Garren WoodFishing Hook Reference
Evidence reviewed September 30, 2026. Marks: P photographically · V verified · I inferred · E estimated · S speculative What they mean
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The H. Milward & Sons Iron Arm Spear Pointed Limerick is documented here in two boxed sizes, 2/0 and 4/0, each with a hook, a box and a label P. The two labels are different printings.
Both labels print “Quality 1937”, and neither carries a date.
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Check the hook against the label wording. The point tapers straight to the tip P, the eye is a closed round ring in line with the shank P, and the bend is a smooth rounded arc P.
Two label printings are recorded. The 2/0 label is set in mixed case, reads “Made in England.” and “The Iron Arm.”, and prints no count. The 4/0 label is set in capitals, prints “100” before the size, and adds “Reg. U.S. Pat Off.” across the top P.
Both labels print “Quality 1937”. Neither names the maker; the Iron Arm device is the identifying mark V.
| Feature | Recorded | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Eye | Ball Eye, Straight / InlineShow noteHide noteClosed round ring in line with the shank, untapered P. The wire end turns back against the shank; the join’s construction is not visible. The 4/0 eye matches P. | OBS-1OBS-8 |
| Wire | Fine (1X Fine), Round, est. ~0.036" (~0.9 mm) | CMP-3MEA-4CMP-3 compared with 116 catalogued hooks classified Fine (1X Fine) |
| Shank | 1X Long — Plain | CMP-1MEA-9MEA-2CMP-1 compared with 103 catalogued hooks classified 1X Long |
| Bend | Limerick, Standard gapShow noteHide noteSmooth rounded arc from the shank, turning in beneath the barb; point directed back toward the eye P. Depth on the 2/0 is about 13 mm E. | OBS-5OBS-12OBS-2OBS-9MEA-3 |
| Point | Standard / SpearShow noteHide noteSingle barb cut from the inner face, tip pointing back toward the bend P. Root to point tip: about 5.2 mm on the 2/0, 6.5 mm on the 4/0 E. | OBS-3OBS-10LBL-1LBL-10OBS-4OBS-11MEA-5MEA-8 |
| Finish | Black Japanned — judged from the photographsShow noteHide noteGlossy black coating on the 2/0, satin black on the 4/0 P. Labels do not name the finish; photographs cannot separate japanned lacquer from other black coatings. | OBS-6OBS-13 |
The point tapers straight to the tip on both faces, with no concave grind on the inner face P. Both sizes show the same form P.
The wire is round and fine for the size, about 0.9 mm on the 2/0 by grid estimate E. The shank is plain and straight, with no ridges or kinks P. No offset is visible with the hook flat on the grid P.
| Size | Overall length | Shank length | Gap width | Bend depth | Wire diameter | Weight | Shank:gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/0Specimen S1 | 37.3 mm PcaliperMEA-1 | 24.1 mm Egrid photoMEA-9 | 11.7 mm PcaliperMEA-2 Check: The evidence record measured 11.68 mm (MEA-2). | 13.1 mm Egrid photoMEA-3 Check: The evidence record measured 13.2 mm (MEA-3). | 0.93 mm Egrid photoMEA-4 | — | ~2.0-2.2 : 1 |
We have measurement for size 2/0. Know any others? Submit calipered measurements and we'll review and add them. Thank you!
This record documents 2 specimens. Each describes itself only; none stands for every example of the model.
Two hooks from this box appear in one photograph. The hook count in the box is not recorded.
Spear Limerick Made in
Pointed Hooks England.
The Iro[?] Arm.
No. 2/O Ringed. Quality 1937
i
Spear Limerick Made in Pointed Hooks England. The Iro[?] Arm. No. 2/O Ringed. Quality 1937 i
Care of this specimen: Handle the box by its sides. The label corner is lifted and the card edges are frayed; store the box flat.
The label prints a count of 100. The box contents were not photographed, so the count is not confirmed. Measurements for this size are grid estimates.
Reg. U.S. Pat Off.
Spear Limerick MADE IN
Pointed Hooks. ENGLAND.
IRO[?] A[?]M.
100 No. 4/O Ringed. Quality 1937
m
Reg. U.S. Pat Off. Spear Limerick MADE IN Pointed Hooks. ENGLAND. IRO[?] A[?]M. 100 No. 4/O Ringed. Quality 1937 m
Neither photographed hook shows rust P. Coating wear and flaws are recorded under each specimen.
Keep the boxes in a cool, dry place with stable humidity. Both photographed hooks show chipped or scuffed coating, and bare steel at those points can rust in damp air. A packet of silica gel in the storage container helps in humid rooms.
Do not clean, polish or recoat the hooks. Rubbing lifts more coating, and any new coating changes the hook as a period example.
Leave the labels as they are. On the 2/0 box the label corner is lifted and the card edges are frayed, so handle the box by its sides and store it flat. Keep the hooks with their box and away from direct sunlight.
Pattern 1937 is documented in two sizes, 2/0 and 4/0 P. No source located for this entry gives the years the pattern was offered or its full size range.
Both labels pair “Limerick” with “Spear Pointed” and “Ringed”. No source located for this entry describes where this combination of bend, point and eye originated.
Neither label prints a date. Both print “Quality 1937”, and no source located for this entry says what the number denotes. Dealers date other Milward items bearing the Iron Arm mark to about 1900 and about 1959, so the mark alone does not place these boxes.
Neither label states an intended use or names a fly pattern. No period catalog or source located for this entry describes how the pattern was used.
Rated 4.5/10: the two label printings and the 100-count 4/0 box give collectors variants to compare. No count of surviving boxes and no recorded sale is available, so nothing shows the model to be scarce.
Collectors can look for both label printings, on a size 2/0 box and a size 4/0 box P. The 4/0 printing adds a printed count of 100 P.
Dealer listings show the Iron Arm mark on a Milward rod and on a Milward Bartleet tin V.
No count of surviving boxes, catalog listing or recorded sale is available for this pattern, so its scarcity is not established.
Insufficient recorded sales data to estimate a reliable value.
0 sold observations recorded; 2 are needed, with the basis and date of the range, before a value is shown. Asking prices are shown as asking prices only.
No recorded sold sales support the value range shown. Readers with recorded sales for this pattern can submit them.
Source: Milward Iron Arm box labels, sizes 2/0 and 4/0, photographed from the original packaging
Both labels print “Quality 1937” beside the size, and neither carries a date. No source located for this entry says what the number denotes. Two differently set labels carry the same number, which fits a pattern number better than a printing date I.
“Reg. U.S. Pat Off.” sits above the Iron Arm device. Read literally, it records a registration with the United States Patent Office, and its position suggests the mark is the subject I. The 2/0 label carries no such notice.
The small letters at the left margin of the 2/0 label (“i”) and the right margin of the 4/0 label (“m”) are printed with the label. Their meaning is unknown.
No handwriting, pencil marks, price notations or stamps are visible on the top face of either box. The other faces of both boxes are not photographed, so marks there cannot be ruled out.
Entry last updated September 23, 2026. Entries are updated as new specimens, measurements, or documents come to light.
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