Mustad Quality 3310 is documented by a surviving \u201cMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks\u201d label and four specimen groups identified as sizes 18, 19, 20, and 23 (P). The model is a single, barbed bass hook with a blind, transversely marked shank end and bronzed finish (P)(V).<\/p>
Physical-caliper records are available for sizes 18, 19, and 20. The size 23 specimen has a grid-derived estimated overall length of about 28.9 mm and still needs caliper confirmation (E).<\/p>","spec_bar_items":"Blind Eye,Sproat Bend,Marked Ridged Shank,Standard Gap,Heavy Wire, Bronzed Finish","flyhooks_url":"https:\/\/flyhooks.org\/mustad\/3310\/","svg_filename":"Mustad_3310_Hook.svg","filebird_folder_id":33,"flies_tied_on_folder_id":"","eye_type":"blind_marked","eye_orientation":"na","eye_notes":"Blind termination with no formed ring or loop; transverse marking is visible near the terminal end (P).","wire_gauge":"std","wire_profile":"round","wire_diameter_est":"","shank_length_category":"long_1x","shank_features":["marked_ridged"],"bend_family":"kirby","bend_notes":"Smooth rounded bend (P). Platform silhouette comparison classifies the bend as Sneck (CMP-2); side views do not establish lateral offset.","point_style":"superior","finish":"bronzed","finish_confidence":"confirmed","finish_notes":"The package states \u201cMarked Bronzed,\u201d and the examined hooks show a dark brown-bronze surface (P).","forged":false,"offset_kirbed":true,"gap_category":"unknown","barb_notes":"Small distinct barb visible on the detailed size 18, 20, and 23 specimens (P).","condition_notes":"Examined hooks are complete with intact points, barbs, and marked shanks; no heavy red corrosion is visible (P). The size 19 printed card has light edge wear and toning.","spec_line_text":"","tech_specs_notes":"
Examined specimens have no formed ring or loop. Their straight round-wire shanks end in a short band of transverse ridges or notches rather than a visible flattened spade end (P). Detailed specimens show a long-ground point with a nearly straight inner face and a small barb (P).<\/p>
The platform silhouette comparison classifies the bend as Sneck (CMP-2) and the wire gauge as Standard (CMP-3). Recorded caliper overall lengths are 41.33 mm for size 18, 40.16 mm for size 19, and 36.09 mm for size 20 (V).<\/p>","hook_ply":"single","barbless":false,"measurements_available":true,"measurement_method":"physical_caliper","size_measured":"20","overall_length":"1.421\"","shank_length":"1.150\"","gap_width":".429\"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter_measured":".043\"","shank_gap_ratio":"","weight":"","measurement_notes":"Selected top-level measurements refer to specimen S2, size 20: 36.09 mm overall, 29.21 mm shank, 10.90 mm gap, and 1.09 mm wire by physical caliper (V). A 36.2 mm grid-derived overall length independently agrees with the caliper record (E).","cumulative_records_note":"Four specimen groups are recorded for sizes 18, 19, 20, and 23. Sizes 18\u201320 have physical-caliper measurements; size 23 has a proposed grid-derived overall length of about 28.9 mm (E) and still needs caliper confirmation.","manufacturer_history":"O. Mustad & S\u00f8n (anglicized as O. Mustad & Son) was established in Oslo, Norway, in 1832 and became one of the world's largest industrial hook manufacturers by the early 20th century. The company operated a major factory in Gj\u00f8vik, Norway, which produced millions of hooks annually for export to North America, Europe, and beyond. Mustad's business model relied on creating region-specific hook patterns and marketing them with names that appealed to local anglers \u2014 the 'Cincinnati Bass' line exemplifies this strategy, designed to capture the American Midwest bass-fishing market during the economically vibrant 1920s\u20131950s era.\r\n\r\nMustad dominated the snelling-hook market before the transition to eyed hooks in the 1950s\u20131960s. The company maintained separate product lines for different fishing traditions: English sea-trout patterns (blind-eye), American bait hooks (marked shank), and European fly patterns. This vertical integration of design and regional marketing made Mustad the primary supplier to large tackle retailers and wholesale distributors across North America and the Commonwealth.\r\n\r\nBy the 1960s, as modern eyed-hook designs became standard and nylon monofilament replaced gut, Mustad's marked-shank and blind-eye inventory became increasingly obsolete. The company successfully transitioned to modern ring-eyed and tapered-eye designs but never re-emphasized the Cincinnati Bass line. Production of Quality 3310 was discontinued by the early 1970s, making surviving original-packaging examples valuable documentation of pre-modern hook technology and marketing.","series_history":"
