domed bone handle (two fine hairline cracks), stancheon foot pierced three holes and stamped “85”, nickel silver wire line guide to one third of drum and fixed on twin raised support lugs, strapped rim tension screw, early calliper spring check mechanism and open ball race with steel bearings, slightly contracted drum with ventilated spindle and dished faceplate pierced large and small perforations and with central threaded spindle well, faceplate stamped Rod in Hand trade mark and central circular 612 patent details, the reel is in very good overall condition with the foot very slightly off centre (from fixing to rod) and showing only the usual signs of use you would expect for a piece of this age, circa 1891 (see illustration) £20000-30000
** The above lot is perhaps one of, if not, the most sought after of all Hardy collectable fly reels. It is generally accepted within the piscatorial collecting fraternity that only two of the All Brass Perfect 1891 model reels are known to exist in the smallest listed 2 ¼” trout size. Angling Auctions have sold both of the only known examples over the preceding 25 years, this example was previously offer in 2015 attaining a new world record price for a British fly reel at the time
301 A Brown Trout preserved by J. Jones
