and the type/configuration of the shaft itself.

Shafts for band-powered spearguns

Shafts for band-powered spearguns are the most numerous in this category. They are generally made of stainless steel and available in multiple diameters, typically between 6.5 mm and 8 mm, and in various lengths to fit different spearguns. The available configurations are as follows.

Shafts with fin tabs or pins: fin tabs or pins allow the bands to be loaded by easily engaging the wishbone. In addition, unlike notches, they do not weaken the shaft, making it suitable for landing large fish. The category includes several shafts with pins or fin tabs, including Hunt, Sigal Sub, and Pathos models.
Shafts with notches: notches are circular cuts on the surface of the shaft that perform a function similar to fin tabs, allowing the band wishbone to be loaded into this recess. However, they are not recommended for large fish because these machined cuts in the shaft body tend to weaken it. The category includes some notched shaft models.
Threaded Shafts: some shafts feature threading at the front end for fitting prong tips or harpoon heads. This system allows the use of interchangeable tips. Hunt, Sigal Sub, and Salvimar models are available.

Shafts for pneumatic spearguns

Shafts for pneumatic spearguns, also known as air shafts, cover various references in the category. They differ from band speargun shafts in their rear tail, which must be compatible with the piston of the pneumatic speargun, and in the absence of notches or fin tabs. The available types include standard air shafts, Tahitian air shafts with recessed floppers (such as the Sigal Sub Aria Ghost models), threaded air shafts, and bare shafts (without an integrated anchoring system, to be rigged separately). Salvimar, Sigal Sub, and Hunt cover most of this subcategory.

Spare Parts and accessories for shafts

The category includes a section dedicated to Spare Parts. Single and double floppers are available (in standard, heavy duty, and mini versions), AISI 316 stainless steel and brass penetration cones, rings for air shafts, M6/M7 thread adapters, and rivet kits for replacing floppers. These components allow shafts to be maintained and customized without having to replace the entire unit.

How to choose a spearfishing shaft

Choosing the right shaft depends on three main variables: speargun compatibility, fishing conditions, and the size of the target fish.

Speargun compatibility. The first consideration is the type of speargun: a shaft for a band-powered speargun is not interchangeable with a shaft for a pneumatic speargun. You need to verify the shaft diameter required by the speargun (commonly 6.5 mm, 7 mm, or 8 mm) and the length compatible with the speargun. Many spearguns require shafts with specific overhang lengths from the muzzle.

Diameter and length. A larger diameter means a stiffer, heavier shaft with greater inertia, allowing more stable shots at longer distances. However, this must be balanced with a speargun that has greater power and mass. A smaller diameter reduces hydrodynamic drag during launch, with a faster trajectory at short distances, typical of hole hunting. Length should be chosen according to the speargun; on band-powered spearguns, the shaft is usually 40 cm longer than the speargun’s nominal length—for example, a 90 band speargun usually takes a 130 cm shaft.

Replacement vs. customization. Those who simply need to replace a damaged or worn shaft can choose the standard versions of their usual models. Those who want to modify speargun performance instead (for example, switching from notches to fin tabs) can consider shafts with compatible diameter and length but different loading tab geometries.

Materials and technical features

All shafts in this category are made of stainless steel. The grades most commonly used in spearfishing are 17.4ph (used by Hunt and Salvimar), Sandvik steel (used by Sigal Sub and Pathos), and AISI 316 for entry-level air shafts.

Some types of steel, such as 17.4ph, feature heat treatments that enhance mechanical properties and give the shaft a dark finish.

The fin tabs are welded to the shaft body and can vary in size depending on the shaft model; larger fin tabs are usually associated with shafts intended for landing large fish. Pins are usually associated with Mediterranean-style shafts where maximum penetration and hydrodynamic efficiency are required.

The floppers are made of high-strength steel. Heavy duty versions are designed to withstand impacts against rocky bottoms and the repeated mechanical stress of a fish trying to free itself. A shaft can have a single flopper or double flopper configuration. Single-flopper shafts may have the flopper positioned on top (upper position) or underneath (lower position); bottom positioning is now the new standard thanks to several factors, including improved shot accuracy. Double-flopper shafts can have the two floppers in an opposed configuration (mounted on a single pin) or staggered (mounted on two separate pins, spaced apart, one underneath and one on top).

The penetration cones, such as those produced by Hunt in AISI 316, allow greater shaft penetration on shafts with non-recessed floppers by eliminating the step naturally created by the floppers.

The fixing rivets are available separately as Spare Parts.

Available brands

Hunt is a highly specialized brand in this category. It offers a wide range that includes the Ocean, Black-Out Plus, Flash, and Hybrid lines, available in numerous diameter and length variants. Hunt also produces shafts in large diameters, reaching up to 10.0 mm thickness. These shafts are designed for landing large fish and are mounted worldwide on the most powerful spearguns.

Sigal Sub is the second-largest brand in terms of range, with an offering that covers both shafts for band-powered spearguns and shafts for pneumatic spearguns. The main models include the Evolution line (in versions with pins, notches, and threaded), the Ghost line with recessed flopper, and the HRC line in Sandvik steel with fin tabs. Sigal Sub also produces a wide range of its own Spare Parts: single and double floppers, cones, rings, and rivet kits.

Salvimar mainly covers shafts for pneumatic spearguns with the Air Tahitiana line (in standard, threaded, and specific tail versions for Predathor/Salvimar spearguns), as well as the Capture shaft with fin tabs for band-powered spearguns. It also offers end cones for shafts.

Rob Allen is represented by the Impact line, available in notched and pinned versions. Its shafts are made entirely of spring steel. It is an international benchmark brand in the spearfishing sector, particularly for bluewater hunting. It also offers single floppers in three sizes (Mini, Small, and Large) as Spare Parts.

Pathos is present with a Sandvik shaft featuring fin tabs for band-powered spearguns, available in various lengths and with a large number of variants.

Conclusion

Deep Blue’s shaft collection offers a technical and diversified selection, with dozens of shaft and accessory models distributed across seven specialized brands. The structure of the assortment makes it possible to find both direct replacement solutions for the main spearguns on the market and specific configurations for different spearfishing scenarios: hole hunting, stalking, ambush hunting, deep spearfishing, and bluewater hunting.

The availability of original Spare Parts—floppers, cones, rings, rivets, and adapters—completes the offering, allowing long-term maintenance and customization of the equipment.