Hardy Davy Fly Reel

An exceedingly scarce Hardy "The Davy" Reel, with a 3 1/2" diameter and a scant 17/32" between the spool plates, making it one of their thinnest trout models. The reel weighs 5.6 oz. This is one of the rarest of all Hardy trout reels with only 187 made during the period 1930-1939. Originally designed at the behest of Martin Davy, this model drew from the Eureka and boasted a drop latch, two handles, and was thought to have been designed for the increased line retrieval rate that its dimensions afforded. Relatively few of them remain due to their thin, and therefore more fragile, design, and there are even fewer like this one here which is in excellent original condition. This example is in very good shape with no cracks or defects of any sort. There is a little bit of play in the spool, which can be common for these latch-designed reels, and one line burn area near one of the crossbars, but other than that, and some normal cosmetic wear to the patina, the reel is in very good condition overall. This one also has an alloy ribbed foot, one of only a small handful that I've seen with this feature. As John Drewett notes about the Davy in his definitive book on Hardy reels: "Examples come to light all too infrequently. The Davy does appear to have been a reel that once purchased subsequently received frequent use with the consequence that when you do see a Davy the likelihood is that it will not be in pristine condition." That certainly is not the case here. This is a very fine example of one of the rarest hardy trout reels of them all and deserves pride of place in a great reel collection.