Harpoon Gun

Harpoon

On a trip to Juneau, Alaska this summer we stopped by the museum. Along with many other interesting things we saw this Harpoon Gun.

Yes that barrel has a hole in it that is about one inch. Yes it has a solid steel stalk. The projectile that was used is lying in the case beside the gun. The write up mentions that many broken collerbones were attributed to this weapon. I can't imagine why.

The main purpose of the gun was the hunting of whales, of which in the Juneau area, humpbacks and orcas are common. While fishing on another trip, I caught a humpback in my halibut rig. Without to many details I had a really close up look. Suffice to say that they are large, and I am not sure that the harpoon would do much more than tie you to a formidable foe.

(Juneau Alaska is the Capital of Alaska and is approximately 150 miles due south of Whitehorse. It is the only capital in the US that is not accessible by road.)