Old Pflueger Medalist

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

I just bought a nice Pflueger Medalist from an antique store on my lunch break, with an old silk line on it.  It has sculpted pillars, a darker Bakelite or agatine (or fancy plastic) handle, and an outside diameter of 2 3/4″.  It is a right hand retrieve model with a stripping guide on the reel.  I believe it’s pre-1940 based on what I’m seeing online.  Can anyone help me identify it further?

Thanks a lot,
Zach

PS I am adding more shots; I gather the bronze spindle is an indication that this is a very early Medalist indeed.

[anonymous]

Nice one!

[pete osborne]

Zach,

Here is a pretty good web page that may help you date your Medalist.  Hope it helps.
http://flyanglersonline.com/features/oldflies/part287.php

Based on this website, it looks like yours is from the period between 1930 and 1937.

-Pete

[paul rose]

Nice find. I have a collection of older gear and always looking for more. I also have a few newer versions matched on the sage bass rods for classic buggin. One of the best reels ever made in it’s time and still works just fine. Click Click Click

Paul

[Mike McKeown]

Hi Zach, try asking the guys on the classic rod forum??

Other than that, nice find…

[none]

Man, that’s one worn out fella Zach! 🙂

Did you have any fishing in mind when you bought it or just out of curiosity?
I’m sure there are guys who can revise the reel into very good condition, but there are just too much Medalists, also very mint, out there to make it worth the money and effort.

[Zach Matthews]

I’ll fish it on my bamboo rod from time to time.

[Eric Weller]

Zach,

[Rolf Jacobsen]

Zach you did good! The reel is probably worth $100.00, especially with the silk line. I don’t know how bad the line is but if you’re interested, here is some advice about bringing it back to life.
http://www.overmywaders.com/index.php?cleaningsilk

Regarding the reel, should the seat not fit your bamboo, as has been mentioned, these folks offer a seat for it. http://www.onepfoot.com/

As you probably know, the reel is set up for RHW. Hopefully this is okay with you. It can be changed but would be a shame to do it. I’m with you, leave the looks as they are and enjoy it.

Good Luck with it,
Rolf

[brad bohen]

Nice real reel Zach…

I loves me some Pfluegers…they are kinda like the lynyrd skynyrd of fly fishing…I almost always forget how to spel it proper…

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

I actually did and still do a little bit of old reel collecting.  I suspected that the reel was worth about $100, Rolf, which was why I grabbed it.  This particular 1492 is a really early one, too; first run pre-1935 in all probability.  

I’ve actually revitalized some old silk line and sold it for profit before.  Ironically, Lauren is wearing a necklace out tonight that I made her out of old silk line (she picked the bangle thing).

I’m not a right hand wind guy but I can make it work.  Ideally I’d like to get ahold of a pre-WWII lead-coated Hardy Perfect in LHW and 3″, but I don’t have $1500 laying around and those have always been pretty rare.  The new $900 ones are really really nice; if they go out and get them machined in the Far East (which halves the price) I might have to spring for one.

Oh and I checked the seat last night; it fits fine.

[stuart cawthon]

Zack, thanks for the great pictures of the Medalist I received my when my grandfather past away (model 1494 ) didn’t know anything about it but always had a special feeling that my grandfather had used it and pasted it down to me.

[mike daniels]

Very nice! If you come across one you don’t feel is as collectible, it’s fun to strip the painted finish for a cool look as well. JMO.

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