ripcord4 0 #1 Posted April 10, 2023 I am looking for a nice example of the old "One Shot" Capewell release as found on the early Crossbow piggyback rigs. I have all the other styles - I just need the One Shot. Any ideas on locating one will be greatly appreciated...Thanks in advance! Larry D2238 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,363 #2 April 10, 2023 51 minutes ago, ripcord4 said: I am looking for a nice example of the old "One Shot" Capewell release as found on the early Crossbow piggyback rigs. I have all the other styles - I just need the One Shot. Any ideas on locating one will be greatly appreciated...Thanks in advance! Larry D2238 Hi Larry, You might find one or two. But, I would not count on it. They were used from '64 ( when the XBO came out ) to about '67 by Security. By '67 ( I think ), Security switched to the Capewell 1 1/2 shots, as we called them. Good luck with your search, Jerry Baumchen PS) From the original Parachute Manual: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #3 April 10, 2023 Hi Jerry...Yeah, One Shots make hen's teeth look common. I had them on my X Bow but soon swapped them for the 1 1/2 shots. I also had the Last Hope Rope on it, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 April 11, 2023 Does anyone remember why Security's "One-Shot" Capewells fell out of fashion? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,363 #5 April 11, 2023 11 minutes ago, riggerrob said: Does anyone remember why Security's "One-Shot" Capewells fell out of fashion? Hi Rob, Only speculation; but, IMO because the 1 1/2 shots became available & the OneShots were costly to make. Jerry Baumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #6 April 11, 2023 1 hour ago, JerryBaumchen said: Hi Rob, Only speculation; but, IMO because the 1 1/2 shots became available & the OneShots were costly to make. Jerry Baumchen This is an old memory from the 1970's when we were all trained on 1 & 1/2 shots... I seem to vaguely recall one of the old hands back then saying that it was intended as a safety measure to guard against an immediate riser release in case a cover was inadvertently flipped open. But don't quote me on that... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,363 #7 April 11, 2023 30 minutes ago, Andy9o8 said: This is an old memory from the 1970's when we were all trained on 1 & 1/2 shots... I seem to vaguely recall one of the old hands back then saying that it was intended as a safety measure to guard against an immediate riser release in case a cover was inadvertently flipped open. But don't quote me on that... Hi Andy, There was the 'talk' about that; however, I never knew of it actually happening, like a lot of rumors back then. I'll stay with my premise that it was a cost advantage. Jerry Baumchen PS) Check your messages. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #8 April 12, 2023 MIL SPEC 2 shot Capewells were invented during the 1950s to allow pilots to release their parachute canopies after landing ... to prevent being dragged to their deaths. The Military Specification Capewell 2-shots on my student gear were almost rusted solid. Totally useless when you wanted to get rid of a miss-behaving main. MIL SPEC 1 1/2 shots were an improvement. My impression was that Security tried to improve on the 1 1/2 shot Capewells by making them 1 shot. ... by attaching the cable to the sheet metal cover. How close is my guess to reality?????????????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,363 #9 April 12, 2023 (edited) 58 minutes ago, riggerrob said: MIL SPEC 2 shot Capewells were invented during the 1950s to allow pilots to release their parachute canopies after landing ... to prevent being dragged to their deaths. The Military Specification Capewell 2-shots on my student gear were almost rusted solid. Totally useless when you wanted to get rid of a miss-behaving main. MIL SPEC 1 1/2 shots were an improvement. My impression was that Security tried to improve on the 1 1/2 shot Capewells by making them 1 shot. ... by attaching the cable to the sheet metal cover. How close is my guess to reality?????????????? Hi Rob, Good; except that you have them in reverse order. Capewell did not develop the 1 1/2 shots until well after the XBO came on the market. Prior to that a cutaway was a no-no. But, with Security's piggyback XBO, it was sort of necessary. In the mid-60's, a guy in BC was killed because he did not believe in cutaways. He jumped a XBO piggyback & just pulled the reserve when faced with a malfunction. Jerry Baumchen Edited April 12, 2023 by JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #10 April 12, 2023 Concur about the uselessness of the two-shot Capewells. Even when working properly they were difficult to disengage on the ground - let alone in freefall for a cutaway. Fat chance, that! I have never heard of a One Shot actually disengaging in the air - I suppose it would be possible but there were stories that it had happened. I never heard any specifics, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites