Thomas Turner
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The Hardy Perfect is one of the most iconic and sought-after fly reels in the history of angling. Produced by the Hardy Brothers of Alnwick, England, the Perfect has been cherished by fly fishers for well over a century.
Foster Hardy, the third brother to join the firm, took over the reel department and invented a revolutionary reel, using ball bearings. Patent no. 18373 dated 17th December 1888 described the workings and Patent no. 612 dated 13th January 1891 was the second, uniting the idea of incorporating ball bearings. This idea was the basis for the Perfect which first appeared in the 1891 Hardy catalogue.
One of the earliest models we have here at Thomas Turner, is a very rare, 4 1/8th, all brass salmon Perfect. Dated approximately 1893/94, this reel has nickel pillars with large and small ventilation to dished face plate. Factory original handle, faceplate stamped with the famous shaded ‘Rod in Hand’ logo and Hardys Pat.
The Perfect has undergone various modifications over its long history, nevertheless, its essential design, particularly the circular winding plate and the characteristic “perfect” sound, has remained a constant. Earlier versions of the Perfect were made using brass, as per the example above. Some of the earliest 1890/91/92 models had wired line guards on small protruding pillars. As the years went on, other materials such as aluminium became more common.
Some of the Perfects created over the years were referred to as ‘transitional’ because of the changes made between materials. We have a fantastic example of this available on our site. Made around 1896/97 this Perfect has an alloy perforated spool, with rare, waisted alloy pillars and a 4 ½” brass face, with the early 1896 internal check mechanism. If you are lucky, you will have seen a variety of different pattern transitional Perfects, some all brass, others brass face, brass drum and alloy frame. Others brass face, brass drum, alloy frame and brass pillars…. The list goes on.
The Perfect reels were produced in a range of sizes to suit different fishing needs, from light trout fishing to salmon and saltwater angling. Here are some of the common sizes produced during the various periods of the 1900s:
2 ¼ inch
2 ½ inch
2 5/8 inch
2 7/8 inch
3 inch
3 1/8 inch
3 3/8 inch
3 1/2 inch
3 5/8 inch
3 3/4 inch
4 inch
4 1/8 – As per the all brass Perfect we currently have.
4 1/4 inch
4 1/2 inch
Larger Sizes for Bigger Fish:
4 3/4 inch
5 inch
5 1/4 inch
5 1/2 inch
5 3/4 inch
6 inch and sometimes even larger for specialized uses.
In terms of rarity and value, the smallest sizes and the largest sizes command the bigger prices. At it’s peak, the 2 ¼” all brass Perfect, considered the rarest, made £44k plus commission back in 2014 at Angling Auctions in the UK!
The Perfects were also available in different spool widths, particularly to accommodate varying amounts of backing and line weights. The widths are categorised as:
We have another great example on our site of a rare 3” size salmon fly reel with a wide drum and rare 1917 internal check mechanism.
And not to ignore, the star of the show on our site currently, the ultra rare 5” brass faced salmon fly reel. Only 6 or 7 of these 5″ brass faced Perfects have come to light and this one is the exact reel in Grahams Turners ‘Fishing Tackle’ A Collectors Guide.
This reel has the rod in hand, straight line logo to the face and unusual raised brass central boss, with 1905 check mechanism.
The ‘rod in hand’ logo was first registered as a trademark by the Hardy Brothers in the early 20th century. It symbolises the essence of fly fishing and stands as a mark of the company’s dedication to the sport. The logo has become synonymous with quality fishing tackle. It is found stamped or engraved on a variety of Hardy products, as you will see from the examples we have provided above. For collectors and enthusiasts, the presence of this logo often signifies a genuine Hardy product.
Today, the ‘rod in hand’ logo continues to represent the Hardy brand, which has now merged with another iconic brand, House of Hardy, to become Hardy & Greys Ltd. The logo stands as a testament to the brand’s longevity and its commitment to quality and craftsmanship. It is a shame, however, that the brand-new Hardy Perfect, does not have the iconic logo on its face plate, but they have placed it on other new Hardy Heritage reels, such as the Bougle and the 150th Anniversary reel, the St Aiden.
As shown above, Hardy have recently released a brand new ‘Perfect’ which is a wide spool Perfect, available in 2 7/8, 3 1/8, 3 7/8, 4 1/4 and 4 in. It has the time proven, adjustable check system with that traditional ‘Hardy sound’. Prior to that they also released a limited run of narrow drum Perfects, which are still available at Sportfish. These were made in Alnwick, England and there are left and right-hand wind options. Each reel was fitted with a hand specific, polished rotating line guard.
Today, while the world of fishing constantly evolves with new technologies and gear, the allure of the Hardy Perfect remains undiminished. Its design, sound, and the romance associated with it ensure its continued relevance in the annals of angling.
Whether you’re an avid collector, an angling enthusiast, or someone appreciating the finer things in life, the Hardy Perfect reel, with its intricate markings and storied past, stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of genuine craftsmanship.
Here at Thomas Turner, we have a selection of Perfects available for sale, as well as the ones you see in this blog. Click here to take a look!
As always, if you any Perfects you are considering selling, or any other high-quality tackle, please get in touch with us!
office@thomasturner.com
Call or whatsapp: 07535 590617
Landline: 01275 261099
The post The iconic Hardy Perfect appeared first on Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques.
