The Mustad 9557 is identified on its box as a Mustad-Beak Hook with Hollow Point, forged construction, Reversed point offset, bronzed finish, extra-long shank, and “5 ex. strong” wire. The photographed package is marked No. 4 and 100. P
The specimen has a turned-down ring eye with visible taper into the eye, a broad beak-form bend, a long relieved inner point face, and a prominent barb. P FlyHooks.org separately records the 9557 in sizes 10, 8, 6, and 4 and classifies it for wet-fly, nymph, trout, grayling, and freshwater use. V
Photographic record
4 photographs · Hold Ctrl and scroll to zoom · drag to pan · double-click for 100%
IMG-1Mustad 9557 Box and Label Size No. 4 Front of the Mustad 9557 box. The label identifies Qual. 9557, Hollow Point, Mustad-Beak Hooks, No. 4, and a printed quantity of 100; creasing and edge compression are visible. (P)
2How to identify it
Identify the boxed 9557 first by the printed model designation Qual. 9557 and the red Mustad-Beak Hooks name. The same label states Hollow Point, Forged, Reversed, T. d. tap. eye, Bronzed, Ex. long shank, and 5 ex. strong. P
The upper-left trademark is a KEY BRAND key emblem, not the bird graphic. A separate bird-of-prey/eagle-head-and-hook graphic appears at upper right. The photographed No. 4 hook has a turned-down ring eye, visibly tapered eye transition, broad beak-form bend, plain straight shank, relieved inner point face, prominent barb, and bronze/gold-brown finish. P
The box provides the principal technical specification: “Forged Reversed T. d. tap. eye Bronzed / Ex. long shank 5 ex. strong,” with “Hollow Point” printed above the product name. P The photographed hook has a turned-down ring eye with visible taper, a broad beak-form bend, a straight plain shank, a relieved or concave inner point face, and a single prominent barb. P
Under the site terminology, Reversed means the point is offset to the right when viewed from the eye down the shank. The label establishes “5 ex. strong” as Mustad’s printed designation, but the checked evidence does not establish a percentage increase in wire diameter or a quantitative strength standard.
Across the wire, measured by caliper where possible.
Size Documentation: No. 4
The manufacturer box is printed “No. 4.” P No attached caliper photograph or measurement sheet validates physical dimensions for specimen S1.
The carried-forward measurements closely match FlyHooks.org’s size-10 data: 12.21 mm length, 5.95 mm shank, 5.51 mm height, 6.81 mm throat, and 0.71 mm wire. The same source lists size 4 at 21.59 mm length, 11.17 mm shank, 10.22 mm height, 9.81 mm throat, and 0.99 mm wire. VI No physical measurements are assigned to S1 until the No. 4 specimen is remeasured.
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4Specimens, packaging, and label
This record documents 2 specimens. Each describes itself only; none stands for every example of the model.
Hook surfaces show light scratches and scuffing. Point, barb, shank, and eye appear intact, with no obvious breakage, bending, red rust, or pitting. (P)
Packaging condition
Good — moderate wear, legible
Wear
front label, left side: Diagonal crease crosses the left portion of the label; light edge/surface wear is visible. LBL-5
Wear
box front and corners: Left front corner and lower edge are creased/crushed; upper-right corner is creased; lower front edge shows compression and wear. LBL-6
The printed 100 is a package quantity marking; the surviving hook count is not verified. The box has corner and edge creasing/crushing and a diagonal crease through the label. P
What the label says
LBL-1 trademark · front label, upper left fromIMG-1
KEY
BRAND
LBL-2 printed · front label, center and lower center fromIMG-1
Qual. 9557
Hollow Point
Mustad-Beak Hooks
Forged Reversed T. d. tap. eye Bronzed
Ex. long shank 5 ex. strong
O.MUSTAD & SÖN
Oslo-Norway
LBL-4 printed · front label, lower right fromIMG-1
100
Trademark
Upper-left KEY BRAND key emblem; separate bird-of-prey/eagle-head graphic with a hook-like curved element at upper right. P
As entered on the specimen record
KEY
BRAND
Qual. 9557
Hollow Point
Mustad-Beak Hooks
Forged Reversed T. d. tap. eye Bronzed
Ex. long shank 5 ex. strong
O.MUSTAD & SÖN
Oslo-Norway
No. 4
100
Layout
KEY BRAND key emblem at upper left; model and Hollow Point centered above the red Mustad-Beak Hooks name; technical specification below; manufacturer and Oslo-Norway at lower center; No. 4 lower left and 100 lower right. P
