Partridge Hooks

I. The Origins: Needles to Hooks (1836 – 1930s)

Like many of the great English tackle companies, Partridge was born in Redditch, Worcestershire—the “needle capital of the world.”

  • 1836: The company traces its roots to Edwin Partridge, who began as a needle pointer. In Redditch, the transition from needle making to fish hook making was natural because the technologies (grinding points, tempering steel wire) were nearly identical.
  • Early 20th Century: Under Albert Partridge, the company formalized its focus on hooks. In 1903, they produced the “Captain Hamilton”, a wet fly hook that became an early standard for quality.
  • The Hub: For decades, Partridge was one of several major manufacturers in Redditch (alongside names like Allcock and Sprite), supplying the British Empire with the tools to catch salmon and trout worldwide.

II. The Bramley Era: The Golden Age (1970 – 1996)

While the company had a long history, its reputation as the premier fly hook maker was cemented by Alan Bramley, who bought the company in 1970. Bramley was a master marketer and innovator who transformed Partridge from a factory into a global brand.

  • Innovation & Collaboration: Bramley’s genius was working directly with famous anglers to design purpose-built hooks. Instead of generic bends, he released “signature” hooks, including:
    • The Klinkhamer Special (15BN): Designed with Hans van Klinken, this radical bent-shank hook changed dry fly fishing forever.
    • The Vince Marinaro Midge: A hook designed specifically for the tiny flies used on Pennsylvania limestone streams.
    • The Waddington Shank: Partridge became the standard manufacturer for Richard Waddington’s shank system, used for salmon flies.
    • The CS Series (Code Salmon): Models like the CS10/1 (Bartleet) became the gold standard for classic Atlantic salmon flies.
  • The “Handmade” Ethos: During this era, Partridge marketed its hooks as “handmade.” While machines drew the wire, much of the finishing, inspection, and packaging in the Redditch factory was done by skilled human workers.

III. The Mustad Interlude (1996 – 2009)

In 1996, the family-owned era ended when the Norwegian giant O. Mustad & Son acquired Partridge.

  • End of Redditch Manufacturing: Mustad eventually closed the Mount Pleasant factory in Redditch. Production was moved to Mustad’s facilities in Singapore and China.
  • Loss of Identity: While the quality remained technically high (using Mustad’s advanced tempering), the brand lost some of its “soul” in the eyes of purists. The “handmade in England” mystique vanished, and the massive catalog of niche hooks was trimmed to improve efficiency.

IV. The Renaissance: Fishing Matters (2009 – Present)

In 2009, the brand was sold to Fishing Matters, a UK-based company led by Mark Hamnett. This marked a return to British ownership, though not necessarily British mass manufacturing.

  • Brand Restoration: Fishing Matters worked to restore the brand’s premium status. They brought back discontinued classic patterns that Mustad had cut and reintroduced the “heritage” feel.
  • Modern Tactics: They expanded aggressively into modern markets, launching the “Patriot” line (modern salmon hooks), “Predator” hooks (for pike/musky), and barbless tactical hooks for competition anglers.
  • Manufacturing Today: While the headquarters and product development are back in the UK, the hooks themselves are largely manufactured in Asia (Japan/China) to strict British specifications. However, they have occasionally utilized UK-based artisan manufacturing for very specific heritage items (like the acquisition of the Sprite hook machinery to make Waddington shanks in England for a time).

Summary of Legacy

Partridge of Redditch is the “survivor” of the Redditch hook trade. While its competitors (Allcock, etc.) faded away, Partridge survived by pivoting from a general tackle maker to a specialist fly-tying brand.

Reputation: Historically known for “soft” steel that would bend rather than snap (preferred by salmon anglers), modern Partridge hooks now use high-carbon chemical sharpening tech to compete with Japanese brands like Tiemco and Gamakatsu.

Most Famous For: The “Bartleet” bend salmon hooks, the Klinkhamer hook, and the modified Limerick bends.

Partridge Hook Reference