Looking for Johnson SMG Part's

[Bo123]

Bo123,
Great to hear that you're still using your SMG! When I made the sleeves out of stainless steel instead of brass, i have less problems. Removing the washer is a good idea and now I just make the tube in metal, not the flange part. Aquaseal on the ammo and a little Vaseline in the breach, no problems. Here is a little US history. The SMG is not considered a firearm here in the US. It's intended use is not for bodily harm and has the same regulations as a flare gun. Allen, Valerie and Mark Johnson at Tapmatic had the IRS/ATF look at the SMG in 1968/69. Attached is the ATF response!

Hi Mark. Good to hear back on your old post.
I didn’t have much luck with the metal cartridges as mentioned above. The pressure seemed to either escape back up to the breach or if too much resistance make the cartridge expand and become stuck. I’d thought to make a die up to mold them again, the cost on that was big money. Making the die that is.

Nice bit of history there. When I contacted Mark he didn’t have any historical info on them which was ashame. I couldn’t find anything on RV crockett (i think it was) here that distributed/maybe made them in NZ.
I shall flick you an email

 

[MarkF1969]

Hi Mark. Good to hear back on your old post.
I didn’t have much luck with the metal cartridges as mentioned above. The pressure seemed to either escape back up to the breach or if too much resistance make the cartridge expand and become stuck. I’d thought to make a die up to mold them again, the cost on that was big money. Making the die that is.

Nice bit of history there. When I contacted Mark he didn’t have any historical info on them which was ashame. I couldn’t find anything on RV crockett (i think it was) here that distributed/maybe made them in NZ.
I shall flick you an email

Bo123,
I am making mine from 8mm stainless steel tube with 2mm thickness. I use Aquaseal to waterproof them.This might give the ammo a little room to expand in the sleeves instead of the sleeve in the breach? Or it might just be tough enough not to expand.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

Hey Thanks for the information, Bo, I would like to see more. Mark F and I have been trying several ideas to get the working air expansion cartridges reproduced so they can be re-used. Mark made some metal ones and Doug Henry made some plastic ones using a 3D printer and some plastic tubing stronger than the originals. I have a few plastic ones but they need a slight taper on the inside of the tubes to seal the spear seat. I am looking for any ideas and developments as I would like to be able to demo this iconic speargun for my Vintage diving friends who are also curious. I have the 2-barrel ‘Magnum’ model and it needed some cleaning and maintenance after I got it, however all parts are in good working order. Firing pin makes solid dents but Ramset .22 just leaked and wouldn’t fire even after extensive sealing. Please contribute to the cause. BTW, all I have been able to find are the crimped .22s in SE Virginia and NE North Carolina in the USA. Send more info on paper wadded cartridges.

Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah ( U S Distributor for
S M G) Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah, FL would also like to know as her Dad sold the S M G. Please keep us posted.


Sincerely
Scott G.Bonser

 

[MarkF1969]

Hey Thanks for the information, Bo, I would like to see more. Mark F and I have been trying several ideas to get the working air expansion cartridges reproduced so they can be re-used. Mark made some metal ones and Doug Henry made some plastic ones using a 3D printer and some plastic tubing stronger than the originals. I have a few plastic ones but they need a slight taper on the inside of the tubes to seal the spear seat. I am looking for any ideas and developments as I would like to be able to demo this iconic speargun for my Vintage diving friends who are also curious. I have the 2-barrel ‘Magnum’ model and it needed some cleaning and maintenance after I got it, however all parts are in good working order. Firing pin makes solid dents but Ramset .22 just leaked and wouldn’t fire even after extensive sealing. Please contribute to the cause. BTW, all I have been able to find are the crimped .22s in SE Virginia and NE North Carolina in the USA. Send more info on paper wadded cartridges.

Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah ( U S Distributor for
S M G) Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah, FL would also like to know as her Dad sold the S M G. Please keep us posted.


Sincerely
Scott G.Bonser

 

[MarkF1969]

Scott,
I don't have any problems after using the Aquaseal.

