Qual. 9575 — Mustad-Special Limerick
At-a-Glance Summary
The Mustad 9575 Mustad-Special Limerick is a forged, long-shank wet-fly, streamer, and salmon hook made by O. Mustad & Søn of Norway. The label wording ‘Bronzed Shank ½ inch longer than regular’ is the model’s standard long-shank designation — not a scarce sub-variant — and corresponds to the elongated, streamer-style shank seen on this size 10 example. The hook features a Limerick bend (sharp angular bottom), a hollow point (inwardly ground face for easier penetration), and a turned-down looped eye in a bronzed finish.
Era evidence points to mid-20th-century manufacture. The ‘OSLO — NORWAY’ address postdates the 1925 renaming of Kristiania to Oslo (a firm earliest bound); the absence of a barcode indicates pre-1974 production; and the Key-brand styling, offset-printed gold-on-cream label, and ‘Forged T.d. looped eye’ terminology are all consistent with roughly the 1930s-1950s. The label is original and in good condition, with light age toning. The intact 100-hook box with partial tissue wrapper and approximately 95 hooks remaining adds collecting value E.
Collectors value the 9575 for its role in classic streamer and featherwing tying. Size 10 is common across the model’s long production run, so condition and the complete original box — rather than the (standard) long-shank spec — drive this specimen’s interest. The 9575 itself is now discontinued, having been dropped when Mustad replaced its classic numbered fly hooks with the Signature and later Heritage lines.
Photography
Identification
| Manufacturer | mustad |
| Model / Code | Qual. 9575 |
| Full Name | Mustad-Special Limerick |
| Size Documented | No. 10 |
| Estimated Era | c. 1930-1955 |
| Country of Origin | Norway |
Technical Specifications
| Eye Type | Other (describe in notes) |
| Eye Notes | Turned-down looped eye: the shank wire is turned down and the end returned along the shank to form the eye, with the loop tag lying against the shank P. The label reads 'Forged T.d. looped eye,' confirming looped — not tapered — construction V. The loop's return wire is not tapered and ends in a small step at the front of the shank; this is a known characteristic of the 9575 that streamer tyers often dress over or file down V. Eye opening is well-formed with no obvious burrs P. |
| Wire Gauge | Standard |
| Wire Profile | Round (unforged) — forged construction confirmed |
| Est. Wire Diameter | ~0.023"-0.025" (~0.58-0.64 mm) |
| Shank Length | Standard |
| Bend Family | Limerick |
| Bend Notes | Classic Limerick geometry with a sharp, angular lower bend, consistent with the 'Limerick' designation on the label V and visible in the photograph P. Bend is symmetrical, not offset, and the wire set is clean with no visible twisting P. The relatively deep, angular bend is typical of a salmon/streamer wet-fly hook I. |
| Point Style | Hollow Point (concave inner face) |
| Gap Width | Standard |
| Barb | The barb is fairly prominent and fairly deeply cut, set back from the point P. Precise barb dimensions are difficult to read from the photograph; any figures given (e.g., distance from point, barb height) should be treated as rough estimates E. |
| Finish | Bronzed — Confirmed (stated on packaging) |
| Finish Notes | Bronzed finish: warm brown tone with steel grain visible beneath the coating P. The label explicitly specifies 'Bronzed,' confirming the finish V. The warm color temperature and steel visibility are consistent with bronzing rather than bluing or nickel. Finish is uniform across the bend and shank with no active corrosion; the coating has aged to a rich amber-brown P. |
| Condition | Hooks are bright and free of corrosion. The original tissue wrapper has been removed, but the box is complete with intact label. Label shows light toning consistent with age and moderate storage exposure. No moisture damage visible on cardboard. Approximately 95 of 100 hooks remain in the box; 5 appear to have been removed in past use P. |
The Limerick bend is defined by a relatively sharp, angular lower bend produced by acute forging, which concentrates strength at the bend and gives a positive hook-set in the hard mouths of large fish such as salmon and sea trout. The ‘Forged’ notation on the label indicates the wire was struck in a die to set the bend, rather than simply cold-bent.
