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Mustad 722 — O. Mustad & Son, Norway
The Mustad 722 is a legendary oversized saltwater hook, size 17/0, designed for commercial shark fishing and big-game application. The defining feature is its flatted spade-eye construction — a forged, flattened terminus without a loop or ring — paired with an extra-heavy forged wire and a deep O’Shaughnessy bend. The specimen bears an “M” stamp impressed into the flatted eye, Mustad’s quality mark for overseas export markets in the mid-to-late 20th century.
Era evidence includes the “Key Brand” logo with blue and white graphic design on the packaging label (characteristic of Mustad export boxes c. 1968–1982), offset-printed label stock, and the absence of a barcode (pre-1974 strong indicator, though production likely extended into the 1980s). The package documents “MUSTAD” with bilingual labeling (“NORWAY / NORVÈGE”), “KEYBRAND” retailer mark in upper right, and handwritten annotations (722, 17/0, 30) on the front label.
This is a scarce collectible — the combination of enormous size, specialized flatted-eye construction, and limited survivor stock makes 17/0 examples sought after by hook historians and saltwater tackle specialists. The flatted eye design reflects pre-modern rigging practices when heavy wire leaders were wrapped directly onto the shank rather than looped through a ring. Museum-quality examples with intact original packaging command strong collector interest.
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The flatted eye design served a critical function in pre-modern offshore fishing practice. Heavy monofilament or wire leaders were manually wrapped and seized (tied) directly onto the flattened shank end, creating a secure connection without relying on a loop or ring that might slip or fail under extreme load. The “M” stamp guaranteed the steel’s quality and origin to overseas buyers.
The extra-heavy forged wire provides lateral strength to withstand compression forces when setting the hook in the cartilaginous jaws of large sharks and deepwater species. The hollow point — with its inwardly curved, concave inner face — provides a knife-edge cutting geometry that is effective on tough, leathery tissue. The O’Shaughnessy bend offers maximum gape and penetration relative to the wire gauge.
The tinned (Duratin) finish was specifically formulated for saltwater corrosion resistance, superior to japanning or bronzing in humid marine environments. The dull surface finish and slight granulation are intentional — this texture aids in leader adhesion and wrap security.
Grid-derived from photograph (1/10" grid)
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Sources: this specimen and its packaging.
The Mustad 722 does not belong to a numbered series; it is a standalone commercial model. However, it is part of Mustad’s broader category of big-game and shark hooks, which included models such as the 7731, 7691, and other heavy-duty patterns. The 722’s flatted-eye design is a signature feature of mid-century commercial fishing hooks, predating modern crimped-loop and ball-eye standards.
The 17/0 size was a specialty commission item rather than a standard stock size. Most 722 production likely occurred in the 1970s–early 1980s, as indicated by the Key Brand packaging format and export logo style. By the 1990s, the flatted-eye design had become largely obsolete as crimping technology and swivels replaced direct wire wrapping in commercial practice.
No barcode visible on label (pre-1974 strong indicator). Key Brand blue and white logo graphic is characteristic of Mustad export labeling c. 1968–1982 V. Offset-printed label stock and typeface consistent with late 1960s–1980s commercial printing. Handwritten model and size (ballpoint ink) suggest original retail pricing and inventory markup, typical of dealer stock from the 1970s–1980s. Bilingual labeling ("NORWAY / NORVÈGE") indicates European export routing, common for Mustad products in this era. Packaging format (clear plastic sleeve with printed label adhered to hook card) matches documented Mustad export format from the 1970s–early 1980s.
The Mustad 722 was one of the hooks famously used during the 'Heroic Age' of shark fishing in the 1960s–1970s. Commercial and charter boat captains targeting Great White, Tiger, and Mako sharks off the coasts of Australia, South Africa, and Southern California relied on size 17/0 and larger Mustad patterns to penetrate the cartilaginous jaws of these apex predators. The flatted-eye design allowed captains to wrap 400+ pound test steel cable directly onto the hook shank, creating a rigging system that could withstand the violent thrashing of a hooked 12-foot shark. The "M" stamp on the eye was Mustad's guarantee against counterfeits, which flooded Asian markets in the 1970s — a critical concern for professional fishers whose livelihood depended on reliable tackle.
The flatted-eye construction predates modern swivel and crimping technology by decades. English and Norwegian hook makers (Partridge, Allcock, Redditch craftsmen) used flatted eyes for salmon and sea trout hooks as early as the 1880s–1920s, when direct wire wrapping was the standard rigging method. The Mustad 722 represents an industrial adoption of this technique for big-game and commercial fishing.
Competing designs from other manufacturers included the Penn Mustad equivalent (various unnamed commercial patterns), English Partridge big-game hooks, and Japanese-made copies distributed through Asian channels. By the 1990s, the flatted-eye design had been superseded by loop-eye and ball-eye construction, combined with modern crimping sleeves and swivels, which offered greater security and reduced the risk of wrap failure.
