Garren WoodFishing Hook Reference
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The Mustad 3319 A is a mid-20th-century bass and general bait hook manufactured by O. Mustad & Son in Gjøvik, Norway. This size No. 20 specimen carries a yellow-printed label identifying it as part of Mustad’s Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks product line, with a distinctive Cincinnati Bend — a deep, rounded throat with slightly inward-pointing tip mounted on a standard shank.
The hook features a turned-down ball eye, standard round wire, and a bronzed finish. The ‘Superior’ marking on the package refers to Mustad’s Superior product line (a brand designation), not the Superior point geometry; photographic examination confirms a near-straight, superior-style point with minimal inner concavity P. The absence of a barcode, Oslo address format, and mid-century yellow label all point to production between the 1950s and mid-1960s V.
Collecting interest centers on the Cincinnati Bend’s regional significance to American Midwestern bait fishing and the hook’s integration into Mustad’s mid-century export strategy. The condition of this packaging—clear lettering, intact label, minimal toning—enhances its appeal to tackle historians and Mustad collectors.
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Cincinnati Bass Bend | Turned-Down Ball Eye | Bronzed Finish | Standard Wire | Superior Point
The Superior Point on this hook features a near-straight inner taper from barb to tip with a nearly flat inside face, minimizing the concavity typical of Hollow Points. This geometry is a manufacturing choice reflecting Mustad’s design philosophy: Superior points are easier and faster to forge in high-volume production, slightly less likely to catch on bait cartilage during insertion, and more durable for repeated-use bait fishing where the hook must endure handling of tough live baits.
The Turned-Down Ball Eye is formed by tapering the wire and creating a distinct rounded ball at the eye end, then bending the entire shank downward so the eye points below the plane of the hook (turned down rather than straight or turned up). This construction allows anglers to attach their line securely without a knot-catching edge and provides a neater fly-head finish for those few anglers who might tie this as a wet-fly-fishing or streamer option, though it is primarily marketed as a bait hook.
The Bronzed Finish is a vintage hot-salt-bath oxidation process that imparts a warm, dark brown-gold patina to carbon steel. Bronzed hooks are prized by collectors for their aesthetic appeal and their susceptibility to developing beautiful patinas with age, but they require careful dry storage to prevent flash rusting. The finish provides modest corrosion resistance adequate for freshwater fishing but not sufficient for saltwater conditions.
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Sources: this specimen and its packaging.
The Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks product line was designed to appeal to American freshwater bait anglers, particularly in the Midwest where the Cincinnati Bend had established a strong reputation for bass and general bait fishing. The Cincinnati Bend itself predates Mustad’s adoption of the name; the bend style originated in the American Midwest and became associated with bass fishing tradition. Mustad’s decision to brand this specific bend and market it explicitly as ‘Cincinnati Bass Hooks’ reflects the company’s understanding of regional fishing preferences and its commitment to supplying hooks tailored to specific American fishing traditions.
This product line spans multiple sizes (commonly No. 8 through No. 20 for bait work) and appears across several eras of Mustad packaging. The 3319 A designation indicates a Quality-grade hook, suggesting mid-tier pricing and materials—good enough for serious anglers but not the premium ‘Supreme’ or highest-specification lines. The line remained in production through at least the 1970s, though packaging formats evolved significantly; later versions moved away from yellow-label cards toward plastic packaging and simplified designs.
1. No barcode visible on package — strong indicator of pre-1974 manufacture. 2. Address format 'Oslo - Norway' is typical of Mustad export packaging c. 1945–1970; later packages used 'Gjøvik' or more modern postal codes. 3. Yellow paper label with black letterpress printing is characteristic of mid-20th-century Scandinavian hook packaging; the paper stock and print method suggest offset or flexible letterpress rather than full lithography. 4. 'Key Brand' logo with stylized key motif is consistent with Mustad's mid-century branding; earlier (pre-WWII) packages featured more ornate lithography and heraldic designs; later (1970s+) designs moved toward plastic and simplified graphics. 5. Phone number format (Oslo office) uses the old Norwegian area code format without country code, typical of 1950s–1960s business cards. 6. Size range (No. 8 through No. 20 indicated) and hook style (Cincinnati Bend) are consistent with mid-century bait-hook catalogs. Conclusion: c. 1950s–1965, most likely 1955–1962.
