1948 Hurd Super Caster strip and restore! Complete!

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 12:59:39 AM

Hey all!

Back with a unique casting reel made in the good ol' USA!

I picked it up complete for $62.
Not really into casters, but how could one pass on this amazing reel?!

It's a 2 piece 1948 Hurd Super Caster with original Koroseal case.

Made by Hurd Lock Co. Detroit, MI.

The reel and handle combo is 11" long and steel rod, with 2 silk wound eyelets and 1 tip eyelet, is 39" long, for overall length of 50".

The original case still had its steel stiffner rod included, too.

These reels are not necessarily rare, but complete with case, fetch good money.

Don't know the truth behind it, but legend has it, the steel rod sections, which could be purchased at several different lengths, were made from surplus WWII tank antenna stock!

The quality of this reel is visible right off the bat.

All alloy construction with hand made cross checked and fitted wood handles, which are numbered from factory, so the hand mated handles could be assembled with the same numbered reel tang.

I, of course, gave this one a complete strip and restore, to remove all grease and give all parts a shine.
This included refreshing the storage case with a cleaning and full wipe down with beeswax leather balm.
Red welt and black case softened up and shine like new, now.

I also re-varnished the factory yellow and red silk windings on the rod.

I had no stripdown info on these old reels, other than an old exploded parts diagram found online, here, actually.

Lots of small parts and gears on this one.
Look at that micro tiny levelwind arm pawl spring!

She has a double drag setup.
One on left side of body, for main spool drag, and another thumb drag on top, used to prevent backlash, after cast or for playing fish.

Selectable clicker switch on left side of body as well.

Everything reassembled smoothly and all moving parts oiled and working as they should.

This old girl is quite the looker!

Don't use casters much, so I don't know how much use she'll see, but it will get used at some point.
I just couldn't pass on this vintage beauty for the price.

A very well built and engineered reel made to last, for sure!

Peace!

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 01:09:33 AM

Final pictures

Swami805 · June 29, 2025, 03:15:49 AM

That's a beauty, nice to see it in a good home

jtwill98 · June 29, 2025, 03:23:34 AM

That is an interesting reel.

It looks like it was built by a gun manufacture, or at least took some design aspects from a a gun design with the handle and brush metal aspects.

Midway Tommy · June 29, 2025, 03:35:42 AM

Good for you, nice find, especially at that price! Nice job sprucing it up, too!

oc1 · June 29, 2025, 03:46:04 AM

Very very nice. I think they were most popular for keeping in the trunk or behind the seat for impromptu fishing.

whalebreath · June 29, 2025, 04:51:18 AM

Post-of-the-Month!

alantani · June 29, 2025, 04:57:06 AM

Quote from: jtwill98 on June 29, 2025, 03:23:34 AMThat is an interesting reel.

It looks like it was built by a gun manufacture, or at least took some design aspects from a a gun design with the handle and brush metal aspects.

my thought exactly. walking around with this in san francisco could get you shot. $:-\$

jgp12000 · June 29, 2025, 07:01:46 AM

That reel was built to last,great restore!

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 01:53:07 PM

Quote from: Swami805 on June 29, 2025, 03:15:49 AMThat's a beauty, nice to see it in a good home

Yes, it is! Like I stated, I don't know how much use it'll see, but couldn't pass on it.

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 01:55:50 PM

Quote from: jtwill98 on June 29, 2025, 03:23:34 AMThat is an interesting reel.

It looks like it was built by a gun manufacture, or at least took some design aspects from a a gun design with the handle and brush metal aspects.

I saw it with the case and at first glance, thought it was some kind of gun, until closer inspection. Very pistol grip looking for sure.

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 01:56:32 PM

Quote from: Midway Tommy on June 29, 2025, 03:35:42 AMGood for you, nice find, especially at that price! Nice job sprucing it up, too!

Thank you! A beauty of a combo!

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 01:58:34 PM

Quote from: oc1 on June 29, 2025, 03:46:04 AMVery very nice. I think they were most popular for keeping in the trunk or behind the seat for impromptu fishing.

I could see that. Very transportable and the steel reinforcement spine on the case really gives peace of mind, for that. Pretty sweet old case.

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 02:00:14 PM

Quote from: whalebreath on June 29, 2025, 04:51:18 AMPost-of-the-Month!

ha!ha! Thanks! I love stripping and documenting the process on these vintage beauty's!

Woodbilly · June 29, 2025, 02:03:05 PM

Quote from: alantani on June 29, 2025, 04:57:06 AM
Quote from: jtwill98 on June 29, 2025, 03:23:34 AMThat is an interesting reel.

It looks like it was built by a gun manufacture, or at least took some design aspects from a a gun design with the handle and brush metal aspects.

my thought exactly. walking around with this in san francisco could get you shot. $:-\$

yeah, I could see that. Mental note: don't carry around in waistband.