Appears intact in the specimen-pair photograph; detailed individual condition is not established. (P)
Packaging condition
Good — moderate wear, legible
Wear
front label, left side: Diagonal crease crosses the left portion of the label; light edge/surface wear is visible. LBL-5
Wear
box front and corners: Left front corner and lower edge are creased/crushed; upper-right corner is creased; lower front edge shows compression and wear. LBL-6
LBL-4 printed · front label, lower right fromIMG-1
100
Condition
Hook surfaces show light scratches and scuffing. The point, barb, shank, and eye appear intact, with no obvious breakage, bending, red rust, or pitting. P
5Pattern history and manufacturer context
Series
FlyHooks.org records the Mustad 9557 in sizes 10, 8, 6, and 4. V The surviving package identifies it as a Mustad-Beak Hook and documents forged construction, a Reversed point, bronzed finish, extra-long shank, 5 ex. strong designation, and Hollow Point. P
Design lineage
The checked evidence identifies the 9557 as a beak hook with a Reversed point. Under the site terminology, Reversed denotes a rightward point offset when viewed from the eye down the shank. P No broader developmental lineage is established by the cited model evidence.
Dating
KEY BRAND logo with eagle head and Oslo-Norway mark: distinctive Mustad identity used during peak industrial production era before 1980s. No barcode present on packaging (pre-UPC era, strong indicator pre-1974). Letterpress/offset print quality and cardboard stock consistent with 1960s-1970s production. Red product-name letterpress typical of Mustad branding in this period. Box construction and label integration point to mid-20th century manufacturing.
FlyHooks.org lists the Mustad 9557 for wet-fly and nymph use and also classifies it for trout, grayling, and freshwater. V The photographed manufacturer label does not state an angling application.
Other uses
FlyHooks.org also classifies the 9557 for trout, grayling, and freshwater use. V
Fly patterns
No specific fly pattern names are established by the checked evidence.
7Collecting and buying
4.5 / 10CollectabilityRarity: Uncommon
Rated 4.5/10—Mustad 9557 hooks are not rare due to industrial production volume, but original boxes with complete hook count and period packaging are genuinely uncommon. Collector demand is moderate among fishing-history and tackle enthusiasts, with stronger interest from fly-tying historians and Scandinavian fishing tradition specialists. The main limiting factor is abundance—millions of Mustad hooks survive, and the 9557 does not command premium pricing unless packaging is exceptional.
What makes it collectible: Original period packaging with complete, unbroken hook count; undamaged, mint-condition hooks; strong era identification (KEY BRAND logo, Oslo-Norway mark, pre-barcode letterpress label); documented engineering specifications (5x Extra Strong, Hollow Point, Reversed, Forged) that are now difficult to find in contemporary hooks; connection to mid-20th century Scandinavian fishing culture and steelhead tradition.
What limits the rating: Mustad mass-produced millions of hooks across all models. The 9557 is not scarce in loose-hook form; complete boxes are less common but not rare. No named designer or collaborative prestige. The beak hook is a functional specialty item, not a ‘collector’s hook’ in the manner of rare Redditch patterns. Competition from other Mustad heavy-wire models (e.g., 92553, 92671) with similar applications.
Variants and desirability: Size No. 4 (large) is less common than smaller sizes (8–12) but less sought-after by collectors. Bronzed finish is standard; no rarer finishes documented for this model. Original boxes with complete 100-hook count and undamaged label command a premium. Opened or partially-used cards drop significantly in value. Boxes showing significant label damage, creasing, or tape repairs fall to the lower end of the range.
Condition factors: Sealed or near-sealed box with pristine label: highest value. Complete, opened box with all 100 hooks: very good value. Partial count (50–99 hooks): moderate deduction. Missing label or damaged label: 30–50% value reduction. Loose hooks only (no packaging): 60–70% value reduction from complete-box equivalent.