The hollow point — an inwardly ground (concave) face behind the tip — was a common quality-point style of the era rather than a Mustad innovation unique to this model. It reduces the metal that must be driven into the fish relative to a heavier point, aiding initial penetration. The barb on this specimen is fairly prominent and deeply cut rather than a fine micro-barb P.
Standard wire (roughly 0.024″ in this size) balances strength against the runs of large fish with enough resilience to absorb shock. The turned-down looped eye gives a smooth platform for the head wraps, though, as noted, the untapered loop tag leaves a small step at the front of the shank that tyers commonly dress over.
Technical Measurements
Size measured: 10. Method: Physical measurement with calipers.
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | ~1.09"-1.13" (~27.7-28.7 mm) P |
| Shank Length | ~0.54"-0.60" (~13.7-15.2 mm) |
| Gap Width | ~0.18"-0.22" (~4.6-5.6 mm) P |
| Bend Depth | ~0.28"-0.32" (~7.1-8.1 mm) |
| Wire Diameter | ~0.023"-0.025" (~0.58-0.64 mm) |
| Shank-to-Gap Ratio | ~2.75-3.0 : 1 |
Overall length: caliper-confirmed ~1.11" (~11 grid squares) P. Gap width: caliper-confirmed 0.20" (5.08 mm) P. Bend depth ~0.28-0.32" (P/E). However, the recorded shank length (~0.54-0.60") and shank-to-gap ratio (~2.75-3.0:1) are inconsistent both with the ~1.11" overall length on a 0.20" gap and with the visibly long, streamer-style shank in the photograph: the 9575 is a long-shank model ('1/2 inch longer than standard,' described elsewhere as roughly 6X long). The shank should re-measure closer to ~0.85-0.95" with a ratio of roughly 4:1 or more E. Recommend re-checking with calipers and updating the shank length, ratio, and shank-length category.
Historical Context
mustad
O. Mustad & Søn traces its origin to 1832, when Hans Skikkelstad (Schikkelstad), a farmer, founded a wire-and-nail works — Brusveen Spiger- og Ståltrådfabrikk — at Vardal, near Gjøvik in Norway. It was a general metal-goods manufacturer, not a fishing-tackle firm: its early output included nails, wire, pins, horseshoe nails, and similar hardware. Skikkelstad’s son-in-law, Ole Hovelsen Mustad (1810-1884), took over in 1843 and renamed the business ‘O. Mustad’; when his son Hans Mustad became co-owner in 1874 it became ‘O. Mustad & Søn.’ Fish-hook production began in 1877, after the firm developed dedicated hook-making machinery, and Mustad went on to become the world’s largest hook manufacturer. The company’s manufacturing base remained at Gjøvik — the ‘Oslo — Norway’ address on this label reflects the company’s principal office, not the founding location or the hook factory.
Mustad’s competitive advantage lay in rigorous standardization and industrial scale. Unlike the craft-tradition makers of Redditch, England, Mustad adopted mechanized forging, stamping, and finishing techniques that allowed consistent quality at higher volume and lower cost. The company built strong relationships with European tackle dealers and American importers, positioning Norwegian-made Mustad hooks as the industrial standard against which British hand-forged alternatives were marketed as ‘premium’ or ‘artisanal’ options.
The Mustad-Special line of fly and salmon patterns developed in the early 20th century to serve regional fishing traditions, and the 9575 — a long-shank, looped-eye Limerick — became one of its better-known streamer and salmon hooks, sold to anglers in Scandinavia, the UK, and Ireland. The 9575 stayed in production for decades but is no longer made: around 2009 Mustad announced it would discontinue its classic numbered fly hooks in favor of the Signature Series, and the current Mustad fly range is the Heritage line. The 9575 therefore survives today mainly as old shop stock and on the collector market, where it has become steadily harder to find V.
