Cardinal C4 made in Sweden or Japan ?

[askefisk]

Hello im a new member and please forgive me if im posting this the wrong place.
I hope you can help me out. Im about to buy this reel on an auction, but the seller doesn't know if its made in Japan or Sweden. This is important pricewise but also because i'm starting to collect reels with worm gear: Abu, D.A.M, Penn etc

The reel, Cardinal C4: black skirted spool, colors like the the old cardinals: Green and cream, but with wooden handle. No case no papers and no history. The picture is the same reel but from another auktion.
THanks in advance

[Midway Tommy]

The reel pictured is called the C4 Special and was made in Japan. It was a commemorative release to the original cream and green ABU Sweden reels. ABU Garcia offered the "Special" models in three variations, the C3, C4 & C4X (no C5 Special). Their current prices are generally double or triple that of their black siblings, and their parts are interchangeable with the black models. The C4X Special is near impossible to find and usually brings upwards of $300. They were offered in the early '90s even though the reel shows "84" on the reel foot. Some reels came with the wood handle knob and some had the standard plastic knob but they all had a green crank handle with "Worm Gear System" printed on it.

Ben Wright and I did extensive research on the Special variation and authored an article about them in the ORCA Reel News shortly before he passed away.

[foakes]

Welcome aboard, Peter —-

I was going to respond to your post earlier today —-  but Tommy already did that —- and 10 times better than I could have!

He is the Cardinal Guru.

The only thing I might add is that from my experience —- when ABU switched production of these Cardinals to Japan, and started the C3, C4, and then the C5 series —- these were the exact same parts and quality as the Swedish earlier reels.  Initially in black.  The special edition is a tribute to the earlier Swedish ABU's.

Excellent reels in every respect.

In later years, as manufacturing was moved to other Asian countries with lesser quality, and lesser materials —- those are not the same, just the name.

Best, Fred

[askefisk]

 Wow thanks a lot "Midway Tommy" and "Foakes"  what a great Forum this is - so glad i became a member.