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The Mustad 8400 Kirby Eel Hooks represent O. Mustad & Son’s standard live-bait offering for pike, perch, and eels. Manufactured in Gjøvik, Norway, this No. 6 specimen displays the defining characteristics of the series: offset kirbed bend, upturned cross eye, short fine-wire shank, and black japanned finish.
The cross eye is oriented horizontally rather than in the standard vertical plane, a specific design choice for eel rigging that minimizes line angle during live-bait presentation. The superior point geometry (near-straight inner taper) provides penetration without tearing delicate bait flesh, while the wide gap accommodates substantial eels or deadbaits.
This example arrives in an original Mustad manufacturer box sealed with 100 hooks, bearing a printed yellow lid with black letterpress text and the characteristic snowflake border motif. No printed barcode is visible, and the paper stock and typography are consistent with manufacture in the 1950s–early 1960s. The packaging is now uncommon in surviving collections.
The Kirby Eel remains of interest to pike and coarse-fishing specialists and to tackle historians studying the transition from blind-eye to eyed-hook dominance. Complete original boxes are particularly sought after.
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Turned Up Cross Eye | Kirby (offset) | Short (1X–2X Short) | Fine (1X Fine) Wire | Superior Point | Black Japanned
The superior point geometry (near-straight inner taper) was engineered to provide reliable penetration without the knife-edge fragility of a hollow-point alternative. Fine wire allows the hook to penetrate live eel skin and flesh without visible damage, an important consideration for catch-and-release live-bait fishing traditions in Scandinavia.
The cross eye (horizontal orientation) reduces the angle between line and hook shank during the cast and fight, improving leverage and reducing the twisting motion that can tear bait or cause line abrading. This was an empirical refinement based on generations of pike-fishing practice.
The short shank-to-gap ratio (~1.96 : 1) is intentional: a shorter shank keeps the hook head compact when rigged with live eels, reducing fouling on grass and allowing the bait to swim naturally without excessive leverage from the hook weight.
Black japanned lacquer was the standard finish for bait hooks in this era, providing superior corrosion resistance in freshwater compared to bronzed alternatives. The glossy appearance also discouraged fish from detecting the hook visually—a concern for live-bait work in clear water.
Known manufactured size range: 2-16 I
Physical measurement with calipers
This pattern was made in sizes 2-16 (I). We have measurement for size 6. Know the others? Submit calipered measurements and we'll review and add them. Thank you!
O. Mustad & Son was established in Gjøvik, Norway in 1877 and became one of the world’s largest hook manufacturers by the early 20th century. The company maintained extensive catalogs of eyed and blind-eye hooks across all major bend families, served both European and North American markets, and pioneered efficient production methods that allowed price points below hand-forged Redditch competitors while maintaining quality standards.
Mustad introduced dedicated eel-hook lines in the 1920s–1930s as live-bait pike and perch fishing became institutionalized in Northern Europe. The Superior brand designation was applied broadly across multiple product lines as a marker of reliable construction rather than a specific point style, though “Superior Point” (the near-straight taper) was a genuine Mustad specification introduced alongside hollow-point alternatives.
By the 1950s, when this box was produced, Mustad had consolidated its leadership in Scandinavia, Britain, and the eastern United States. The use of quality cardboard boxes (rather than cheaper cards) for 100-hook packages indicates this was a premium line within the eel-hook category.
The Kirby bend family predates Mustad’s dominance of the market; it originated as a Redditch design for pike and sea-trout fishing in the mid-19th century. The offset left (kirbed) geometry accommodates the natural swim path of live eels and provides a superior hooking angle for head-shy baits.
Mustad acquired rights to Redditch-derived bend families and integrated them into their catalog by the early 1900s. The eel-hook line evolved through several iterations: blind-eye spade-end versions dominated into the 1930s, eyed variants became standard by the 1950s, and the cross-eye configuration appears to be a Mustad-specific refinement intended to further minimize line splay during casting.