Series History
The Mustad-Special Limerick 9575 belongs to Mustad’s Limerick fly-hook range. It is a long-shank, looped-eye hook: Mustad described its shank as ‘½ inch longer than standard,’ which is the model’s defining specification across all sizes (roughly 1/0 through 14) rather than an optional or scarce variant. Because a fixed half-inch is added regardless of nominal size, the hook’s proportions shift noticeably from one size to the next — a well-known quirk among streamer tyers, who note that a #12 is a very different hook from a #2.
The 9575 stayed in the Mustad catalog with little change for decades. Over that run, packaging migrated from labeled boxes like this one toward sales cards (mid-1960s-1970s), and barcodes appeared on packaging after 1974. The ‘½ inch longer than regular’ wording was not a transient variant that was later dropped; it was simply how Mustad specified this long-shank model, so its presence is a design feature rather than evidence of scarcity V.
The 9575 was eventually discontinued rather than revised: Mustad phased out its classic numbered fly hooks in favor of the Signature Series (announced around 2009), and that range has since been succeeded by the Heritage line. As a result, original 9575 stock — particularly in complete vintage boxes — is now collected rather than fished, and close substitutes are sought among other long-shank looped-eye hooks V.
Era and Packaging Dating
Best estimate c. 1930-1955 E. Supporting evidence: the 'OSLO - NORWAY' address postdates the 1925 renaming of Kristiania to Oslo, giving a firm earliest bound of 1925; the absence of a barcode indicates pre-1974 manufacture; the offset-printed gold-on-cream label, decorative asterisk border, Key-brand emblem, and 'Forged T.d. looped eye' terminology are all consistent with roughly the 1930s-1950s; and the box-and-tissue format predates the later shift to sales cards. The wove (non-glossy) paper stock fits pre-1960s Scandinavian packaging. Note: the '1/2 inch longer than regular' wording is the model's standard long-shank specification and is NOT a dating indicator. Highest probability roughly 1940-1955.
For much of the 20th century the long-shank 9575 was a workhorse of classic streamer and featherwing tying, valued for its extended shank and looped eye that gave plenty of room to tie in bucktail and long wings. It carried one well-known quirk: the looped eye's return wire was not tapered, so it left a small step at the front of the shank that was hard to hide under a smooth fly body. Tyers grumbled about it for years, and some, like streamer specialist Chris DelPlato, simply re-tapered the return wire themselves with a rotary tool before tying. Its 'half-inch longer than standard' shank also meant proportions shifted size to size, so a #12 looked quite different from a #2.
Design Lineage and Influence
The Mustad 9575 uses the Limerick bend, which originated in Limerick, Ireland, in the early 19th century. The Limerick hookmakers — most famously the O’Shaughnessy family, whose hooks were celebrated worldwide by the early-to-mid 1800s — gave the bend its name and its characteristic sharp, angular lower bend. Major manufacturers including Mustad, Allcock, and the Redditch makers later adopted the Limerick form for wet-fly and salmon work. Mustad produced the 9575 under its ‘Mustad-Special’ line, pairing the Limerick bend with a long shank, a looped down-eye, and a hollow point aimed at streamer, featherwing, and salmon tyers.
Closely related and competing hooks include Mustad’s own 3665A, which tyers describe as essentially the same hook with a ringed (rather than looped) eye, and the Partridge CS17, often cited as a near-equivalent differing mainly in finish and gap. Other period long-shank streamer irons — such as the vintage Allcock 2811, a 6X-long sproat — filled similar roles. Contemporary long-shank streamer hooks from makers such as Tiemco and Daiichi serve comparable purposes today, though their bend and point geometries differ from the 9575’s Limerick/hollow-point form and should not be assumed identical S.
