Record summary

Allcocks W172 ‘Tie Perfect’ Trout Hook, Size 14, Bronzed Finish. A classic mid-twentieth-century trout hook manufactured by S. Allcock & Co. of Redditch, England. This size 14 sproat-bend hook represents the British industrial tradition of precision-forged fishing hooks, sold in original packaging of 100 hooks per card. The turned-up tapered eye, standard-wire sproat bend, and tapered point reflect traditional English hook geometry optimized for small dry and wet flies for trout and grayling.

The ‘Tie Perfect’ branding appears on packaging alongside ‘Model Perfect,’ suggesting Allcocks’ positioning of this hook as a reliable utility pattern for the postwar fly-fishing market. The rustproof designation and bronzed finish indicate awareness of corrosion resistance, important for hooks intended to withstand stream conditions over a fishing season. Original packaging bears US and Canadian registration marks (U.S.A. 166790, CANADA 117/272/29), evidencing international distribution during the 1950s.

This is a common model in larger sizes but size 14 represents a smaller utility size less frequently encountered in original packaging. The complete 100-hook card in excellent condition with bright, unoxidized hooks and original tissue wrapper represents an exemplary specimen of mid-century British production standards.

Technical profile

Eye

Tapered Eye, Turned Up Tapered eye (confirmed researcher measurement); fine gradual cone from wire to eye opening. Quality is uniform with no deformation. Eye sits above shank plane in classic turned-up configuration P.

Wire

Standard, Round

Shank

Standard — Plain

Bend

perfect, Standard gap Sproat bend with rounded bottom, smooth curve without visible offset. Bend sits in plane of shank; no kirbed offset present P. Depth and sweep appropriate for small trout fly work.

Point

Standard / Spear Short, close-cut barb positioned immediately behind point. Barb angle is acute (swept back toward shank); barb height is proportional to wire gauge. Single barb; no microbarbs present P.

Finish

Bronzed — Confirmed (stated on packaging) Bronzed finish confirmed warm brown tone throughout specimen. Steel grain texture visible beneath coating, consistent with bronzed (not blued or nickel) specification P. Finish is even and shows no wear, corrosion, or patina development despite age, indicating quality application and storage conditions.
Hooks are bright and show no corrosion or patina; finish is uniform bronzed throughout. Card exhibits light toning and minor edge wear consistent with age; original tissue wrapper present. All hooks appear to be complete count.

Historical context

allcock

S. Allcock & Co. (commonly known as Allcocks) was founded in Redditch, England, in the early nineteenth century and became one of Britain’s leading hook manufacturers by the mid-twentieth century. The company operated from Redditch, the historic center of English hook manufacturing, and maintained production through both World Wars. Allcocks’ reputation rested on consistent quality, strong distribution networks across the British Empire and North America, and competitive pricing relative to premium craft makers like Partridge of Redditch.

The ‘Tie Perfect’ and ‘Model Perfect’ branding appeared on postwar product lines and reflected Allcocks’ effort to position itself as a reliable, modern manufacturer of functional hooks for working fly fishers. The company was acquired by Mustad in 1965, after which Allcocks ceased independent production. The registration marks visible on this card (U.S.A. 166790, CANADA 117/272/29) indicate that Allcocks maintained international trademark protection and direct distribution to North America during the 1950s.

Series History

The W series designation appears to represent Allcocks’ postwar product line of standard hook patterns. The ‘Tie Perfect’ naming suggests a comprehensive range of utilitarian hooks intended for working fly tyers rather than premium collectors or specialized patterns. The W172 is a standard sproat-bend trout hook with no documented special geometry or feature; it represents the core of Allcocks’ commercial output during the 1950s-1960s period.

The model remained in production until Mustad’s acquisition of Allcocks in 1965, after which production was consolidated into Mustad’s Norwegian facilities. The W172 does not appear in Mustad’s post-acquisition catalogs, suggesting discontinuation rather than transfer to the Mustad numbering system.

Era and Packaging Dating

Package bears US and Canadian registration marks (U.S.A. 166790, CANADA 117/272/29), indicating post-1949 documentation and likely 1950s production. Offset lithography print quality and mauve/pink card stock are characteristic of 1950s British hook packaging. Text layout and logo treatment consistent with Allcocks mid-twentieth-century house style. No barcode present (barcode introduction c. 1974). Rustproof (stainless steel) designation suggests post-WWII manufacturing. The 'Tie Perfect' nomenclature and 'Model Perfect' branding are consistent with Allcocks 1950s product lines. Overall evidence points to 1950-1965 era, most likely early-to-mid 1950s based on card presentation.

Design lineage and influence

The sproat bend itself originated in nineteenth-century British hook manufacture and became the dominant trout fly hook pattern across the English-speaking world by the early twentieth century. The W172 represents a direct continuation of this tradition without significant modification or innovation. Competing designs from contemporaneous manufacturers included Partridge of Redditch’s exclusive patterns (which commanded premium prices for hand-forging and specialty geometries) and Mustad’s mass-produced equivalents (which undercut British manufacturers on price through Norwegian industrial efficiency).

The turned-up tapered eye became standard on trout hooks during the late nineteenth century, replacing blind-eye (spade-end) construction which had dominated salmon and sea-trout hooks. By the 1950s, the eye form on the W172 represented established, proven geometry with no technical development trajectory. The hook’s design did not notably influence downstream manufacturers; rather, it reflected consensus on optimal trout hook form across the industry.

Best matchRelated by Attribute

Computed automatically from catalog data — updated as new hooks are added.