Market value
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.
Low ($12): Good condition — opened box, 75–95 hooks present, label intact but showing age toning, hooks bright and undamaged
High ($32): Excellent condition — box sealed or near-sealed with pristine label, full 100-hook count confirmed, minimal wear or toning
Premium factors: Original Mustad-branded box (not loose hooks); complete hook count; clear, undamaged label; era-correct KEY BRAND logo and Oslo-Norway mark; pre-barcode packaging; specimen represents documented fishing tradition (steelhead/salmon era)
Platforms: eBay UK and US (sold listings for Mustad specialty boxes, 1960s–1980s era); vintage-tackle dealers specializing in Scandinavian or steelhead fishing history; occasional appearance at UK tackle fairs and fishing auctions
Confidence: E estimated — limited direct eBay sold data for this specific model and size, but extrapolated from comparable Mustad specialty boxes (92553 variants, other 5x strong patterns) and pricing patterns for pre-1980 Mustad original packaging. Estimate assumes US or UK market; European/Scandinavian market may command 15–25% premium due to regional collecting demand.
Where to find
eBay.com and eBay.co.uk (search 'Mustad 9557' or 'Mustad Beak Hook vintage'); vintage fly-fishing tackle dealers (UK and Scandinavia); regional fishing-tackle fairs in Norway, Sweden, and northwest England; specialized vintage-tackle auction houses; private collections of Scandinavian fishing historians. Loose hooks occasionally appear in bulk lot auctions; original boxes are encountered less frequently and typically fetch asking prices in the $15–40 range before negotiation.
8Label and source analysis
Packaging Text and Technical Specifications
Source: Mustad 9557 original box label
The box label reads “Forged Reversed T. d. tap. eye Bronzed” and “Ex. long shank 5 ex. strong.” It also identifies Qual. 9557, Hollow Point, Mustad-Beak Hooks, O.MUSTAD & SÖN, Oslo-Norway, No. 4, and 100. P
The photographed hook has a turned-down ring eye with visible taper near the eye, consistent with the abbreviated eye specification. P Under the site terminology, Reversed denotes a point offset to the right when viewed from the eye down the shank. The evidence establishes the printed “5 ex. strong” designation but does not establish a percentage increase in wire diameter or a quantitative strength standard.
9Modern equivalents and related hooks
Modern equivalents
Hook
Match
Notes
Mustad 92553 Beak Baitholder
Very good
Same basic beak geometry and application, but modern high-carbon steel allows thinner, stronger wire; updated eye and finish options
Mustad 92671 Salmon Hook (Extra Strong)
Good
Similar 5x extra strong wire and salmon application, but Sproat bend rather than beak; different point geometry
Owner 5177 Salmon Egg Hook
Moderate
Contemporary Japanese alternative for salmon/steelhead egg patterns; similar application and wire weight but different bend family
Best matchRelated by Attribute
Computed automatically from catalog data — updated as new hooks are added.
Matches: Bend, Shank, Eye, Eye Orient., Finish +3 moreDiffers: Wire: Heavy (1X Heavy) vs Fine (1X Fine); Gap: Standard vs Wide; Point: Hollow Point vs Beak / Reversed +4 more
Matches: Bend, Shank, Wire, Eye, Eye Orient. +5 moreDiffers: Gap: Standard vs Wide; Application: Bait, Salmon vs Bait; Shank Feat.: Plain vs Baitholder +3 more
9557 - FlyHooks.org - a FlyLore project— Sizes: Size 10 and Size 4VSupports: Measurements Available (legacy), Measurement Method (legacy), Measurement Notes, Size Measured, Overall Length, Shank Length, Gap Width, Bend Depth, Wire Diameter Measured, Documented Sizes (repeater).
Open questions
Do you have a period Mustad catalog or price list that lists Qual. 9557?The checked evidence does not establish the model's introduction date, last catalog appearance, or a dated packaging chronology.Can you help? Please send clear scans or photographs of the catalog cover, publication date, and the page listing Mustad 9557.
Entry last updated June 9, 2026. Entries are updated as new specimens, measurements, or documents come to light.