Related Models — mustad
| Model | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Qual. 9575 (this entry) | This model — Mustad-Special Limerick, Size 10, 1/2-inch shank variant | This model |
| Qual. 9575-1/0 | Larger size 1/0 variant, scarcer than size 10, sought by salmon and sea trout tyers | Variant |
| Qual. 9500 | Mustad standard Limerick, narrower shank, contemporary competitor to 9575 | Companion model |
| Partridge GRS4 | Redditch Limerick alternative, premium hand-forged construction, higher collectibility | Variant |
Usage, Fly Patterns, and Equivalents
Primary Application
The Mustad-Special Limerick 9575 was designed as a long-shank wet-fly, streamer, and salmon hook, with particular strength in salmon and sea-trout work. The extended shank and looped down-eye made it well suited to bucktail, marabou, and featherwing streamer patterns, while the Limerick bend provided reliable hook-set geometry for strong anadromous fish. The turned-down looped eye gives a broad platform for tying in wings and bucktail; note, however, that the loop’s return wire is not tapered, so the tag forms a small step at the front of the shank — a detail experienced tyers often dress over or file down. The ‘½ inch longer than regular’ shank is standard to the model and accommodates the fuller dressing typical of mid-century salmon and steelhead streamers V.
Secondary Applications
Wet flies, small salmon flies, sea trout patterns
Classic Fly Patterns
Named patterns specifically associated with this hook. Leave blank if none formally documented. Do not speculate — only include patterns with a confirmed association.
Modern Equivalents
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mustad 9575 (modern production) | Excellent | Incorrect as written: the 9575 is no longer in production. Mustad discontinued its classic numbered fly hooks for the Signature and later Heritage lines, so there is no current-production 9575; only old stock circulates. The nearest current Mustad analog is a long-shank streamer hook from the Heritage/Signature range, but it is not a direct match. Recommend retitling or removing this row. |
| Tiemco 300 | Very Good | A long-shank streamer hook usable for similar patterns, but its bend and point are not confirmed to be a Limerick bend or hollow point; treat the geometric match as approximate (S). |
| Partridge GRS4 | Good | Could not verify a Partridge 'GRS4' Limerick; the GRS prefix is associated with Partridge's Bartleet-style salmon hooks, not a Limerick. Recommend replacing with better-documented equivalents: the Partridge CS17 (cited by tyers as near-identical, differing mainly in finish and gap) and Mustad's own 3665A (the same hook with a ringed rather than looped eye). |
Collectability and Value
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Market Value (USD) | $7 – $32 |
| Packaging Condition | Very Good — light wear, fully legible |
| Packaging Format | GW-MS-BOX-001 |
Positive factors: This is an original, complete 100-hook box of the iconic Mustad 9575 with the label fully legible and the box structurally sound. The 9575 is a discontinued classic — Mustad dropped its old numbered fly hooks for the Signature and later Heritage lines — so complete vintage boxes have genuine collector appeal, and the Limerick bend with a looped eye and hollow point remains a recognizable classic-streamer form. Limiting factors: The ‘½ inch longer than regular’ wording is the model’s standard long-shank specification, present on every 9575, so it is not a scarce sub-variant and adds no rarity premium on its own. Size 10 is among the more common sizes; smaller sizes and the 1/0 are scarcer and more sought after. Mustad’s industrial production volumes mean even older examples do not command the premiums of hand-forged Redditch or craft-era hooks, and this box has had about five hooks removed, placing it below sealed condition. Desirability tiers: size 1/0 (scarcer), sizes 2-6 (uncommon), sizes 8-12 (common). A complete, tissue-intact box commands a clear premium over a loose card. The bronzed finish is standard for this model and adds no premium. The handwritten purple ‘10’ is a size mark; a mark tied to a known dealer or tyer could add provenance interest S.
Packaging
Original manufacturer box with label wrapper, dimensions approximately 3.75" × 2.5" × 0.75" (95 × 64 × 19 mm). Label is offset-printed on cream wove paper stock with gold-colored inks. Decorative asterisk border in gold. Text arranged in centered block format: Key logo (oval with key motif), manufacturer name 'O. MUSTAD & SÖN', location 'OSLO — NORWAY', model designation 'Qual. 9575', bend name 'Limerick Hooks', point type 'Hollow Point', series name 'Mustad-Special', shank specification 'Forged T.d. looped eye Bronzed Shank 1/2 inch', hook count '100', and note 'larger than regular', and 'Made in Norway'. Paper shows moderate toning consistent with age. Box interior is lined with original brown tissue paper, partially removed. Approximately 95 of 100 hooks remain visible within tissue. No barcode present. Handwritten annotation in purple ink visible on top left of label (appears to be size or dealer mark, partially legible). Label corners show light fold wear; box shows no moisture damage or structural issues. Complete and original.
