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Abercrombie & Fitch Split Shot Tin

Celluloid pinback style front, 1 1/2 inches. Early.

Annual Fishing Contest Plaque

Silver, copper, and Bakelite. 2 3/4 x 3 3/4. Easel back. It has engraved on it "Annual Contest S, Jackaway Sept. 9, 1951"

1960 Ohio Fishing Champion Lighter

Presented by the Cleveland Press newspaper to Jack Alego. Zippo Lighter. 1 5/8 x 2 1/4 inches.

Early Tintype Photograph

I think this is a photo of a Giant Sea Bass. Based on the type of reel, photo, and etc. I think it was 1880-1900. Notice the pier in the background. California? 2 1/2 x 3 inches.

Fishing Themed Cigarette Case

Thin, plated metal, probably 1930s-1950s.

Horrocks Ibbotson Company Award Plaque

I think these were sold by H-I so that hunting and fishing clubs could award them for tournaments, and etc. Metal on a walnut plaque. Really well made, I think from the 1940s-1950s. 8 3/2 x 12 inches. This one was never engraved.

Gladding 150th Anniversary Knife

South Bend - Quick - magic Snell Gladding - 150th Anniversary 1816-1966 - Line Up with gladding. No maker's mark, but does have a Made in USA mark, and serial number. Knife blade, file and match striker, money clip, or belt clip, on back. Stainless steel with plastic insert.

Progressive Angling Game Piece Patented August 10, 1886

This is from a children's fishing game where you used a toy rod and line to hook the pieces. Patented by Marie D. Bullock. Going 2 5/8 inches. Thin plated metal. Patent #346,892

Point Pleasant 1964 Tournament Lighter

New Jersey, Tuna? tournament. 1 3/4 inch, made in Japan, bronze medallion.

Huntley & Palmers Biscuit Tin Creel

A biscuit tin shaped like a fishing creel. Shown in the second photo is an advertisement for their figural tins from 1909. London, England. Tin plated brass or brass and some tin. 7 1/2 inches long, 6 inches tall. A really neat item.

Salmon Matchsafe

Aluminum, 3 inches. Salmon in a net.

Key Colony Beach Sailfish Tournament

1971. Aluminum Park brand Lighter. 2 1/4 inches.

Gar Wood Tuna Hook/Jig

I think this is a developmental prototype for a tuna jig or hook. Gar Wood was a tackle designer, designing reels for Fin Nor among other tackle he designed. Here is what it says on the hang tag that was attached to the hook. "Gar wood Tuna Hook - Stainless steel hook - BRASS will be Chromed - or could be of stainless steel. - Product of Hong Kong - Nov. 1973 - TCL" The hook is larger in diameter than the eye. The head is lead filled brass, shaped back to a lead collar where I guess a skirt could be tied. The front is beveled at an angle. Notice the dimple in the side. I think that probably was to secure the brass in place to the hook, also might indicate where an eye would go. 3 1/2 inches. Strongly made. This came from the estate of Trig Lund, which explains the TCL, and was part of the Heddon archives. Now the question is was this a Heddon prototype?

Shakespeare Huffman Saddle Attachment

Adds a trigger to the rod, and a palm rest, kind of an early palming feature for baitcasting rods and reels. Patented 1909.

Orvis 1874 Reel

Ok, so it isn't a badge or medal! I still thought it was pretty nice, especially to find it with its original wooden box. Patented in 1874, Charles F. Orvis, Maker.

Brown Robertson Lock Joint Tool

Wm. Robertson, Fishing Tackle, Glasgow: C.2. a type of wrench used to lock, and open, ferrules on a fishing rod. Aluminum alloy. 5 inches.

Farlow's Universal Landing Net Carrier

G. Farlow & Co. London, Reg. No. 500646 which is 1907. A simple pin on ring to hold your net, gaff, or tailer. ring 1 5/8 inch, Nickel plated brass.

Farlow Advertising Flybox

Farlow used boxes it shipped, and sold flies in, to advertise other products, including the net carrier.

Hank's Fly Clip

Link To Mark

1936 Patent. Brass, nice strong pin, spring loaded for pinning to your fly vest to hold flies. One of my favorite fly fishing gadgets. 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches.

Case's Fly Fishing Knife

Case XX stainless. Knife, hook disgorger/file, Scissors, line pick/awl. With reel screwdriver on one end, measure on the back. 4 inches.

Harpoon or Flying Gaff?

Iron harpoon point. Possibly hand forged and hand made. Notice the way it works, designed well so that the pivoting barbs would not let it pull out easily, but would allow it to penetrate well. Strong point. Now the question is what was it made for? Way too small for whales, a bit large for spearing fish through the ice, unless they were big fish. Smaller than most swordfish darts I have seen. 6 3/4 inches. I think this went into the end of a wood shaft. The hole in the iron was where you attached a line so that when the harpoon head pulled loose from the wooden shaft, you could pull in the fish. If anyone has more information it would be appreciated. Someone e-mailed and said this may have been used as a bolt in a crossbow, possibly for sea otters, that he thought he had seen something similar in Alaska?

Duck Decoy Towel Holder

Made as a Plaque. It says "Put me in your galley and I will hold your dish towels - Captain James" Old Oak back, well carved duck heads. I hope someone out there might have some idea who Captain James might be, where he was from, and if he was a decoy carver. Bought at an auction in Southport, North Carolina.

