If there's one thing Mario's famous for, other than building all his own guns, it's constantly modifying them. That's why, when he asked if he could make some mods to a Sea Sniper 72" prototype, it came as no surprise.

Always one for a challenge, Mario removed the rear handle butt-extension and turned it into a true rear handle gun. Other than the obvious problem of an overweight machined aluminum muzzle, and the fact that a 72" x 3/8" shaft on a rear handle gun would be impossible to track underwater; we didn't want to sacrifice power or caliber size.

The solution would turn out to be simple. By cutting off the muzzle, the gun was shortened by five inches. Removing the rear handle butt-extension was accomplished with some careful cutting and sanding around the handle. By changing the UHMW track to accomodate an 11/32" diameter shaft, reducing the bands from 6 to 4 (still drilled for 5 bands), while increasing the band stretch from 2.5:1 to 3:1 (480lbs total loaded power), Mario managed to create a unique, high-powered rear handled gun (unlike the typical Euro-style spearguns on the market).

Another innovative feature is that the breakaway attaches to the line release through the slot in the side. This prevents the floatline from pulling the bungie off the line release.

Also, the slip tip cable inserts into the front of the muzzle, eliminating the need for a cable keeper. Just one pull of the slide ring toward the muzzle and the excess cable disappears into the muzzle!

All these modifications were made without sacrificing the water ballasting concept common to Sea Sniper guns. Mario added his signature "hand rub" teak oil finish and a Sea Sniper concept gun was "Reborn".

NOTE: The rear handled, butt-extension prototype was inspired by a gun originally designed by Doug Jones. Nicknamed "The Piano", it weighed as much as a baby grand, but was surprisingly easy to maneuver and was laser accurate.