Silhouette	Hook Model	Match	Analysis	Compare
	W173 No. 8 — W173 TDE Tapered Eye	86%	Matches: Bend, Wire, Gap, Eye, Point +4 moreDiffers: Shank: Standard vs 1X Long; Eye Orient.: Turned Up vs Turned Down; Application: Dry Fly, Wet Fly vs Dry Fly, Wet Fly, Nymph	Compare
	Blue Label 2x Fine TDE No. 14 — Blue Label	84%	Matches: Bend, Shank, Gap, Eye, Point +3 moreDiffers: Wire: Standard vs Fine (1X Fine); Eye Orient.: Turned Up vs Turned Down; Forging: Round vs Forged +1 more	Compare
	94842 — Viking	83%	Matches: Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +4 moreDiffers: Bend: Perfect vs Viking; Point: Standard / Spear vs Hollow Point; Forging: Round vs Forged	Compare
	7974 No. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 — Mustad 7974	82%	Matches: Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +4 moreDiffers: Bend: Perfect vs Viking; Point: Standard / Spear vs Hollow Point; Forging: Round vs Forged	Compare
	1810 TUE — Best Hollow Point Sproat	80%	Matches: Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +3 moreDiffers: Bend: Perfect vs Sproat; Point: Standard / Spear vs Hollow Point; Application: Dry Fly, Wet Fly vs Dry Fly, Wet Fly, Nymph	Compare

ExploratoryRelated by Shape (SVG)

Ranked purely by silhouette geometry — attribute labels are ignored.

Silhouette	Hook Model	Match	Compare
	Blue Label 2x Fine TDE No. 14 — Blue Label	99%	Compare
	3141 No. 6 — Mustad Best Kirby Hooks	99%	Compare
	94840 No. 10 — Mustad 94840	99%	Compare
	W 205 No. 12 — Sproat Hook	99%	Compare
	198 No. 2 — Samuel Allcock 198 Flatted Eye	99%	Compare

Cross-reference & comparisons

Primary Application

The W172 size 14 is a utility dry and wet fly hook intended for small trout and grayling in streams and rivers. The sproat bend with standard wire gauge provides adequate strength for small mayfly and caddisfly imitations while maintaining enough delicacy for fine leaders and precise presentation. The turned-up tapered eye accommodates small-diameter tippets and produces minimal water disturbance, important for selective trout in clear water.

Classic Fly Patterns

Standard dry fly and wet fly patterns for size 14: March Brown, Greenwells Glory, Blue Dun, Iron Blue, Partridge and Orange, Snipe and Purple

Modern Equivalents

Collector notes

Rated 3.5/10 — Common in standard sizes (14-16) but less frequently encountered in original packaging with full hook count intact. Collector demand is modest; primarily of interest to Redditch hook historians and vintage British tackle collectors rather than active fly tyers. The complete card in excellent condition adds moderate premium over loose hooks.

Positive factors: Original packaging with manufacturer markings and registration details is an asset for collectors of packaging history and mid-century industrial design. The bright, unoxidized bronze finish and complete 100-hook count demonstrate quality preservation over 70+ years. Allcocks hooks have modest following among British tackle collectors and Redditch tradition enthusiasts. The card format with tissue wrapper is increasingly scarce as packaging deteriorates with age.

Limiting factors: The W172 is a utilitarian, mass-produced hook with no special geometry or design distinction. Larger sizes (18-20) remain more common than size 14, but the model itself was produced in high volume and has not become genuinely scarce. The sproat bend and standard point style are standard patterns available from many manufacturers in both vintage and modern forms. No named designer or special collaboration elevates collector interest. Condition of the card (light toning, minor edge wear) is good but not mint; the value premium is moderate rather than substantial.

Size and finish variants: All available sizes appear to have been produced in bronzed finish. Size 14 is slightly less common than sizes 12-16 in the original card format. Complete cards with all 100 hooks intact command a premium; cards with missing hooks decline in value proportionally to loss.

Condition factors: Original tissue wrapper presence is a notable positive; cards without original tissue are valued slightly lower. Hooks with no corrosion or patina fetch the highest prices. Card printing condition (ink fade, edge splitting) affects package value independently of hook condition.

Packaging

Pink/mauve sales card with red border frame. Printed in red and black offset lithography on medium-weight cardboard. Header: 'No. W172' with red stag rampant logo. Text: 'MADE IN ENGLAND' (red), 'Qty. 100' (red), 'ALLCOCKS' (black), 'Tie Perfect' (partially overprinted), 'STRAIGHT MODEL PERFECT' (red), 'RECD. U.S.A. 166790, CANADA 117/272/29' (red), 'RUSTPROOF HOOKS' (red), size '14' in large black numerals, 'ALLCOCKS, REDDITCH, ENGLAND' at bottom (black). Original tissue wrapping visible in package image. Card stock appears mid-twentieth century standard; print quality consistent with 1950s-1960s offset production.

Market Value Notes

Low ($6): Good condition—card opened, some toning and minor wear, all or most hooks present and bright.<br />
High ($14): Excellent/Mint condition—sealed or near-sealed original card, full 100-hook count, minimal wear, original tissue wrapper intact.<br />
Premium factors: Original tissue wrapper, full hook count, card printing clarity, bright unoxidized finish, Allcocks branding and British manufacture appeal.<br />
Platforms: eBay (primarily UK and US listings), occasional vintage tackle dealers, Redditch hook specialist auctions.<br />
Confidence: E estimated—limited specific sales data for size 14 W172 in original packaging; range based on comparable Allcocks trout hook cards and general mid-century British hook values.

Where to Find

eBay UK (most common venue for British vintage hooks); occasional appearance on eBay US. Redditch tackle fairs and specialist hook dealers (primarily UK and Europe). Online vintage fishing tackle forums and dealers specializing in British production hooks. Complete cards less frequently listed than individual loose hooks.