"Power- master" rifle crossbows and pistol crossbows

CPSC Recall #76-022 - April 11, 1976

Recall Summary

Recall Number76-022
Recall DateApril 11, 1976
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedCPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772

Product

"Power- master" rifle crossbows and pistol crossbows

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 12) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with WHAM-O Manufacturing Company, San Gabriel, California, announced the recall of X "Power- master" rifle crossbows and pistol crossbows which may pose an unreasonable risk of injury. The recall affects rifle crossbow Model Nos. 106 and 108, and pistol crossbows Model No. 718 which were manufactured between September 1, 1974, and March 25, 1976. These products, which consist of an aluminum bow positioned on a rifle-type or pistol-type mechanism, may contain a latch that was not heat treated. Once the bow has been cocked and the safety released this possible defect could cause the bow to fire prematurely. These products have been sold nationwide and are primarily intended for hunting. The rifle model retails for approximately $60; the pistol version for approximately $40. The firm is out of business and there is no longer any remedy available. Consumers who think they may have one of these products should discard or destroy them. WHAM-O had notified all retailers and distributors of these cross- bows by letter and requested that notices be posted in stores at point of sale advising customers of the possible defect. WHAM-O voluntarily reported the possible defect to the Commission in March 1976. Neither WHAM-O nor the Commission has learned of any injuries associated with the possible defect in these crossbows.  

Hazard

These crossbows may contain a latch that was not heat treated. Once the bow has been cocked and the safety released this possible defect could cause the bow to fire prematurely, posing an unreasonable risk of injury.  

Remedy Instructions

The firm is out of business and there is no longer any remedy available. Consumers who think they may have one of these products should discard or destroy them.

What Should You Do?

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

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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.