The Partridge HE1, part of the Heritage Series from Partridge of Redditch, is one of the most unique fly tying hooks ever manufactured. Designed with a built-in 90-degree vertical wire loop, the HE1 was engineered specifically to act as an integrated post for tying parachute dry flies. Though the extra wire weight ultimately led to its discontinuation in favor of synthetic posts, it remains a highly sought-after curiosity for vintage fly tying collectors. Whether used for perfectly posted parachute patterns or repurposed for extended-body mayflies, the Partridge HE1 stands as a testament to the creative engineering of the golden era of British hook making.
Made by Partridge of Redditch England
Partridge HE1 – Additional Info
1. Identification
- Brand: Partridge of Redditch
- Model/Code: HE1 (Heritage Series Parachute Hook)
- Size: 12
- Estimated Era: 1980s–1990s (Based on the Heritage Series production timeline and the handwritten Redditch factory clearance packaging style)
2. Technical Specifications
- Eye: Straight loop eye
- Wire: Standard dry fly wire
- Shank/Bend: Parachute Post Shank (shank features a 90-degree vertical looped wire extension) with a standard round bend
- Finish: Bronzed
3. Historical Context
The Partridge HE1 is a wonderful novelty of tackle engineering. Partridge designed this specialty hook specifically for tying parachute dry flies without the tier needing to build a post out of calf tail, synthetic yarn, or foam. You simply wrap your hackle directly around the integrated vertical wire loop! It completely eliminates the common problem of a parachute post leaning or twisting under heavy thread torque.
While it was a brilliant concept in theory, the extra wire added a bit of weight, making it slightly trickier to keep smaller dry flies afloat in rough water, which is why they eventually fell out of standard rotation. Today, the original Partridge factory in Redditch has long since closed, though the brand lives on under modern ownership.
Fun Fact: While designed for parachutes, some highly innovative tyers repurposed this hook by rotating it in the vise to tie realistic extended-body mayfly imitations, utilizing the vertical post as an abdomen support instead!
4. Usage & Equivalents
- Best Used For: Parachute dry flies (Adams Parachute, Klinkhamer variants) and extended-body mayfly duns.
- Modern Equivalent: There is no direct modern equivalent with an integrated wire parachute post. Today’s tyers use standard straight-shank dry fly hooks (like the Tiemco 100 or modern Partridge SLD2) and construct the post manually from traditional tying materials.
5. Technical Description
A bronzed, standard-wire specialty dry fly hook featuring a straight loop eye and a standard round bend. The highly distinctive shank incorporates an integrated vertical loop post (approximately 0.69 inches tall) situated mid-shank, designed for wrapping horizontal parachute hackles. The micro-barbed point is standard length.
6. Collectability
Ranking: 7/10
These are highly collectible among vintage fly tying aficionados and hook collectors due to their quirky, specialized design. The HE1 is a classic “conversation piece” to have sitting on a tying desk. While they aren’t impossibly rare—bulk boxes from the Redditch factory liquidation still circulate on the secondary market—they are entirely unique and no longer manufactured, ensuring they hold steady niche interest.