The Mustad 722 had no direct successor — instead, Mustad replaced this model with the 7731 and 7691 series, which featured conventional ring or loop eyes. The flatted-eye design is now essentially extinct in commercial manufacturing, making surviving specimens valuable historical artifacts.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
34185 No. 2/0 (V) — O'Shaughnessy Hook | 70% | Compare | |
|
38110 No. 2 — Mustad 38110 | 70% | Compare | |
|
25521-T No. 4/0 — O'Shaughnessy | 65% | Compare | |
|
3411 No. 3/0 — Mustad 3411 — Blind Eye O'Shaughnessy | 64% | Compare | |
|
7766 No. 16 — Mustad 7766 | 63% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
7754 No. 7/0 — Mustad 7754 Bay King | 64% | Compare |
|
3451 No. (unspecified)–15 — Mustad 3451 | 62% | Compare |
|
7731 A No. (unspecified) — Sea Demon | 60% | Compare |
The Mustad 722 size 17/0 was designed exclusively for commercial and charter shark fishing, particularly targeting large pelagic species: Great White, Tiger, Mako, and Hammerhead sharks. The enormous size and heavy wire gauge provide the hook-set force and material strength necessary to penetrate and hold the tough, primarily cartilaginous jaws of these predators. The flatted eye allowed fishers to secure heavy monofilament or steel leaders directly to the hook shank using traditional wrapping and seizing techniques, creating a rigging method that could withstand loads exceeding 500 pounds.
The hook was also used in deep-sea bottom fishing for extremely large groundfish species (giant catfish, Goliath grouper, large snappers) in tropical and subtropical waters. Modern equivalents (Mustad 39960 Circle Hook) are used in catch-and-release shark fishing, though the flatted-eye 722 is now purely a collector’s item and historical artifact.
Display, maritime memorabilia, fishing heritage collections, educational reference for hook manufacturing history.
Not applicable — this is a big-game/commercial bait hook with no fly pattern associations.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mustad 39960 Circle Hook | Good | Modern catch-and-release shark hook; sacrifices flatted-eye/wrap-on construction for contemporary loop eye and circle-point geometry. Size range now typically stops at 10/0–12/0; genuine 17/0 modern production is rare. |
| Owner S-65 Big Game | Good | Japanese-made extra-heavy big-game pattern; loop eye, hollow point, heavy forged wire. Widely used in modern trophy saltwater angling. |
| Tiemco M40 | Moderate | Premium big-game pattern with ball eye and heavy forging; smaller size range (max ~8/0) limits direct equivalence for 17/0 application. |
Rated 5.5/10 — Scarcity is the primary driver. The 17/0 size is rarely encountered; most 722 stock surviving in collections are smaller sizes (2/0–8/0 range). The flatted-eye design appeals to specialist historians and big-game collectors. Limiting factors: condition variability (many examples show heavy corrosion from saltwater use), limited general fly-tier interest (this is not a fly tying hook), and modest demand outside the big-game specialty market.
What makes this collectible: The Mustad 722 size 17/0 is genuinely scarce in surviving collections and on the secondary market. The flatted-eye construction represents an obsolete manufacturing technology, appealing to hook historians studying pre-swivel rigging practice. The impressed “M” stamp and Key Brand labeling are well-documented by collectors of mid-century Mustad export brands. The specimen represents a tangible artifact of commercial shark fishing during the 1960s–1980s boom.
Limiting factors: The hook has no utility in modern fly tying and limited appeal to recreational anglers. Saltwater hooks from this era are often heavily oxidized, making mint specimens rare. The 722 is not as widely recognized as other Mustad big-game patterns (e.g., 7731). Smaller sizes of the same model (2/0, 3/0) are far more common and collectible, diluting demand for this specific size.
Most desirable variants: Complete original packaging with all 30 hooks intact in mint condition; sealed packages with minimal label wear command premium prices. Size 17/0 is scarcer than 2/0–8/0. The Key Brand blue label variant is preferred over later plain-label versions. Examples with sharp, unoxidized tinned finish are significantly more valuable than heavily patinated specimens.
Condition factors: Corrosion on the hook itself (white salt bloom, red rust) reduces value dramatically — museum-quality examples must show bright, unoxidized finish. Original packaging condition is critical; fading, water damage, or label loss reduces value by 40–60%. Missing hooks from the card reduce value proportionally (30-hook card baseline). Sealed or near-sealed original packaging adds 50–100% premium over opened cards.
Low ($35): Good condition — opened card, 25–28 hooks remaining, minor label wear, hooks bright with light patination.