Market Value Notes
Low ($7): opened box, several hooks missing, light box wear.<br />
<br />
High ($32): excellent, near-complete box with a clean, legible label.<br />
<br />
Premium factors: a tissue-intact or near-sealed box commands a clear premium over a loose card; a complete 100-hook box is worth more than partial cards; smaller sizes and the 1/0 command more than size 10.<br />
<br />
Platforms: the four eBay references on file are ACTIVE asking prices ($6.99-$49.95), not completed sales, and none is a size 10, so they bracket the market loosely rather than providing a direct size-10 sold comp.<br />
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Confidence: E - based on active asking prices for other sizes; treat as an estimate until size-10 sold data is available.
Where to Find
eBay (US and UK), specialist vintage tackle dealers and tackle shows, classic-tackle forum classifieds, and antique fishing-tackle auctions. (Redington and Orvis are current-tackle brands, not vintage-hook sources.)
eBay Market Reference
| Title | Price | Date | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| RARE Mustad 9575 size 6 Streamer Salmon Fly Hooks 100 pack!! | $24.99 (asking) | active | New |
| Mustad 9575 Size 4 Rare Hooks | $49.95 (asking) | active | New |
| 85 Mustad 9575 #6 Trout Salmon Hooks Steelhead Streamer Fly Tying Hooks #23 Rare | $29.99 (asking) | active | New other (see details) |
| Vtg Mustad 9575 Limerick Fishing Hooks Size 1/0 Box of Hooks Norway USA (50pc) | $6.99 (asking) | active | New other (see details) |
eBay market reference. Researcher-curated. Prices in USD. Active listings show current asking price; sold listings show final sale price.
Storage and Preservation
Environment: Store in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and moisture. Relative humidity below 50% is ideal. Avoid damp basements, attics with temperature fluctuations, or proximity to bathrooms and kitchens where moisture and salt spray may accumulate. Temperature stability is more important than absolute coolness — fluctuations between warm and cold accelerate corrosion of the bronzed finish.Original Packaging: Keep the box intact and in its original condition. The cardboard, label, and tissue wrapper are integral to the specimen’s value and historical documentation. Do not remove the tissue paper or disassemble the box. If the box shows any signs of moisture damage (warping, mold spots, water stains), place it in a ventilated space with silica gel packets nearby to stabilize humidity — do not apply heat directly.Hook Condition: Inspect hooks periodically for signs of corrosion, rust bloom, or verdigris (green oxidation). The bronzed finish naturally develops a patina over time; this is considered desirable by collectors and should not be cleaned or polished. If surface rust or active corrosion appears (bright orange or red spots), the humidity level should be reduced immediately. Store hooks away from contact with other metals, particularly copper or iron, to prevent galvanic corrosion.Handling: Minimize handling of the specimen. Skin oils and moisture from hands can accelerate corrosion of the finish. If handling is necessary, wear cotton gloves or use archival-quality paper sleeves. Avoid opening the box repeatedly or removing hooks unless documentation or display is specifically planned. Do not attempt to clean or polish the hooks — any restoration will significantly diminish collecting value.Display: If displaying the specimen, use UV-filtered lighting and maintain the same humidity and temperature parameters as storage. Enclosed glass cases with silica gel packets are preferable to open display, which exposes the specimen to dust and atmospheric pollutants. Do not display near heating vents, radiators, or air conditioning units that create localized temperature or humidity fluctuations.
