Just pick up this Duncan Briggs. It is in really nice condition and will look great on a classic rod. Thought I would share some pics since the design is a little unusual.

Picked up one of these last week (ebay). I thought I'd give it a shot on my 5 wt. Orvis Clearwater (China-made graphite 8' 6") and thought I'd paint over the worn black paint on the spool with some green to match the rod -- just because. But after I washed it with soap and water, the finish felt gummy, and the paint was bubbling elsewhere on the spool anyway, so I rubbed it off finishing with a baking soda rub with fingers. Read somewhere it was some sort of vinyl paint but maybe that's not correct. Now the spool reminds me of an anodized aluminum (?). Going to keep it this way, leaving the body as is.

I didn't know anything about it before the purchase, so I was surprised that the spring-pawl assembly is on the spool -- clever. But the pawl was worn down so much on two corners and the ratchet gear must be out of round that it skips about halfway around. It works fine on the remaining point. Keeping with the "blue collar" persona (https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=68107&hilit=briggs+2#p365933 and https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1396&p=95365&hilit=briggs+2#p95365), I'm thinking one day if I ever wear out the last point I'll just cut a washer to fit. It doesn't provide much "drag" resistance as I'd like but enough. I gave the spindle oil and the ratchet a little grease.

It came with an orangish colored level floating line, I'm thinking 7 weight. It balanced very well on the Orvis although the line felt heavy. The balance was good and the line worked better on my 8' Ugly Stik FY1100 7/8 wt. It's the new fave setup for it, even though I can't roll cast worth a bean with the line I sort of missed using level line these years.

I think it was a pretty good deal for $11.19.

also South Bend, Higgins (Sears) and Weber Klatahatch - I think Weber sold more than any of the other marques.

(noteworthy, Weber Lifelike Fly Company began catalog sales in 1922, and imported JW Young reels to the US between the wars)

Trev, springs creep (relax) over time, and this is especially easy to remove, spread and set-temper (350oF)

For all you photographers, fly reels pretty much all look the same from the outside - it's the inside that interests most on the forum.

all were Duncan-Briggs I believe.. so no difference but the badge and paintwork..



be wary, when these are used LHW that spool retaining screw may work loose and fall out.. the full spec is,
a slotted button or pan head low shoulder machine screw 10-32 3/8" long

As you can see on my reel, I haven't yet been able to find one of those screws ;-)

these reels were made for two years in Providence, RI - they had a good two years considering how many are out there

If you look at someone like Valentine, they primarily make aircraft components on contract.
The reels are a sideline, but one that's held on for 40 years.
Even Meisselbach didn't return to reels after war production, but they are still in business today.

answering out of turn, every SB rod is going to have the line marked on it - here's all the rod models at least with the same cork, and a description of reel seat
(1942 catalog)

the reel seat colors will change over the years, because this is a SB 359

Shakespeare was made by Shakespeare in Kalamazoo, MI

Most South Bend reels were made by Shakespeare, though SB also bought the Duncan Briggs

Holmes was made by Holmes in Oronoque, Conn

great reels, but your question doesn't seem to have a question

To clarify, in the link to the other post is a pic (2nd down, w/smallmouth) that looks like these Duncan Briggs/Webers/etc. ARReflections ponders if Shakespeare or Holmes. Just trying to find the family relations. Thanks.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=61069&hilit=sigma#p310216

They came in two models and were marked using the older lettering system. Off the top of my head HEH is a 5wt and HDH is the 6wt. Bamboo being a natural material means the action and line weight can very a bit rod to rod, so try both.

"Kalahatch Fly Reel" "No 400" "Weber", interestingly the marking on the black reel is at the foot (upside down) and the marking on the silver reel is at the top. They also have differences inside. I'm not sure if the cup washer/shim is original or an add on, it seems a bit tight with it.


The slotted pawl on the silver reel apparently allows the pawl to disengage under very fast out feed and this reel is nearly quiet on reeling but has more drag and more noise than the black reel on out feed to the point of disengagement, it is set LHW and biased that way. the black reel is unbiased in direction. These reels weigh 6.5 ounces.

Ron, I was pretty sure it was an add on, but it's fine the way it is til someone else wants these reels, I'll never use them and would not even have lined them and messed with them except for this discussion. Being very thin and cupped it kinda acts as a spring. Only the near perfect diameter match, both to the spindle and the ratchet plate, made me think it a possible factory design. If it was greased if might just feel smooth instead of tight. A closer look at the spindle screws makes me think both are OEM.
The complex spring and the slotted and eared pawl is more interesting to me as a design/engineering curiosity.
The reels are back in the parts bucket after the portraits and unless someone asks they may never see daylight again. I'm spoiled by Medalists and have more of them than I can use at one time.