The Cincinnati Bend takes its name from Cincinnati, Ohio—a major American hub for tackle distribution and a center of freshwater bass-fishing tradition in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mustad's decision to brand and explicitly market this bend as 'Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks' reflects the company's sophisticated understanding of regional American fishing preferences. By naming a hook design after a major American city, Mustad signaled to Midwestern anglers that they were using the 'authentic' Cincinnati pattern, even though the bend itself had been in use for decades. This marketing strategy was remarkably effective and helped Mustad dominate the American bait-hook market throughout the mid-20th century.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3123 A No. 8 — Mustad-Limerick Hooks | 68% | Compare | |
|
3164 A No. 2 (P) — 3164 A | 64% | Compare | |
|
3399 No. 3/0 — Mustad 3399 | 62% | Compare | |
|
3135 No. (unspecified) — 3135 Best Kirby Hooks | 62% | Compare | |
|
2639 R No. 8 — Quality 2639 R Sneck Bent | 62% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9863 No. 1 — Mustad 9863 Kendal Kirby | 83% | Compare |
|
5887 No. 100 — No. 5887 Sproat Hook | 81% | Compare |
|
B830 No. 8 — Trout Classic Long | 79% | Compare |
|
3756 No. 17 — Mustad 3756 | 78% | Compare |
|
3822 No. 1/0 — Mustad 3822 | 78% | Compare |
The Mustad 3319 A Cincinnati Bass Hook was designed primarily for live bait fishing for bass and other freshwater gamefish. The Cincinnati Bend’s deep, rounded throat and slightly inward-pointing tip provide excellent ‘holding power’ — the hook’s ability to remain firmly set once a fish has taken the bait. This made it particularly effective for minnow fishing, where live baits require a robust bend geometry to resist shaking free during a fight. The size No. 20 is suited to small baits and panfish, though the Cincinnati line extends to larger sizes (No. 8, No. 6) for bigger baits and larger gamefish.
The Superior point style (confirmed by photographic examination) offers a near-straight inner taper that pierces cleanly through tough bait cartilage and scales without requiring excessive hook sharpness, making it reliable for extended bait soaking. Historically, this hook was favored by Midwestern bass anglers and appears frequently in vintage tackle boxes from the 1950s–1960s era.
General freshwater bait fishing; catfish and panfish when used in larger sizes
Named patterns specifically associated with this hook. Leave blank if none formally documented. Do not speculate — only include patterns with a confirmed association.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mustad 9671 | Good | 2XL Nymph Hook; similar shank length and bend radius, but modern materials and finish; lacks the historical character and warming finish tone |
| Tiemco 200R | Moderate | Curved bend with extended shank; closer to Viking-style than Cincinnati, but similar overall profile and intended use for larger baits |
| Gamakatsu Octopus | Moderate | Round bend with turned-down eye; widely used for live-bait work today, though point style and finish differ from vintage Mustad |
Yellow paper label (approximately 2.5" × 1.75") affixed to a cream-colored cardboard backing. The label features a printed border of small black floral motifs (four-petaled flowers) enclosing centered text in a mix of fonts: large bold letters for 'Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks,' smaller regular type for model and specifications. Header reads 'O. MUSTAD & SON, MANUFACTURERS, OSLO - NORWAY.' Below this: 'Qual. 3319 A' (bold), 'Brand Superior' (smaller type), 'Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks' (largest, bold), '100' (quantity, left side), 'T. d. ball-eye Bronzed' (specifications, center), 'No. 20' (size, lower center), 'Made in Norway' (lower right). All text is printed via offset lithography or flexible letterpress in black on the yellow background. The card stock is standard kraft-pulp construction, cream-colored on the reverse. A single hook is wire-stapled through the eye to the label as a sample. The overall condition shows minimal toning of the yellow paper and no damage to the label or backing card.
Identify this hook by: (1) Model code ‘Quality 3319 A’ printed on yellow label. (2) ‘Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks’ branding. (3) Turned-down ball eye and bronzed finish. (4) Yellow label with ‘Oslo – Norway’ address (no barcode). (5) Size marking ‘No. 20’. Do not confuse with other Mustad bass hooks (e.g., 3319 B, which is a different bend variant; or later plastic-packaged versions of the same model). The yellow label format is distinctive and rarely appears on post-1970s Mustad packaging.
Store this hook in a cool, dry environment, ideally away from direct sunlight and humidity fluctuations. The bronzed finish is susceptible to flash rusting in damp conditions; if stored with other hooks, place acid-free paper or cloth between different metal types to prevent galvanic corrosion. The yellow paper label is fragile and fades with light exposure — consider storing the original box in an opaque, acid-free container to preserve the label’s color and legibility.
If the hook shows signs of surface rust (a light brown dusting), gently dry it with a soft cloth and store immediately in a dry location; do not attempt to remove rust with abrasive materials, as this may damage the finish and reduce collector value. The bronzed finish will naturally develop a deeper patina with age in dry storage, which many collectors find aesthetically desirable.
Original packaging adds significant value — keep the hook on its original card rather than storing it loose. If the card must be handled, do so infrequently and with dry hands to avoid transferring moisture or oils to the paper.
The specimen photographed shows no visible handwritten annotations, price marks, distributor stamps, or serial numbers on the label or card. The label and card appear to be original factory-printed packaging with no secondary marking. This is consistent with store-stock inventory that was never marked or coded by a retailer.
| 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. |
Unnotated claims are the compiler’s synthesis; see 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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