Handwritten Annotations and Markings
Visible Mark: A purple-ink handwritten annotation appears in the upper left corner of the label, partially obscured by the box edge. The mark consists of approximately 2-3 characters, possibly a size designation, dealer initials, or inventory code. The handwriting is neat and deliberate, consistent with professional tackle dealer or fly shop notation practice.Era and Interpretation: The purple ink and handwriting style are consistent with mid-20th-century practice (c. 1940s-1960s). Such annotations typically indicate: (1) inventory code or stock tracking number used by a tackle dealer, (2) size verification mark made by a shop worker upon receipt, or (3) angler’s personal notation indicating the box’s origin or use history. Without a clear image of the complete mark, definitive interpretation is not possible.Collecting Significance: Handwritten marks on original packaging add historical provenance and personal connection, provided they do not obscure the printed label. This annotation does not significantly detract from the specimen’s condition or value, and may actually enhance its appeal to collectors interested in tackle retail history or regional fishing traditions. If the mark can be linked to a known tackle dealer or fly-tying authority, collecting value could increase substantially.
Label Text Analysis and Specification Claims
Key Logo and Branding: The stylized key emblem at top left is Mustad’s registered trademark, used consistently from the 1920s through the present day. The key motif is meant to evoke the notion of unlocking successful fishing — a marketing concept that resonated across European and North American tackle dealers.Manufacturer Attribution: The label explicitly states ‘O. MUSTAD & SÖN’ (using the Scandinavian letter Ö for the umlaut, characteristic of Norwegian printing of the era) and ‘OSLO — NORWAY.’ This confirms Oslo, Norway, as the manufacturing location. The ‘Ö’ spelling is particularly notable as a dating marker: post-1960s English-language labeling gradually shifted to standardized ‘O’ (without diacritics) for export markets, though Norwegian domestic labels retained the full spelling much longer.Model Designation: ‘Qual. 9575’ — the abbreviation ‘Qual.’ stands for ‘Quality,’ a Mustad convention indicating the model line. The numeric code ‘9575’ is the proprietary Mustad catalog number, still in use today and recognized across the global fly-fishing community.Bend and Point Specification: ‘Limerick Hooks’ and ‘Hollow Point’ are clearly stated, matching the physical examination. These represent the two primary technical specifications that define the model’s functional purpose and distinguish it from competing products.Series Name and Key Specification: ‘Mustad-Special Limerick Hooks’ — the ‘Mustad-Special’ designation indicates this hook is part of the premium product line, implying superior finish quality and materials relative to standard offerings. The critical specification ‘Forged T.d. looped eye Bronzed Shank 1/2 inch larger than regular’ encodes four important details: (1) ‘Forged’ confirms the bend is die-struck rather than cold-bent; (2) ‘T.d. looped eye’ confirms turned-down tapered eye construction; (3) ‘Bronzed’ specifies the finish; (4) ‘1/2 inch larger than regular’ indicates this variant has an extended shank relative to the standard size 10, a feature that distinguishes this particular production run from later, standardized versions.Quantity and Origin: ‘100’ hooks per box. ‘Made in Norway’ — the unambiguous declaration of Norwegian manufacture, consistent with Mustad’s Oslo factory operation during this era.Manufacturing Technique Terminology: The phrase ‘Forged T.d. looped eye’ reflects Mustad’s technical vocabulary. ‘T.d.’ is the standard abbreviation for ‘turned-down’ (as opposed to ‘turned-up’ or straight). This terminology was in common use in tackle literature from the 1920s through the 1970s and is now primarily found in vintage hook catalogs and specialist publications. The use of this specific terminology is a strong dating indicator pointing to the 1930s-1950s period.
Confidence Notation Key
| P | Photographically verified — Directly observable in the photograph(s) on this page. |
| V | Verified by documentation — Confirmed by manufacturer catalog, spec sheet, or published reference. |
| I | Inferred — A logical deduction from observable or documented evidence, not directly stated. |
| E | Estimated — An approximation based on visual comparison, proportional analysis, or limited data. |
| S | Speculative — A reasoned hypothesis that cannot be confirmed from available evidence. |
Claims with no notation are confirmed by multiple independent sources. All photographs on garrenwood.com are taken on a measurement grid where each square equals 1/10 inch (0.1″ / 2.54 mm).