FACTS AND FOLKLORE ABOUT HOOKS
Bv Ron Rcinhold

Since 1993 I?ve been making and collecting blind-eye hooks. My entire effort has been centered on the antiques, and replicas of antiques, that are so popular in classic Atlantic salmon flies. As a result. I?ve had many encounters and conversations regarding styles of antique hooks, their sliape and dimensions, their history, and the methods of making them. The most interesting aspect of these experiences is the folklore and unusual facts about these hooks that most people never hear. The reason for this article is to share some of them with you, along with some of my own observations and discoveries. Plus, just to round things out. I?ve included some information that you may find useful for general cocktail conversation. Please remember that much of the following is fact, but some is folklore. None of it is in any particular order:

Barbs on fishing hooks have generally become progressively shorter over time.

Bronze hooks are not bronze, nor are they bronzed. They are steel hooks that have a coating on them that has a bronze hue. and prevents them from rusting. Real bronze hooks would corrode and deteriorate almost immediately. I learned this from my own experiments while developing a true black japan coating. Bronze finishes are actually japan finishes made with the same compounds used for black japans, the compunds arc just mixed in different ratios. The ratios can also be adjusted for brown. I suspect there are also some good bakcd-on laquers that serve as a "bronze" finish. An alternate bronze coloration was (and still is) achieved by heat treating the yvire to the desired hue then coating it with a clear lac compound.

Very early hooks were prevented from rusting by heating the wires and dipping them in hot mutton fat. The coating could be built up by repeating the procedure.

A simple test for determining an antique japanned hook from a modem painted hook is to wipe the hook with a swab soaked with acetone. The paint will come off. the japan will not
The barb on the hook of the original Jock Scott pjattern is referred to in the literature as "rank." It?s very long, and was considered quite becoming during its day. It?s approximately as long as the point.

The primary purpose of gutters is to allow space around live hook point for blood to escape. Folklore holds that this was an adaptation borrowed from the old British marine trench knives.

The larger sizes of Vom Hoff hooks had the name (E Vom Hoff & Co) stamped (presumably with a rolling mill) on the hook sliank. The smaller sizes are devoid of the name. The opposite side of the shank is stamped. -..ENGLAND.."

Stories abound about the inconsistencies of Bartleet hooks. The inconsistencies arc often attributed to frequent employee changes, employees making hooks at home, each employee making them slightly different because of equipment variances, and the expertise and talent variations from one employee to the next.

Some original Bartleet hooks, particularly Win. Bartleets. liave different wire diameters for the same size and style of hook. I?ve never heard a plausible explanation for the discrepancy, but I surmise it may have had something to do with the imperialistic nature of the British Empire. A scarcity of materials may have developed during times of war. and hook makers had to use what they could get.

Because original hooks varied so much, even within the same company, modern day replicas are unlikely to exactly match many of the early models or other modern hooks.

T.E. Pryce-Tannatt hooks are constantly referred to as the ultimate hook, but ironically are one of the least popular models used by modern day tyers. The ?T.E."? in his name stands for Thomas Edwin.

Original T.E. Prycc-Tannatt Group A\ hooks. Tannatt claims, were forged (hammer hardened), and he mentions this in his book Modern replicas, however, ignore this feature, and it is not insisted upon by modern tyers Surprisingly. I?ve never seen an original Tannatt hook that is forged; they?ve all been round-section Truly a puzzlement

In his book, "How To Dress Salmon Flies, Prycc-Tannatt gives no concrete reference about who actually made his hooks He gives Mr John Forrest ambiguous but grateful credit for getting the hooks made.

Was Pryce-Tannatt a thief Prior to 1899. the hook manufacturer Hutchinson (of Kendal) introduced its "Rational Scale" of hooks "in which each hook rises a fraction of an inch in length from crown of bend to end of shank."? This is mentioned in. "Salmon and Sea Trout." by Sir Herbert Maxwell. 1898, when Pryce-Tannatt was only 17 years old. Prycc-Tannatt didn?t publish his book until 16 years later (1914). in which he laid claim to the "Rational" groups of hooks Makes you wonder, eh

The bona fide identity of most antique hooks is in extreme jeopardy because they have long ago been separated from their original packaging Hook plates in the literature of yesteryear serve as the identifiers for most hooks touted as originals today Unfortunately, only a few plates of a few styles and makers wore published and preserved.

Some riverside landowners made hooks for themselves and visiting clients. Their hooks are almost surely destined for permanent non-identification.

When Phillips hooks arc spoken of. the plate of limericks in Francis Francis" book. "A Book On Angling" is generally brought to mind. They are a sleek and pleasing, light-wire pattern The sizes are numbered with the largest being #1, the second largest #2, and so on. Few people, however, arc aware of the more practical Phillips heavy-wire pattern depicted in "Jones?s Guide To Norway."? All flies in Jones?s are tied on the heavy Phillips pattern. Those hooks are sized in just the opposite order, the smallest being # 1. the next larger is #2 and so on. Another conundrum. Also. Jones?s does not reveal enough information to permit faithful replication of all the sizes This has caused me to adopt the size designations of I/O. 2/0. 3/0 etc.

The plate of Phillips Limerick hooks in Francis Francis" book are supposedly the same hook shown in different sizes. Upon closer examination, however, it becomes obvious that the bends arc different from one to the next It just adds to the confusion. I have two hooks that are supposedly original Phillips Limericks in size # 5, and they do conform to the size #5 hook in the plate The finish on them is "blued," not japanned.

To obtain any Phillips hook is likened to finding the Holy Grail Some people claim to have one, but again, they lack the provenance for its authenticity. Rick Whorwood of Stoney Creek, Ontario (noted fly tyer and friend to fly tyers ever) where) has recently uncovered what appears to be a genuine Phillips heavy-wire hook... in an original wrapper! Incredible! An interesting feature of this hook is that it only has a gutter on one side.

Hooks with deep keels (heels) were designed to prevent the points from catching too readily on strcambottom objects.

Gene Sunday?s two popular patterns, the Sunday Limerick and the Madden Celebrated Limerick, are both modeled from unknown antiques. (Info courtesy of Gene Sunday)

Before the era of japanning and lacquering, hooks were commonly blued, then packed in paper packages with a liberal sprinkling of talc to absorb moisture and prevent rust.