by Joe Cermele

While we've had fly tying kits in the vintage tackle contest, Ian Bews was the first to send in separate tying tools. These caught my eye because it's fun to think about the bugs tied with this old vise and bobbin, what rivers they were fished on, and how many wintery nights these tools were hard at work as some angler dreamt of spring. Ian wrote:

I picked up a box of fly tying materials at a yard sale for twenty dollars. At first I thought there was just some feathers and hides but to my delight I found these items in bottom of the box.

Lucky for you, Ian, Dr. Todd Larson of the The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog is a fellow fly tyer who appreciates such classic tools. Dr. Todd says:

"I love fly tying and think you've found some very neat pieces that are both usable and collectable. The first is a classic Herter's No. 11 vise. These were a popular and serviceable vise dating from the 1940s to the 1970s. They were also built like a tank, so it should still be good to go--and worth $20-$30. I wasn't sure on the bobbin so I asked my friend Dean Smith, who's web site Tackle Treasures deals exclusively with these kinds of tackle items. Dean refers to it as a "cross-over" item because it could be used for fly tying and sewing. He writes: "I have seen the bobbins sell for $25 to $35 when referred to specifically as "fly fishing bobbins". They generally sell for less when sold as generic sewing bobbins. The romance of fly fishing always adds value!" Now go tie yourself some flies!"

Thanks for sending, Ian. You've got a Cabela's 50th Anniversary Fly Box and Fly Assortment headed your way. And if you lose all those flies on the river, it seems you have the tools to tie up plenty more!

If you've already sent me photos of your vintage tackle, keep checking every Thursday to see if I chose it for an appraisal by Dr. Todd. If you haven't and want to enter the contest, email photos of your old tackle to fstackle@gmail.com, along with your name, mailing address, and story of how you acquired the gear. If I use it in a Thursday post, you get a Cabela's 50th Anniversary Fly Box and Fly Assortment (below, $50). 

Comments (10)

from Sayfu wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Looks exactly like the old Thompson "F" style vice I tied over 100,000 steelhead flies on commercially taht was discontinued long ago. Big, oversized cam lever that allowed me to secure bigger steelhead hooks in the big jaws, very quickly. I still have two of them.

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from twa32 wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Very cool posting and find. I love yard sales! Thanks Dr. Todd for the link to Tackle Treasures, what a fun site. I noticed the small hand vice tools on the site and it looks like an old tool I had i collection I never knew the use for. I'm going to check it out when I get home!

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from buckhunter wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Looks simple and durable. What else could you ask for? Wish I had that when I was starting out.

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from Walt Smith wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

I have the same vise, my dad tied flies with it for years and it probably has about 1000,000 road miles on it too!

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from Woods Walker wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Wow - nice! I guess I will have to reassess my reluctance to stop at yard sales (so far, on the few times that I stopped at a yard sale, I only found junk that was just short of landfill material). It would be fun to tie some flies on such well used/loved equipment!

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from Sayfu wrote 24 weeks 19 hours ago

woods...I found an old Hardy fly reel that I happily use today at a garage sale..new, still in the Scientific Anglers box it came in. It was made for SA by Hardy called the "Systems" reel by SA..A system's 8/9 that I use for steelheading. SA got out of the reel business then, and the reel continued to be made by Hardy, and named the Hardy Marquis...there were a series of Marquis, and great reels. The Maruis 4/5. 6/7 etc. designating the size/line wt. used. I could only guess it's worth. I got it for $5 and I do know an old Hardy Perfect is around $1,000

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from Woods Walker wrote 23 weeks 6 days ago

Sayfu - now that is a real find and worth a bunch of stops sorting through junk piles!

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from Ontario Honker ... wrote 23 weeks 6 days ago

I have one of those vices but the bobbin that came in the 1970s kit was the same as that one but bakalite not wood. I lost a small aluminum grommet many years ago which made it inoperable. Should have someone turn me another one. It was very handy for re-wrapping rods. Just held the bobbin between my knees and rolled the rod in my hands.

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from Sayfu wrote 23 weeks 5 days ago

If any of you steelheaders 'SNELL" your hooks, what a great third hand that big jawed, lever action vice is. Quick to lock in the hook, and frees up your two hands to leader tie the hook. I made them with yarn included in under the snell knot, and created a nice looking fly. Anglers would ask how I did it, and it can't be done without the third hand of the vice.

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from mctuber wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Ontario Honker: If you supply a picture,drawing or description of said grommet.I will make you one

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from Sayfu wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Looks exactly like the old Thompson "F" style vice I tied over 100,000 steelhead flies on commercially taht was discontinued long ago. Big, oversized cam lever that allowed me to secure bigger steelhead hooks in the big jaws, very quickly. I still have two of them.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from twa32 wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Very cool posting and find. I love yard sales! Thanks Dr. Todd for the link to Tackle Treasures, what a fun site. I noticed the small hand vice tools on the site and it looks like an old tool I had i collection I never knew the use for. I'm going to check it out when I get home!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Looks simple and durable. What else could you ask for? Wish I had that when I was starting out.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Walt Smith wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

I have the same vise, my dad tied flies with it for years and it probably has about 1000,000 road miles on it too!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Woods Walker wrote 24 weeks 1 day ago

Wow - nice! I guess I will have to reassess my reluctance to stop at yard sales (so far, on the few times that I stopped at a yard sale, I only found junk that was just short of landfill material). It would be fun to tie some flies on such well used/loved equipment!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 24 weeks 19 hours ago

woods...I found an old Hardy fly reel that I happily use today at a garage sale..new, still in the Scientific Anglers box it came in. It was made for SA by Hardy called the "Systems" reel by SA..A system's 8/9 that I use for steelheading. SA got out of the reel business then, and the reel continued to be made by Hardy, and named the Hardy Marquis...there were a series of Marquis, and great reels. The Maruis 4/5. 6/7 etc. designating the size/line wt. used. I could only guess it's worth. I got it for $5 and I do know an old Hardy Perfect is around $1,000

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Woods Walker wrote 23 weeks 6 days ago

Sayfu - now that is a real find and worth a bunch of stops sorting through junk piles!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ontario Honker ... wrote 23 weeks 6 days ago

I have one of those vices but the bobbin that came in the 1970s kit was the same as that one but bakalite not wood. I lost a small aluminum grommet many years ago which made it inoperable. Should have someone turn me another one. It was very handy for re-wrapping rods. Just held the bobbin between my knees and rolled the rod in my hands.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 23 weeks 5 days ago

If any of you steelheaders 'SNELL" your hooks, what a great third hand that big jawed, lever action vice is. Quick to lock in the hook, and frees up your two hands to leader tie the hook. I made them with yarn included in under the snell knot, and created a nice looking fly. Anglers would ask how I did it, and it can't be done without the third hand of the vice.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mctuber wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Ontario Honker: If you supply a picture,drawing or description of said grommet.I will make you one

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.