DAM Quick 440 — Unique & Unusual

[foakes]

3rd reel off the bench today was a DAM Quick 440.

This is a slightly larger version of the world famous 330 Finessa.

It was engineered and introduced a few years after the 110-550 series of (6) reels were offered.  The year was 1971.

There were many anglers who loved the 330 —- but needed more line capacity and a larger spool for fighting hard-running fish in swift current such as Salmon, Steelhead, Stripers, Lake Trout in Canada, and other tough fighters.

This reel has some neat features only used on a 440.

Adjustable bail release for heavy bait casting of lures and to adjust to fishing conditions, a unique trip assembly, a much larger rotor and spool.

Gearing is 1:3.5 for rapid line retrieval, Smooth and nearly noiseless, salt water resistant, strongest worm-drive steel and phosphor cut bronze gears, oversized main bearing, tungsten-carbide line guide.

Holds 350 yards of 10 pound mono, 325 of 12, 275 of 15, and 225 of 20.

Can be set up for either right or left-hand cranking with no additional parts needed.

This was a 100% new build, except for the frame.  I had all new parts (sideplate, rotor, spool, shift bearing, etc ), and every other part as new —- but the frames are rare.  So this took an extra 3.5 hours to strip, sand, repaint (2) coats of VHT black wrinkle, cook at 200° for 2 hours (an hour for each coat).  But all other painted and mechanical parts are new out of the bins.

You cannot tell the frame was ever painted —- it is a perfect match texture-wise, and color.

For those who love the 330, but wish it had more line capacity —- and do not want the weight of a 550 or Super 270 —- this is the ticket at only 15.5 ounces.

Best, Fred

[Steve V.]

Super nice job Fred. That frame looks brand new!