Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a C.G. Bonehill 16 gauge harpoon gun manufactured around 1927. Purpose-built tool for taking large fish – sharks, swordfish, tuna, serious saltwater gamefish. The concept is straightforward: use a blank cartridge or reduced load to launch a harpoon attached to a line, giving you range and power a hand-thrown harpoon can’t match. Single barrel makes sense – you’re getting one shot at a moving target in the water. The included harpoon is 26 inches long with hinged flukes on the alloy head. Those flukes fold back when entering the fish, then spring open once inside. You’re not just puncturing – you’re anchoring.
The stock inscription “IRP/28-10-44” suggests this gun saw use during World War II. Commercial fishing operations continued during the war, and large fish were valuable protein. These harpoon guns are rare. Many ended up at the bottom of the ocean or rusted out from saltwater. Finding one with the original harpoon is uncommon. By the late 20th century, regulations and changing fishing methods largely phased them out. What remains are these odd, specialized tools that show how creative people got combining firearms technology with other pursuits.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“C.G. Bonehill 16 Gauge Single Barrel Harpoon Gun, with Harp.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/3450/cg-bonehill-16-gauge-single-barrel-harpoon-gun-with-harp. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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