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Foster Hardy, the third brother to join the firm, took over the reel department and invented a revolutionary reel, using ball bearings. Patent no. 18373 dated 17th December 1888 described the workings and Patent no. 612 dated 13th January 1891 was the second, uniting the idea of incorporating ball bearings. This idea was the basis for the Perfect which first appeared in the 1891 Hardy catalogue.
One of the earliest models we have here at Thomas Turner, is a very rare, 4 1/8th, all brass salmon Perfect. Dated approximately 1893/94, this reel has nickel pillars with large and small ventilation to dished face plate. Factory original handle, faceplate stamped with the famous shaded ‘Rod in Hand’ logo and Hardys Pat.
The Perfect has undergone various modifications over its long history, nevertheless, its essential design, particularly the circular winding plate and the characteristic “perfect” sound, has remained a constant. Earlier versions of the Perfect were made using brass, as per the example above. Some of the earliest 1890/91/92 models had wired line guards on small protruding pillars. As the years went on, other materials such as aluminium became more common.
Some of the Perfects created over the years were referred to as ‘transitional’ because of the changes made between materials. We have a fantastic example of this available on our site. Made around 1896/97 this Perfect has an alloy perforated spool, with rare, waisted alloy pillars and a 4 ½” brass face, with the early 1896 internal check mechanism. If you are lucky, you will have seen a variety of different pattern transitional Perfects, some all brass, others brass face, brass drum and alloy frame. Others brass face, brass drum, alloy frame and brass pillars…. The list goes on.
Sizes
The Perfect reels were produced in a range of sizes to suit different fishing needs, from light trout fishing to salmon and saltwater angling. Here are some of the common sizes produced during the various periods of the 1900s:
2 ¼ inch
2 ½ inch
2 5/8 inch
2 7/8 inch
3 inch
3 1/8 inch
3 3/8 inch
3 1/2 inch
3 5/8 inch
3 3/4 inch
4 inch
4 1/8 – As per the all brass Perfect we currently have.
4 1/4 inch
4 1/2 inch
Larger Sizes for Bigger Fish:
4 3/4 inch
5 inch
5 1/4 inch
5 1/2 inch
5 3/4 inch
6 inch and sometimes even larger for specialized uses.
In terms of rarity and value, the smallest sizes and the largest sizes command the bigger prices. At it’s peak, the 2 ¼” all brass Perfect, considered the rarest, made £44k plus commission back in 2014 at Angling Auctions in the UK!
The Perfects were also available in different spool widths, particularly to accommodate varying amounts of backing and line weights. The widths are categorised as:
- Narrow drum also known as ‘Contracted’ drums. These were typically the slimmest models and were suitable for lighter lines and less backing, often used for trout fishing.
- Standard or regular drum: this is a middle of the road width suitable for most general fly fishing.
- Wide drum: the wider spools hold more backing or accommodate heavier lines. These are popular for salmon fishing.
We have another great example on our site of a rare 3” size salmon fly reel with a wide drum and rare 1917 internal check mechanism.
And not to ignore, the star of the show on our site currently, the ultra rare 5” brass faced salmon fly reel. Only 6 or 7 of these 5″ brass faced Perfects have come to light and this one is the exact reel in Grahams Turners ‘Fishing Tackle’ A Collectors Guide.
This reel has the rod in hand, straight line logo to the face and unusual raised brass central boss, with 1905 check mechanism.
The ‘rod in hand’ logo
The ‘rod in hand’ logo was first registered as a trademark by the Hardy Brothers in the early 20th century. It symbolises the essence of fly fishing and stands as a mark of the company’s dedication to the sport. The logo has become synonymous with quality fishing tackle. It is found stamped or engraved on a variety of Hardy products, as you will see from the examples we have provided above. For collectors and enthusiasts, the presence of this logo often signifies a genuine Hardy product.
Today, the ‘rod in hand’ logo continues to represent the Hardy brand, which has now merged with another iconic brand, House of Hardy, to become Hardy & Greys Ltd. The logo stands as a testament to the brand’s longevity and its commitment to quality and craftsmanship. It is a shame, however, that the brand-new Hardy Perfect, does not have the iconic logo on its face plate, but they have placed it on other new Hardy Heritage reels, such as the Bougle and the 150th Anniversary reel, the St Aiden.
The legacy continues….
As shown above, Hardy have recently released a brand new ‘Perfect’ which is a wide spool Perfect, available in 2 7/8, 3 1/8, 3 7/8, 4 1/4 and 4 in. It has the time proven, adjustable check system with that traditional ‘Hardy sound’. Prior to that they also released a limited run of narrow drum Perfects, which are still available at Sportfish. These were made in Alnwick, England and there are left and right-hand wind options. Each reel was fitted with a hand specific, polished rotating line guard.
Today, while the world of fishing constantly evolves with new technologies and gear, the allure of the Hardy Perfect remains undiminished. Its design, sound, and the romance associated with it ensure its continued relevance in the annals of angling.
Whether you’re an avid collector, an angling enthusiast, or someone appreciating the finer things in life, the Hardy Perfect reel, with its intricate markings and storied past, stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of genuine craftsmanship.
Here at Thomas Turner, we have a selection of Perfects available for sale, as well as the ones you see in this blog. Click here to take a look!
As always, if you any Perfects you are considering selling, or any other high-quality tackle, please get in touch with us!
office@thomasturner.com
Call or whatsapp: 07535 590617
Landline: 01275 261099
*Information taken from Fishing Tackle A Collectors Guide by Graham Turner 1989
The post The iconic Hardy Perfect appeared first on Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques.
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