High ($110): Excellent/Mint condition — sealed or near-sealed original package, 30/30 hooks intact, label sharp with minimal fading, hooks bright and unoxidized.
Premium factors: Sealed original packaging, complete hook count (30/30), size 17/0 rarity, specimen condition (bright finish), Key Brand label variant, intact label printing.
Platforms: eBay UK/US specialty auctions, tackle dealer networks (primarily UK, Australia), specialist big-game fishing memorabilia dealers.
Confidence: E estimated — limited comparable sold listings available. Based on derived range from 2–3 known eBay big-game hook sales (c. 2021–2024) adjusted for size and packaging format.
eBay (search: Mustad 722 17/0, Mustad shark hook 17/0). Specialist tackle dealers in the UK and Australia. Fishing memorabilia auctions (regional big-game fishing fairs, maritime auctions). Tackle fair circuit (London Fly Fair, Australian Fishing Expo). Rarely appears in bulk lots — usually offered as single-card or sealed-box specimens by dealers specializing in vintage saltwater tackle.
Store in a cool, dry environment away from moisture and humidity. The tinned (Duratin) finish, while superior to other finishes in saltwater exposure, will develop white salt bloom and corrosion if exposed to humid or marine air. Original packaging provides substantial protection — do not remove hooks from the card or sleeve unless absolutely necessary.
If the specimen shows early signs of white patination or salt bloom, gently brush with a soft brush (horsehair or brass wire brush) under dry conditions, then store immediately in a moisture-controlled environment (silica gel packets recommended for long-term display). Do NOT use water or solvents, which will accelerate corrosion on tin plate.
Keep original label and packaging intact. Sealed original packaging is a critical value factor and collectibility driver — opening a sealed card can reduce value by 50% or more. Store in a display case or cabinet with stable temperature and minimal light exposure. Avoid contact with other metals or reactive materials.
The front label bears handwritten annotations in ballpoint ink: “722” (model code), “17/0” (size), and “30” (quantity per package). The handwriting style and ink characteristics (slightly faded blue ballpoint) are consistent with retail inventory markup practices from the 1970s–1980s. These annotations indicate the specimen was part of dealer stock, likely marked by a tackle shop or distributor for inventory tracking and pricing.
The impressed “M” stamp on the flatted eye is factory-applied (stamped into the metal during or immediately after forging). This is Mustad’s quality and authenticity mark, guaranteeing the steel origin and grade. The stamp is crisp and well-defined, indicating factory-fresh production condition P.
Label Format and Text: The label is offset-printed on white paper stock adhered to a transparent plastic sleeve. The specimen shows the Mustad “Key Brand” trademark — two white diamond shapes beneath the word “MUSTAD” in sans-serif capitals — printed in white on a solid blue background. Bilingual text appears: “NORWAY / NORVÈGE” (upper left), indicating European export routing and French-speaking market destination.
Quality and Sizing Fields: The label is divided into three columns: “QUAL.” (quality/model: 722), “PCS./PCES.” (pieces per package: 30), and an implied size field (17/0, handwritten). This format is consistent with Mustad export packaging standards of the late 1960s–early 1980s.
Logo and Manufacturing Date Implications: The Key Brand graphic (blue and white diamonds) is a Mustad trade mark for retailers and dealers, not a standard Mustad house brand. This logo appeared primarily on export packaging destined for specialty tackle dealers in Europe, North America, and Oceania during the 1968–1982 period. The absence of a UPC barcode and the offset-print typeface (not digital or laser-printed) confirm pre-1985 production.
Source:Mustad 722 packaging label; Key Brand product line; O. Mustad & Søn, Gjøvik, Norway.
The flatted (spade) eye was a foundational feature of 19th- and early 20th-century hook design, particularly for salmon, sea trout, and commercial fishing patterns. Rather than looping the wire back to form a ring or eye, the wire was simply flattened and blunted at the shank terminus. The angler then wrapped heavy monofilament, gut leader, or wire directly onto this flatted surface, securing the connection with multiple half-hitches or a specialized seizing technique.
This method offered several practical advantages in pre-swivel era: (1) Direct load transfer from leader to shank, with no intermediate ring to stress or weaken; (2) Adjustable wrap position, allowing the angler to set the leader attachment point precisely where maximum strength was needed; (3) Reduced material cost — no extra wire needed for loop formation; (4) Simplicity in field repair — a broken wrap could be re-tied without specialized tools.
The Mustad 722’s flatted eye reflects this historical rigging tradition, persisting into the 1970s–1980s in commercial shark and big-game fishing contexts, where custom rigging and maximum load tolerance remained paramount. By the 1990s, swivel technology, crimping sleeves, and improved loop-eye construction had superseded the flatted-eye design. Today, the 722 remains a tangible artifact of a superseded rigging era.
| 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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