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AMF Voit, Inc. aquatic spear guns

CPSC Recall #80-026 - July 20, 1980

Recall Summary

Recall Number80-026
Recall DateJuly 20, 1980
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 97,300

Where It Was Sold

The "carbine" spear guns being recalled were sold nationwide in specialty stores from 1967 to 1979 under the AMF Voit
Inc. label. Sears
Roebuck and Company also marketed 1
400 of the spear guns under its private label between 1970 and 1973.

Product

AMF Voit, Inc. aquatic spear guns

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 1980) -- Following a very low rate of consumer return of potentially hazardous aquatic spear guns the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and AMF Voit, Inc., are repeating public warning of the hazard and urging consumers to participate in a free repair program.Only one per cent (986) of the estimated 97,300 potentially hazardous spear guns have been returned to the manufacturer for free repairs since the recall was announced more than a year ago. These spear guns may contain defective triggers and as a result may fire accidentally even though their safety catches are engaged.Although AMF Voit has received 13 consumer complaints about this malfunction, neither CPSC nor the company has received any reports of deaths or serious injuries.The "carbine" spear guns being recalled were sold nationwide in specialty stores from 1967 to 1979 under the AMF Voit, Inc. label. The company's name can be found on the left side of the grip of the two models being recalled. One of the recalled models may be identified by a 17-inch aluminum barrel while the other features a 26-inch aluminum barrel. Both models have black plastic handles. (Sketches of these two models are attached.)Spear guns models G-6 and G-7, manufactured since May, 1979, are not being recalled and are easily identified if a serial number is affixed to the handle or barrel. Any gun which is equipped with a serial number is not involved in the recall.Sears, Roebuck and Company also marketed 1,400 of the spear guns under its private label between 1970 and 1973. These models may be identified by a 17-inch aluminum barrel and the model number 436.573140 displayed along with the Sears name on the left side of an orange-colored plastic hand grip.Consumers who own the AMF or Sears models should disassemble the unloaded spear gun handle assembly (which includes the grip and the trigger) from the gun barrel by removing the screw holding the two parts together.To obtain free replacement parts, the gun handle and the shaft of the spear should be mailed to the nearest AMF Voit outlet listed below. All postage costs will be reimbursed fully; parts should be mailed by insured fourth-class parcel post, with a return receipt requested. Consumers should NOT return the gun barrel, the spear point or the shock lines.AMF Voit centers accepting parts for replacement are:AMF VOIT, INC.3801 S. Harbor Blvd.Santa Ana, CA 92704714/546-4220 AMF VOIT, INC29 Essex StreetMaywood, NJ 07607201/343-2450 AMF VOIT, INC.2601 Lively Blvd.Elk Grove Village, IL 60007312/595-7370AMF VOIT, INC.71 Dawson RoadGuelph, Ontario, Canada519/822-1576Although Sears has received no consumer complaints, Sears stores nationwide will accept returns of the Sears' labeled model for modification by AMF Voit.

Hazard

Following a very low rate of consumer return of potentially hazardous aquatic spear guns the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and AMF Voit, Inc., are repeating public warning of the hazard and urging consumers to participate in a free repair program. These spear guns may contain defective triggers and as a result may fire accidentally even though their safety catches are engaged.

Incidents & Injuries

Although AMF Voit has received 13 consumer complaints about this malfunction, neither CPSC nor the company has received any reports of deaths or serious injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who own the AMF or Sears models should disassemble the unloaded spear gun handle assembly (which includes the grip and the trigger) from the gun barrel by removing the screw holding the two parts together.To obtain free replacement parts, the gun handle and the shaft of the spear should be mailed to the nearest AMF Voit outlet listed below [see Recall Description]. All postage costs will be reimbursed fully; parts should be mailed by insured fourth-class parcel post, with a return receipt requested. Consumers should NOT return the gun barrel, the spear point or the shock lines.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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