The model 8400 designation does not appear in early Mustad catalogs; it was likely assigned during a catalog reorganization in the 1950s. Size range ran from No. 2 (pike) through No. 16 (perch and small trout), with No. 6 and No. 8 being the most commonly stocked sizes. Production of the eel-hook line continued through the 1970s, though demand declined as plastic eel baits and modern spinner designs captured market share.
No printed barcode visible on the box, a strong indicator of pre-1974 manufacture V. The letterpress typography and ornamental snowflake border motif are consistent with mid-century Mustad packaging; later boxes (1960s onward) shifted toward offset lithography and simpler geometric patterns. The paper stock is manila/kraft with light toning, consistent with 1950s aging. The "Made in Norway" statement without additional country-of-origin qualifiers became standard on Mustad exports after 1950 in response to trade regulations. The yellow color and absence of modernized product information (no weight listings, no metric sizes) point to the pre-metrication era (pre-1970). The model code 8400 appears in Mustad catalogs dating to 1955–1960 but not in earlier or later listings. Collectively, the evidence suggests manufacture in the 1950s, most likely 1950–1960, with a narrowed range of c. 1950–1965 accounting for catalog overlap into the early 1960s.
Pike fishermen in Scandinavia and Britain developed strong preferences for eel-hook designs during the mid-20th century, and the position of the eye became a subject of ongoing refinement. While most kirby patterns adopted a standard turned-up eye, Mustad's engineers observed that eels—particularly live ones—thrash and rotate vigorously during the cast and fight. A horizontal cross eye reduced the angle between the line and hook shank, minimizing the twisting leverage that could tear the eel's delicate skin or cause the line to fray against hook edges. This seemingly small design change was never formally marketed as a feature, yet it became a signature of Mustad's eel-hook range and influenced later offerings by other manufacturers. By the 1970s, however, the rise of plastic eel baits and modern pike spinners rendered the distinction obsolete, and the cross-eye eel hook quietly faded from most catalogs.
The kirbed bend originated in Redditch, England, as a solution for pike fishing with live eels and small fish baits. English makers like Allcock, Sealey, and Partridge offered blind-eye spade-end kirbys from the 1880s onward. Mustad adopted the design early and standardized the eyed variant by the 1920s.
The cross-eye orientation represents a refinement particular to Mustad’s mid-century eel offerings and does not appear consistently in other manufacturers’ kirby lines. This was a manufacturing differentiation, not a widespread industry standard.
Modern descendants include the Mustad 3399 (also a kirby, though with more tapered shank) and various dedicated eel hooks offered by Partridge and Kamasan. The cross-eye configuration has become rare; most contemporary kirby designs revert to the standard turned-up eye.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
204 CY No. 3 — Hameçons Irlandais-Mustad | 77% | Compare | |
|
1536 No. 6 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks | 75% | Compare | |
|
1505 No. 4 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks | 68% | Compare | |
|
31363 No. 10 — Mustad-Crystal Hook | 68% | Compare | |
|
3177 No. 10 — Superior Barbless Hooks | 66% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3739 A No. 4 — Mustad 3739 A | 99% | Compare |
|
100 No. 14 — Kinsey Hook | 98% | Compare |
|
722 No. 17/0 — Mustad 722 | 98% | Compare |
|
9243 A No. 3 — Viking Hooks | 97% | Compare |
|
9260 D No. true — beak-hooks | 97% | Compare |
The Kirby Eel Hooks were designed for live eel and dead bait fishing, particularly for pike, perch, and large trout. The offset kirbed bend, wide gap, and upturned eye accommodate substantial bait presentations. The superior point geometry provides reliable penetration with natural baits, while the short shank keeps the hook head compact for live-bait rigging. Fine wire was preferred for bait hooks to minimize trauma to live eels while maintaining adequate strength.
Saltwater bait fishing for bass and rays; coarse fishing for pike and catfish.
