Guys, how many of the 113MTL reels were really built, and should i use mine or keep it NIB? lets here from others who bought them!
I picked up a new 113MTL about a year ago for my collection , I believe they were made between 2008 and 2010 then discontinued
There are plenty around, it's not that uncommon. If you have a use for it use it. It will probably do the same job as the Baja which is more popular. It's a good solid reel but it wasn't a popular at the time it was released. I have a new one also, just haven't used it because I have too many other reels to use up first. Like a Penn will ever get used up. :D Rudy
I would certainly not call it rare but I would also not call it common at all. Look at the advanced listings on ebay and see how many you find that are NIB. You could sell it and make a pretty nice reel with the upgrades on this site with that money. The 113MTL is a collector's item for sure if it's new in the box.
Dom
I picked my up lightly used. Plan on using it or selling it soon.
I've read numbers that vary between 600 and 1,100 units. If it's NIB, I'd say hold on it. For $175ish you can get a used US Senator or Baja that you could fish and hard at that! I have an MTL on the shelf and a US113N (with a couple upgrades) for fishing.
The only comparison I can make is the International 6...supposedly there were around 1,000 made and prices vary from $300 on up to people asking $1500+ for them.
Who knows, but time will certainly tell.
I've got one pristine NIB, and it drives me a bit nuts that such a sweet reel has to remain a shelfie. >:( Guess I'll just sit on it until the eBay lunatics drive the price into the stratosphere, then I'll sell it and buy another gun. ;D
~A~
Ok I'll go ahead and brag.
I have 3 still sealed in the box. I did have 5 but gave 2 to friends when I bought them.
Keith
Approx. 1000 were made. Now the 114MTL would be a true rare find! They never made it to market but there were a few passed around out in the field.
tony
Thanks for the clarification, Tony. I wanted to say around 1,000 but have only heard that as a rumor and didn't know how much truth there was to that figure.
I had also heard the rumor of the 114MTL and you made it fact when you mentioned it on the tour. My eyes are always peeled for one. ;)
Thanks
Dom
Thanks All for the input, NUIB it is new...unused...in box!
Quote from: Penn on April 04, 2017, 07:21:13 PM
Approx. 1000 were made. Now the 114MTL would be a true rare find! They never made it to market but there were a few passed around out in the field.
tony
What? a 114MTL? the hunt is on!!!
see attachment :o
If you look through the 113MTL manual/booklet provided in the box it shows you the versa-drag options for the '114M', pretty neat. I've heard of numbers around 50 or so. A modern day rarity for sure. Has anyone here actually seen one?
Edit: Thanks Tony for posting the schematic!!!
No bridge on these, right? Everthing is screwed to the side plate with a cover over it?
Quote from: coastal_dan on April 05, 2017, 04:23:59 PM
If you look through the 113MTL manual/booklet provided in the box it shows you the versa-drag options for the '114M', pretty neat. I've heard of numbers around 50 or so. A modern day rarity for sure. Has anyone here actually seen one?
Edit: Thanks Tony for posting the schematic!!!
10 years ago they made the tour to all the Dealer Shows and even ICAST. They were also field-tested.
tony
Why was the 114MTL never released?
Quote from: akfish on April 05, 2017, 05:30:46 PM
Why was the 114MTL never released?
Same reason the 113MTL was cut off after 1000 pcs, sales. The 113MTL debuted first, the 114MTL was due to be released a year later but because of the such poor sales for the 113MTL we never debuted the 114.
tony
Go ahead, blame me!
Did not really like them, and said so on my field-test reports.
Sent them back, but now kind of wish I hadn't.
I do recall hanging out at the "New Product Showcase" at the ICAST Show with Gary Borland, and listening to the retailers comments about them, so it was not a surprise that they were unsuccessful.
They should bring them back...
Quote from: Alto Mare on April 05, 2017, 10:20:26 PM
They should bring them back...
I agree with you Sal. It seems that the timing of the release of the 113MTL would have doomed it from the start.
2008 was the huge downturn in the economy and unemployment shot to 10% almost overnight. Now that things are looking up economy wise, I'd think it would be a good time to reintroduce the MTL in both 113 & 114. Just my personal opinion.
-Ted
What I liked about the 113MTL was its fundamental strength. Remember that the standard 113H of the time had a graphite frame with side plate screws that were likely to strip out the brass inserts. A stock 113H is a 50# or 60# reel; the 113MTL could be pushed well beyond that. The 113MTL was designed with braided line in mind; the stock 113H was more at home with mono.
Realistically, the age of the 4/0 and 6/0 has ended. Welcome to the age of the 2-speed lever drag.
Bringing back the 113MTL would mean it would have to compete against the 113 U S Senator. Maybe it's time for the introduction of a 114 U S Senator with improved dog system (ala Cortez system). Rudy
Quote from: MarkT on April 05, 2017, 10:55:32 PM
Realistically, the age of the 4/0 and 6/0 has ended. Welcome to the age of the 2-speed lever drag.
I thought that too but I know people who will not fish anything else.
It is a shame they were discontinued --
However, if they didn't sell well -- no matter how good they are -- a manufacturer cannot support a weak demand.
There is a big difference between the puttering we do -- and providing a payroll and profit margin at the end of the month.
It is a shame because we are now upgrading Senators with A/M custom parts -- and this one was already there at about half the price of our upgrades.
The thought, listening, and engineering that went into this reel -- was over the top, IMO.
Timing is everything.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: handi2 on April 04, 2017, 07:01:45 PM
Ok I'll go ahead and brag.
I have 3 still sealed in the box. I did have 5 but gave 2 to friends when I bought them.
