In recent years, the craze for “roller guns” has been keen. Beyond the fashion, TEAK SEA has embarked on a long program of studies comparing different gun architectures to determine real benefits and weaknesses.

It is in principle not complicated to manufacture, or even transform an existing speargun into a roller-gun. However, producing a balanced roller, shooting accurately with an adequate range and maneuverability, reliable in the field, is a very serious challenge; because roller guns are different and much more complex (design, manufacture, adjustment) than the classic ones.

SIGMA, precision and impact

After three years of development and validation in the field, a new roller at TEAK SEA for those who want to combine impact and precision: SIGMA.

SIGMA is an inverted demultiplied roller. Of all the rollers architecture explored by Teak Sea (see Synoptique comparatif), that of SIGMA is the one that gave the best and most stable results for powerful guns.

Why “SIGMA”

It has been dubbed SIGMA both because the inverted roller system with moving pulleys is reminiscent of the Greek capital letter S and because the lowercase letter s is, in statistics, the symbol of the standard deviation, the magnitude which characterizes the width of a distribution, so its dispersion.

Why ? Because shooting with SIGMA is extremely precise with low dispersion, half as much as for a conventional speargun with a conventional set-up.

Here are the 4 main elements behind SIGMA’s unmatched precision.

• The inverted motion of all the rubber bands largely counteracts the recoil and its pernicious effects on precision, especially with heavy shafts and/or shallow depths [at great depths the recoil is reduced].
• The implanted mechanism is the ERMES inverted trigger mechanism with rolling contacts. This is the only trigger mechanism whose very principle prevents unwanted adhesion (“galling”) between trigger and trigger lever, even at high load, a pernicious source of inaccuracy.
• Rigid wood / carbon construction avoids any bending of the barrel that could affect the precision.
• The large diameter short shaft flexes / oscillates much less at equal mass than a smaller diameter shaft.

How does SIGMA work?

Propulsion is ensured on the one hand by a pair of central rubbers which extend on the top of the speargun for more elongation, on the other hand by several (2 to 4) pairs of rubber bands placed under the speargun. Contracting, the bands pull the moving pulleys propelling the shaft forward.

The aim is perfectly clear. All the bands are attached to a stainless steel bar to coordinate their traction. The displacement of the Dyneema is halted by a pair of stainless stoppers.

The loading is thus done in two stages: The buckle of the wishbone is loaded on the most remote pin, thus loading the central rubber band line. The gun is turned upside down to load the extra bands. The final loading time is equivalent to that of a triple rubber band conventional speargun.

Because of the reduction that divides the load to tow by two, the central rubber is preferably 17.5mm for more power, 16mm is also possible for ease of use. In both cases, the loading of the central rubber can be done with the fingers / hand without the use of loading hook.

The rubber bands are cut for moderate elongations, which prolongs their life. The use of multiple rubber bands makes it possible to harmonize the thrust. In addition, the fine adjustment of the thrust is done by the length of the wishbone and the anchoring position. New rubbers, long wishbones, aged rubbers, shortened wishbones.

The front of the speargun is designed so that the barbs rest just on the front tip of the barrel, avoiding the use of an o-ring, which saves time loading.

The conventional length is the distance between the stopper and the last shark fin and corresponds to the available length of acceleration.

SIGMA is available in 95 and 115. Each length is different and requires a specific setting. This development is long and complex because of the very large number of settings parameters possible.

The rigid wood/ carbon construction of the barrel allows the use of up to 4 extra rubber bands for the 115 and a 8.5mm shaft, providing impact and precision. It can be used with a slip tip. With 3 extra rubber bands of 16mm and an 8mm shaft, we have an extremely precise and versatile separgun. The selected wood species ensure proper balancing with such shafts.

The architecture of this rifle is compact, and for an equal mass, the shaft is short and of large diameter compared to a conventional separgun like Azimuth for example. This provides more impact and also range in shooting from above downwards. In order to compensate for an undeniable complexity compared to conventional spearguns, TEAK SEA have worked on a host of details making SIGMA as ergonomic as possible, practical and relevant. The result is so user-friendly that I cannot do without it anymore.

SIGMA 95

For medium depth fishing in the Mediterranean or Atlantic, SIGMA 95 offers incomparable precision, for the range of an IKAN 105. It is a perfect rifle for agachon and in general sea floor fishing. SIGMA 95 can also be boosted with an extra rubber band and mounted with an 8mm shaft for use in the tropical seas. It is advantageously used with the X / Pal Small reel or the Neutron XS reel.

Proposed configurations

Standard

• Shaft 7.5mm 120cm
• Central rubber band pair 16 or 17,5mm
• 2 extra rubber band pairs 16mm
• Reel: Neutron or Pal

Boosted

• 3 extra rubber band pairs 16mm
• Shaft 8mm 120cm
• Can accept the L reel

SIGMA 115

It is an extraordinary weapon which I systematically use in tropical fishing. With an 8mm and 17.5 + 3×16, its high precision allows me to pin difficult targets. Its power and heavy caliber generally neutralize the defense of the fish which is of a great utility for the drifts in the current, when it is vital not to entangle the shaft line / the fish in the structure. The shaft mass is also an advantage at the end of the shooting range or shooting downwards. Its compactness makes it possible to fish with even when the visibility is mediocre.

With a pair of 16mm rubber bands and an 8.5mm shaft, its power becomes undeniable and the impact on the fish is significant, very useful for tropical reel hunting.

It is advantageously used with the Azimuth Large reel.

It can also be used with a slip tip, with or without a reel, which gives it the versatility of the mythical Azimuth. One advantage of SIGMA lies in the ability to shoot very close to the surface recoilless and with great precision, which is not possible with traditional rubber band spearguns, precisely because of the recoil.

Standard Configurations

• Shaft 8mm 140cm
• Central rubber band pair 16 or 17,5mm
• 3 extra rubber band pairs 16mm
• Reel: L (Azimuth)

Boosted configuration

• 4 extra rubber band pairs 16mm
• Shaft 8.5mm 140cm

SIGMA 115 is thus an extremely flexible speargun, allowing to fish at any depth without recoil with a great accuracy and a sufficient range.

In the course of our study we also have: SIGMA 85 and SIGMA 125