 

[Bo123]

Hey Thanks for the information, Bo, I would like to see more. Mark F and I have been trying several ideas to get the working air expansion cartridges reproduced so they can be re-used. Mark made some metal ones and Doug Henry made some plastic ones using a 3D printer and some plastic tubing stronger than the originals. I have a few plastic ones but they need a slight taper on the inside of the tubes to seal the spear seat. I am looking for any ideas and developments as I would like to be able to demo this iconic speargun for my Vintage diving friends who are also curious. I have the 2-barrel ‘Magnum’ model and it needed some cleaning and maintenance after I got it, however all parts are in good working order. Firing pin makes solid dents but Ramset .22 just leaked and wouldn’t fire even after extensive sealing. Please contribute to the cause. BTW, all I have been able to find are the crimped .22s in SE Virginia and NE North Carolina in the USA. Send more info on paper wadded cartridges.

Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah ( U S Distributor for
S M G) Stephanie Kevorkian of Tarpoon Skin Diving Center in Hialeah, FL would also like to know as her Dad sold the S M G. Please keep us posted.


Sincerely
Scott G.Bonser

I guess to summaries and hopefully not repeat myself too much(haha), the stainless steel ones I didn't have luck with. I found the charge basically was escaping back and not moving the spear at any decent pace. I can't recall each revision exact results as it's been a while. It took me some time to work out exactly what charges did what, trying to piece together the info from the sales brochure, and the ammo leaflet, and the text on the left hand side of the gun(maybe under reel on a magnum). I think I tried various ways sealing the stainless sleeves, oring on the spare, paper sealed, some vasoline and various other things but too much resistance caused the sleeve to expand. I concluded at the time that the plastic ones were good, as they expanded when the charge detonated, sealed in the chamber and fired the spare with full force.

I have quite a few of the brown long ones, which were for a magnum. They go in the longer sleeve. They're sort of the size of a .22 magnum shell, unlike the smaller normal .22 size shells, which also work fine. NWPP inc I believe it was called sold me some, however I believe they were closing down. Wadded .22 charges is what one needs, not the crimped ones, as they seem to have too much resistance and the shell explodes back into the breach.

I figured once run out, one day(?) getting a die made up and injection molding them would be the way. However the molds cost was very high, actually making them once one has the die isn't. The washers could be made (slowly) on a lathe) and if you couldn't source the wadded blanks I guess normal .22 ammo and removing the projectile and sealing them up would be the way. A fair bit of effort.

After seeing this post it's prompted me to do a bit more research. Trying to see what happened to them after being sold/made in New Zealand, not much info around but I think I have a lead. Will see

Some other comments - From what I can tell the Magnum gun's only difference aside the external reel, is the tube that screws into the breach (inside) is brass/metal rather than plastic, that the arm goes through to hit the firing pin. Poor description I'm sorry as working from memory

Hopefully some useful info in my ramblings

 

[MarkF1969]

Bo123,
Over the years I have used both the paper charges and crimped ones with the original plastic sleeves and the metal ones i make. Never have i had any blow back/separate the way you describe. I always use the strongest purple loads, which over time can make the brass sleeves expand at the spear end of the sleeve. If I don't cut the slot in the end of the sleeve (like the plastic ones) they don't expand. I use Aquaseal for both ends of the sleeves. Around the ammo and ring, then at the spear end to waterproof the sleeve. The 22lr ammo charge doesn't compare to the stud driver charges. All of the SMG's i have seen and the ones I own have metal barrels and breaches. I have heard that some SMG's had seals in the breach and were only made to fire underwater without doing damage to the breach. I have seen the Magnum versions of the SMG, but never up close. I do know the gun ammo casings of 22lr and 22 Magnum are different sizes, the sleeve inside diameter might be different (bigger on the longer Magnum sleeve?). I had heard some SMG's could even shoot 7mm and 8mm spears. What spear length are you using? The spears for mine are not much longer than the barrels (except the bang stick, which is about 12" longer).
Scott and I have figured out the history here in the US, made by Allen Johnson-Tapmatic his son Mark and daughter Valerie. Mark can still be reached at mjohnson@tapmatic.com. Stephanie who still owns Hialeah Skin Diving shop (Florida), her father's shop, sold the SMG and parts from NZ until he passed in the 1980s.