Keith
I remember Keith! You were going to think about one for me......hint, hint. I didn't bug you though I thought about it. 8)
Quote from: akfish on April 05, 2017, 10:46:56 PM
Remember that the standard 113H of the time had a graphite frame with side plate screws that were likely to strip out the brass inserts.
This is why I think there are so many old vintage reels around in very good condition. No aluminium and no threaded bakelite or graphite. A brass screw will chew out aluminium too.
Basto
Quote from: Rancanfish on April 05, 2017, 11:50:40 PM
Quote from: handi2 on April 04, 2017, 07:01:45 PM
Ok I'll go ahead and brag.
I have 3 still sealed in the box. I did have 5 but gave 2 to friends when I bought them.
Keith
I remember Keith! You were going to think about one for me......hint, hint. I didn't bug you though I thought about it. 8)
I got you covered if I ever sell one.
Keith
Quote from: handi2 on April 06, 2017, 01:39:16 PM
Quote from: Rancanfish on April 05, 2017, 11:50:40 PM
Quote from: handi2 on April 04, 2017, 07:01:45 PM
Ok I'll go ahead and brag.
I have 3 still sealed in the box. I did have 5 but gave 2 to friends when I bought them.
Keith
I remember Keith! You were going to think about one for me......hint, hint. I didn't bug you though I thought about it. 8)
I got you covered if I ever sell one.
Keith
Ok brother Keith, I won't mention it again.
Quote from: Tunanorth on April 05, 2017, 10:16:26 PM
Go ahead, blame me!
Did not really like them, and said so on my field-test reports.
Sent them back, but now kind of wish I hadn't.
I do recall hanging out at the "New Product Showcase" at the ICAST Show with Gary Borland, and listening to the retailers comments about them, so it was not a surprise that they were unsuccessful.
Interesting Steve, thanks for sharing. Do you by chance (it being 10 years ago now) remember your pros/cons on them?
I've read over on BD that you are a fan of the idea of a Narrow/Smaller Baja style USA made reel. Does that still hold true or do you think some of the new offerings from Penn are adequate replacements? I really have enjoyed the 25N size reel and the seems to be similar to that desired size.
That may be slightly off-topic but we'll see where it goes...
I have seen (0) NEW 6/0 MTL's and have found NIB 113MTL at the rate of approx 1 reel every two years.
Those I sold had appreciated in value significantly from the original retail.
I would expect further increases and consider any MTL senator that is truly new to be of investment quality ... granted it can be purchased for the right price of course ;)
machined aluminum side plates and frame, SS main, baja XL knob, forged and machined aluminum spool, double dog
this sounds to me like Penn wanted to build a production reel to address the tastes of the aftermarket hot rodding market that is so well represented on this website.
it's fun to think about why anyway, thx,
Jay
PS I like the MTL senator - but its legacy appears for now hollow to say the least (compared to say the INTL rich with history and memories)
I will tell you I where I found the 5 NIB 113MTL reels.
Right in the discount section on a website called Scott's Bait and Tackle...!!
I couldn't believe it myself and it was only a couple of years ago. Right there at Scotts where we all go all the time. I snatched up all 5 and paid as fast as I could.
Keith
Gotta love scotts, on many counts. One of a kind.
And so are your reels, id say you did well.
Quote from: handi2 on April 06, 2017, 11:19:33 PM
I will tell you I where I found the 5 NIB 113MTL reels.
Right in the discount section on a website called Scott's Bait and Tackle...!!
I couldn't believe it myself and it was only a couple of years ago. Right there at Scotts where we all go all the time. I snatched up all 5 and paid as fast as I could.
Keith
Who'd I've thunk!?
Before this thread I didn't even know theses reels existed. Wonder what other bit of valuable information I have somehow missed?
Cool story.
Quote from: coastal_dan on April 06, 2017, 05:08:59 PM
Quote from: Tunanorth on April 05, 2017, 10:16:26 PM
Go ahead, blame me!
Did not really like them, and said so on my field-test reports.
Sent them back, but now kind of wish I hadn't.
I do recall hanging out at the "New Product Showcase" at the ICAST Show with Gary Borland, and listening to the retailers comments about them, so it was not a surprise that they were unsuccessful.
Interesting Steve, thanks for sharing. Do you by chance (it being 10 years ago now) remember your pros/cons on them?
I've read over on BD that you are a fan of the idea of a Narrow/Smaller Baja style USA made reel. Does that still hold true or do you think some of the new offerings from Penn are adequate replacements? I really have enjoyed the 25N size reel and the seems to be similar to that desired size.
That may be slightly off-topic but we'll see where it goes...
The main thing I recall is that they cast very poorly in comparison with the [then] Baja Special.
I love Torque star drags personally, but the BD crowd is certainly in favor of a US Senator-type reel in the 25N or 30 size.
To me they are different enough from Fathom star drags that there is room for both, but the marketplace does not agree with me.
If a baby Baja did exist, I think you'd find the market agreeing with the nay-sayers and not those asking for it.
Keith, any chance of posting a photo of your nibs, could be handy for all of us thanks Don.
I will see if one of them has the tape cut on the box. I tried to keep the "sealed".
I gave one to Pompano Joe and he ended up selling it....
I'll drop in a couple quick photos in case Keith couldn't grab any. This is a NIB reel...but out of the box on my shelf ;) Box is one shelf down though...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3955/33784847102_44f3a5b61c.jpg)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TDKWkU](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2841/33901478146_4432190061.jpg)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/TDKWko](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2841/33901478116_8f870eeba5.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TtsaZQ)
That's a beast of a reel...Too bad it didnt catch on.....Bill
I think what made the Baja and mtl fall short was they looked very similar to the regular penn senators but were double the price. Many businesses put them right beside the regular senators and to the average person all they seen was double the price. When you get into 200-300 dollar range on conventionals the market becomes very nichey.