Dry as a Fish or Trout Flask.

1895 pewter, or silverplate on pewter. 5 1/2 inches across.

Tiny Handmade fishing Rod & Reel

Wonderful tiny, old, rod and reel. Reel is about the size of a quarter, rod is 23 inches assembled. Fittings made of aluminum, rod of some kind of wood. The little thing to the left of the reel I am no sure what it is. A fishing float? Any idea of the age or maker? Bought from England through eBay.

Grampus salesman's sample Rod?

miniature fishing rod. A miniature of a saltwater split bamboo boat rod. Perfectly made, labeled "GRAMPUS". Aluminum tube is 8 1/4 inches, brass end cap. Cloth rod bag. Rod is right at 15 inches assembled. Metal reel seat, ferrules, wooden handle. When made? Purpose? Value?

Hardy Dri-Fly Dresser

Neat accessory from Hardy of England used to dry and dress with oil dry flies for fly fishing. The inside held a felt pad for the oil or dressing, and a pad made of a type of mushroom used for drying the flies. Between two pieces of plated metal, with a neat little latch. 2 1/2 inches. Early.

Doc Shelton, Old Dominion Fishing Lures, P.O. Box 1 Crewe, VA 23930 marked on papers. .

Machined aluminum fly reel. Very well made. Probably a prototype. Marked on the backplate: By BarDon . M.A. Marked inside the spool: by bardon m.a. CONN. (I take this to be Connecticut.). M.A. apparently stands for Model A. On the foot: model A 2/4 1970 serial A-0001. I take 2/4 to be the line weights it is made for, or it could mean 2/4/1970.. Set up for right hand wind. Frame, foot, line guard, handle, all aluminum. Screws plated brass or steel Central spindal that the spool mounts on steel. Brass or copper bushing. Click looks to be steel with a copper or brass spring. Click gear on spool steel. Spool latch copper of brass. Sideplates are 2 3/4 inches. across. Spool is 2 1/2 inches. Width of spool 3/4 inch. Foot is 2 1/2 inches. The person that sold it to me said it had a green label (similar to the ones shown below) that said "Housing - A" on it when he got it, before cleaning. I have been told this was part of a set of prototype reels made for the Abercrombie & Fitch Sporting Goods line and that they later given as a gift to a retiring executive, then sold in his estate auction. I have since purchased four other reels from the set, and obtained a photo of the case. I think this reel is the top right in the case.

This is the second reel I purchased from another seller. No click or drag fitted. Notice the Abercrombie & Fitch sticker in the third photos. Marked on the foot "Model -B- 2/4/1970 Serial A-0001" inside the spool k "By Bardon MB Conn and on the back By Bardon MB. MB is Model B. Written inside in magic marker "3 3/4 oz". Spool is 2 3/4 x 3/4 inch, overall reel is 3 inches. Aluminum with steel spindle. I think this reel is the one on the bottom left of the case.

I think this is closer to the finished product. Gold and black anodized aluminum frame. No markings. Spool is 2 1/2 inches x 3/4 inch. Reel is 2 3/4 inches overall. Notice this one not only has a click, but also a drag as part of the click. Very unusual cam to adjust the drag, or turn it to where it is just a click. I think this is the reel in the top middle of the case.

Gold anodized version, with the drag. 2 3/4 inches. This one has a different spool latch cover than the one below, but the same drag. Beautiful reel. Last reel in the case, bottom row.

Brown/bronze and black anodizing. Notice the different spool latch cover2 3/4 inches. This is the fifth reel. This reel is in the bottom row of the case, the second reel.

This is supposed to be a picture of the 7 prototype reels in a fitted case. I think I have the top three reels in the case, now.

Any information on this maker? Or the history of these reels with A&F? Anything you could tell me would be appreciated. I am interested in purchasing the other 2 reels from this case.

Fourth Place Winning Minnow Decoy at the National Fish Decoy Association show in 2004. Carved, Painted and signed by Paul E. McNeal. 6 inches in length.

My father bought this lot of duck decoy heads from an auction , they came from Southport, North Carolina.

A kind soul was willing to provide me with some help, and he said he really needed to have them in his hand to be sure, but that tentatively identified the following:

2. - Looks like Wildfowler Decoy Co., Old Saybrook, CT C-1930's.
3. - Capt. Jess Urie, Rock Hall, MD C-1940's (if the bill is the same width as the head - if not, I don't know)
4. - A pintail head - looks very much like the Ward Bros, Crisfield, MD C-1930's
5. - Ward Bros.
6. - Perhaps Wildfowler w/broken beak tip.
7. - Looks like Blanton Saunders, Currituck, NC C-1940's - not sure.
8. - Definitely Wildfowler
9. - Ward Bros.

I enjoy finding odd, and unusual, fishing and hunting memorabilia, and enjoy showing them here. Collectors preserve many items, and much information, that would otherwise be lost. It is fun to research the items and see what you can find out about them.

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Drexel Grapevine Antiques Home Page	Hunting and Fishing Badges, Pins, Medals, and etc.
Antique Fishing Tackle Sales Pages	Information on Antique Fishing tackle
North Carolina Hunting & Fishing License Badges	Field & Stream Award Badge Information
Wanted: Hunting & Fishing License Badges	What is it?: Items we are researching.

Unusual Fishing & Hunting Memorabilia