 

[Bo123]

Bo123,
Over the years I have used both the paper charges and crimped ones with the original plastic sleeves and the metal ones i make. Never have i had any blow back/separate the way you describe. I always use the strongest purple loads, which over time can make the brass sleeves expand at the spear end of the sleeve. If I don't cut the slot in the end of the sleeve (like the plastic ones) they don't expand. I use Aquaseal for both ends of the sleeves. Around the ammo and ring, then at the spear end to waterproof the sleeve. The 22lr ammo charge doesn't compare to the stud driver charges. All of the SMG's i have seen and the ones I own have metal barrels and breaches. I have heard that some SMG's had seals in the breach and were only made to fire underwater without doing damage to the breach. I have seen the Magnum versions of the SMG, but never up close. I do know the gun ammo casings of 22lr and 22 Magnum are different sizes, the sleeve inside diameter might be different (bigger on the longer Magnum sleeve?). I had heard some SMG's could even shoot 7mm and 8mm spears. What spear length are you using? The spears for mine are not much longer than the barrels (except the bang stick, which is about 12" longer).
Scott and I have figured out the history here in the US, made by Allen Johnson-Tapmatic his son Mark and daughter Valerie. Mark can still be reached at mjohnson@tapmatic.com. Stephanie who still owns Hialeah Skin Diving shop (Florida), her father's shop, sold the SMG and parts from NZ until he passed in the 1980s.

Interesting, I wonder why that is. The crimped end charges I found caused the issues I described, quite a few times. I think I would have noticed the disclaimer on the side of the gun then which the first two lines read "standard cal ammo will not fit this gun. Only 22 cal wadded blanks Nos." I did recieve some crimped end charges with an smg from an owner which suggested perhaps they had used them, mind you, 95% of them were wadded.

The Magnum seems to be much the same as the regular version, it's just when
The 22LR yes is smaller thatn the magnum, the the sleeve etc is the same dimension. The magnum sleeve is just longer. I had some confusion on the colors but my understanding is 3, green, 4 yellow, 5 red, 6 purple. The colors of the charge box and the sleeve those are. The 7 and 8, grey and brown charge were for the magnum, orange and purple long sleeves. I think I only have no .8 brown charges.

All the spears I have and all the barrels are for the .310" spear, so just shy of 8mm. The spears measure about 39" long with the screw on end + the tip. One of the 'free spears' (not attached to a line) is a little shorter and no screw on tip @ 35" or so. The single barrel gun has a smaller one about 24" inch roughly speaking.

I haven't seen any seals in the breach on the SMG. All the guns seem to have a sticker that says never fire in the air. I interpreted that as the water in the barrel is the lubrication for the fine fin between spare and barrel. I guess you could do it but would rather not damage one.
I've opened up the single barrel, the twin barrel, and the twin barrel magnum. The non magnum (if i recall correctly), there's a plastic guide/cylinder to the breach that the hammer arm goes in, the magnum if I recall it's brass/ same material as the breach. Hopefully I've explained that okay, highlighted in yellow below. Other than that I can't see any other differences comparing them apart. (not that I know everything)

Yes that's the same Mark I had contacted, it was nice to hear back from him at the time and pass on my message to Alan, who was in his 91 a few years ago.
It'd be interesting to talk to Stephanie, where can she be contacted? I thought the story went something to the effect of they were sold off to someone in NZ who presumably bought the tooling and kept making / selling them. I have seen one that had the made in NZ logo cast into the plastic housing, so the mold must have been altered to do that. On the back of one of my sales brochures, R V Crockett LTD is stuck over tapmatic and presumably the distributor. I'd hoped to get in touch with but proving difficult. I have a name but could be wrong, will attempt to contact

 

[Bo123]

Some more pictures for you guys, Cheers!

 

[MarkF1969]

Interesting, I wonder why that is. The crimped end charges I found caused the issues I described, quite a few times. I think I would have noticed the disclaimer on the side of the gun then which the first two lines read "standard cal ammo will not fit this gun. Only 22 cal wadded blanks Nos." I did recieve some crimped end charges with an smg from an owner which suggested perhaps they had used them, mind you, 95% of them were wadded.

The Magnum seems to be much the same as the regular version, it's just when
The 22LR yes is smaller thatn the magnum, the the sleeve etc is the same dimension. The magnum sleeve is just longer. I had some confusion on the colors but my understanding is 3, green, 4 yellow, 5 red, 6 purple. The colors of the charge box and the sleeve those are. The 7 and 8, grey and brown charge were for the magnum, orange and purple long sleeves. I think I only have no .8 brown charges.

All the spears I have and all the barrels are for the .310" spear, so just shy of 8mm. The spears measure about 39" long with the screw on end + the tip. One of the 'free spears' (not attached to a line) is a little shorter and no screw on tip @ 35" or so. The single barrel gun has a smaller one about 24" inch roughly speaking.