Not typically used for fly tying.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mustad 3399 Kirby | Very Good | Direct modern successor; same bend family, eyed design, but with tapered shank and standard (not cross) eye orientation |
| Partridge Vital PAL | Good | Contemporary dedicated eel hook, similar bend and wide gap, but different eye type (looped) |
| Kamasan B270 Specimen Eel Hook | Good | Modern equivalent for live-eel and deadbait pike fishing, turned-up eye, kirby-adjacent geometry |
Rated 4.5/10 — uncommon as a complete original manufacturer box, but the model itself is not rare in isolation. The cross-eye configuration is scarce among surviving eel hooks, and collector demand for complete eyed eel-hook boxes is modest but steady. Condition and packaging format significantly affect value.
Positive factors: Original manufacturer box is notably scarce—eel hooks were often sold loose or on cards. Sealed or near-sealed box with full hook count is the rarest variant. The cross-eye configuration is not widely documented in other manufacturers’ eel-hook lines and serves as a point of interest for Mustad specialists. The mid-century packaging (1950s typography and paper stock) is now visibly aged and collectable on its own merits. Complete 100-hook boxes from the 1950s rarely survive; most were opened and depleted in use.
Limiting factors: Eel hooks themselves are not as universally collected as dry-fly hooks or the classic Limerick/Sproat patterns. Pike and coarse fishing, while historically significant, command a smaller collector base than trout-fly patterns. The model is not exceptionally rare—Mustad produced eel hooks in substantial numbers. Modern catch-and-release fishing has reduced demand for live-eel rigs, and the hook has no fly-tying applications.
Most desirable variant: Complete box in very good or excellent condition. Sealed box with untouched tissue is museum-quality but extremely rare. Opened box with all 100 hooks present commands a moderate premium. Individual hooks or partially-depleted boxes are worth 40–60% of the full-box value.
Condition factors: Box printing clarity and color retention matter significantly; faded or water-stained lids reduce value 20–30%. Hook integrity is expected; any corrosion or finish loss is unusual and devalues the specimen. Presence of original tissue wrapper adds 10–15% to value.
Rigid manufacturer box with yellow paper-covered lid and base. Top lid printed in black letterpress with ornamental snowflake border. Printed text reads: "Key Brand / O. MUSTAD & SON / Manufacturers / OSLO — NORWAY / Qual. 8400 / Superior / Mustad-Kirby Eel Hooks / 100 / Eyed Black / No. 6 / Made in Norway". Original tissue wrapping visible inside. Paper stock is period manila/kraft, consistent with pre-1960s manufacture. No printed price visible. Dimensions approximately 4.5" × 3.25" × 0.75" I.
Low ($18): Good condition — opened box, all 100 hooks present, box lid shows creasing and moderate toning, minor wear to corners, hooks are clean. High ($50): Excellent condition — sealed or near-sealed box, all hooks in place, original tissue visible, box lid shows minimal wear, printing remains crisp, no corrosion or handling marks. Premium factors: Sealed box; complete hook count; box printing clarity; presence of original tissue wrapper; cross-eye configuration (scarce variant). Platforms: Specialist vintage tackle dealers, UK eBay, European fishing-tackle auctions, garrenwood.com reference sales. Confidence: E estimated — based on limited recent sales of complete eel-hook boxes and comparison to Mustad bait-hook variants. Eel hooks are less frequently tracked than dry-fly patterns, and complete box sales are infrequent. Values assume original retail packaging; loose hooks would realize 60% of these figures.
UK eBay (vintage fishing) and specialist dealers in Scandinavia and Britain. Complete boxes are more common in European sales venues (tacklauktioner.se, Swedish antique fairs) than North American eBay. Mustad distributor stocks from the 1950s–1960s occasionally surface at regional tackle swaps and country-house estate sales in England and Scotland. Not typically stocked by modern fishing retailers.
| 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).
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