I haven't seen any seals in the breach on the SMG. All the guns seem to have a sticker that says never fire in the air. I interpreted that as the water in the barrel is the lubrication for the fine fin between spare and barrel. I guess you could do it but would rather not damage one.
I've opened up the single barrel, the twin barrel, and the twin barrel magnum. The non magnum (if i recall correctly), there's a plastic guide/cylinder to the breach that the hammer arm goes in, the magnum if I recall it's brass/ same material as the breach. Hopefully I've explained that okay, highlighted in yellow below. Other than that I can't see any other differences comparing them apart. (not that I know everything)

Yes that's the same Mark I had contacted, it was nice to hear back from him at the time and pass on my message to Alan, who was in his 91 a few years ago.
It'd be interesting to talk to Stephanie, where can she be contacted? I thought the story went something to the effect of they were sold off to someone in NZ who presumably bought the tooling and kept making / selling them. I have seen one that had the made in NZ logo cast into the plastic housing, so the mold must have been altered to do that. On the back of one of my sales brochures, R V Crockett LTD is stuck over tapmatic and presumably the distributor. I'd hoped to get in touch with but proving difficult. I have a name but could be wrong, will attempt to contact

Bo,
I wonder if the Hex/Allen bolt is loose allowing space between the breach/firing pin area? On the diagram, 500 being the sleeve, 460-466 being the hex bolt, 470 the breach. Any extra space there would allow that blowback from the crimped ammo. I have often fired mine on land with no problems other than bending a spear on impact with an old tire. A fine coat of Vaseline on the spear serves to keep out corrosion with just enough stickiness to keep the spear from sliding away from the sleeve in the barrel while diving. The Vaseline in the breach and on the sleeves seems to help keep the sleeves from getting stuck and a little extra waterproofing.
Stephanie's info is in Scott's reply. Scott also mentioned 3d printed sleeves. The ones Doug made so far the sleeve completely disintegrated when fired. The correct 3d printed plastic medium is out there... just need to find it. The advantage of plastic is they float when you drop one while diving!

Interesting, I wonder why that is. The crimped end charges I found caused the issues I described, quite a few times. I think I would have noticed the disclaimer on the side of the gun then which the first two lines read "standard cal ammo will not fit this gun. Only 22 cal wadded blanks Nos." I did recieve some crimped end charges with an smg from an owner which suggested perhaps they had used them, mind you, 95% of them were wadded.

The Magnum seems to be much the same as the regular version, it's just when
The 22LR yes is smaller thatn the magnum, the the sleeve etc is the same dimension. The magnum sleeve is just longer. I had some confusion on the colors but my understanding is 3, green, 4 yellow, 5 red, 6 purple. The colors of the charge box and the sleeve those are. The 7 and 8, grey and brown charge were for the magnum, orange and purple long sleeves. I think I only have no .8 brown charges.

All the spears I have and all the barrels are for the .310" spear, so just shy of 8mm. The spears measure about 39" long with the screw on end + the tip. One of the 'free spears' (not attached to a line) is a little shorter and no screw on tip @ 35" or so. The single barrel gun has a smaller one about 24" inch roughly speaking.

I haven't seen any seals in the breach on the SMG. All the guns seem to have a sticker that says never fire in the air. I interpreted that as the water in the barrel is the lubrication for the fine fin between spare and barrel. I guess you could do it but would rather not damage one.
I've opened up the single barrel, the twin barrel, and the twin barrel magnum. The non magnum (if i recall correctly), there's a plastic guide/cylinder to the breach that the hammer arm goes in, the magnum if I recall it's brass/ same material as the breach. Hopefully I've explained that okay, highlighted in yellow below. Other than that I can't see any other differences comparing them apart. (not that I know everything)

Yes that's the same Mark I had contacted, it was nice to hear back from him at the time and pass on my message to Alan, who was in his 91 a few years ago.
It'd be interesting to talk to Stephanie, where can she be contacted? I thought the story went something to the effect of they were sold off to someone in NZ who presumably bought the tooling and kept making / selling them. I have seen one that had the made in NZ logo cast into the plastic housing, so the mold must have been altered to do that. On the back of one of my sales brochures, R V Crockett LTD is stuck over tapmatic and presumably the distributor. I'd hoped to get in touch with but proving difficult. I have a name but could be wrong, will attempt to contact