The photographed Mustad label identifies the pattern as Quality 3310, \u201cMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks,\u201d and states \u201cSuperior\u201d and \u201cMarked Bronzed\u201d (P). It also reads \u201cO. MUSTAD & S\u00d6N \/ MANUFACTURERS \/ OSLO - NORWAY\u201d and \u201cMade in Norway.\u201d<\/p>","named_collaborator_bio":"","era_dating_reasoning":"The photographed label prints \u201cOSLO - NORWAY\u201d (P). Oslo became the official city name on January 1, 1925 (V), so this packaging specimen is no earlier than 1925.","fun_fact":"Mustad was brilliant at 'localizing' their hook designs to appeal to regional fishing traditions. By naming hooks after cities and rivers \u2014 'Cincinnati Bass,' 'Limerick,' 'Kirby' \u2014 they created the psychological impression that each pattern was custom-engineered for that specific water. In reality, many were minor variations on the same Sproat or Limerick bend, but the regional branding was so effective that American anglers believed a 'Cincinnati' hook was fundamentally different from a generic 'Sproat.' This marketing strategy, combined with Mustad's dominance of North American wholesale tackle distribution, made them nearly invisible competition for regional hook makers \u2014 by the time local manufacturers realized Mustad had captured their markets, it was too late.","fun_fact_title":"The Power of Regional Marketing","manufactured_size_range":"","hook_sizes":[{"size_label":"18","size_sort_key":18,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"V","overall_length_mm":41.33,"overall_length":"1.627\"","shank_length":"1.217\"","gap_width":".542\"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":".048\"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"physical_caliper","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"S4","overall_length_method":"physical_caliper","overall_length_confidence":"V","shank_length_method":"physical_caliper","shank_length_confidence":"V","gap_width_method":"physical_caliper","gap_width_confidence":"V","bend_depth_method":"not_available","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"physical_caliper","wire_diameter_confidence":"V","weight_method":"not_available","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"19","size_sort_key":19,"size_documented":true,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":40.16,"overall_length":"1.581\"","shank_length":"1.271\"","gap_width":".473\"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":".047\"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"physical_caliper","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"S1","overall_length_method":"physical_caliper","overall_length_confidence":"V","shank_length_method":"physical_caliper","shank_length_confidence":"V","gap_width_method":"physical_caliper","gap_width_confidence":"V","bend_depth_method":"not_available","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"physical_caliper","wire_diameter_confidence":"V","weight_method":"not_available","weight_confidence":""},{"size_label":"20","size_sort_key":20,"size_documented":false,"size_confidence":"P","overall_length_mm":36.09,"overall_length":"1.421\"","shank_length":"1.150\"","gap_width":".429\"","bend_depth":"","wire_diameter":".043\"","weight":"","shank_gap_ratio":"","measurement_method":"physical_caliper","svg_override":"","specimen_key":"S2","overall_length_method":"physical_caliper","overall_length_confidence":"V","shank_length_method":"physical_caliper","shank_length_confidence":"V","gap_width_method":"physical_caliper","gap_width_confidence":"V","bend_depth_method":"not_available","bend_depth_confidence":"","wire_diameter_method":"physical_caliper","wire_diameter_confidence":"V","weight_method":"not_available","weight_confidence":""}],"spec_bar_short":"","design_lineage":"
The platform silhouette comparison classifies the 3310 bend as Sneck (CMP-2). No broader lineage is assigned here.<\/p>","related_models":[{"model_code_related":"Quality 3310","description":"Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks, marked shank, bronzed finish \u2014 this model","relationship":"this_model","related_model_url":""},{"model_code_related":"Quality 3366","description":"Mustad Sproat Wet Fly \/ Bass Hook, ringed eye, direct modern successor to 3310 concept","relationship":"later","related_model_url":""},{"model_code_related":"Edgar Sealey S4321","description":"English marked-shank bait hook, similar marked ridging and blind-eye construction, regional competitor","relationship":"variant","related_model_url":""}],"primary_application":"
The package identifies Quality 3310 as \u201cMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks\u201d (P). FlyHooks.org independently lists the 3310 for bass use (V).<\/p>","secondary_applications":"","fly_patterns":"","modern_equivalents":[{"hook_model":"Mustad 3366 Sproat Wet Fly","match_quality":"very_good","equiv_notes":"Same Sproat bend family and approximate size\/gap. Modern ringed eye and tapered-eye versions eliminate snelling requirement. Functionally equivalent for similar bait and wet-fly applications.","modern_equivalent_url":""},{"hook_model":"Tiemco D2099 Sproat","match_quality":"very_good","equiv_notes":"Japanese manufacture, modern tapered eye, identical bend profile to 3310. Premium alternative for modern fly tying in Sproat family.","modern_equivalent_url":""},{"hook_model":"Partridge Limerick Blind Eye (if still in production)","match_quality":"good","equiv_notes":"British maker, blind-eye construction preserves snelling tradition. Limerick bend slightly more angular than Sproat, but both serve bait and classic wet-fly work.","modern_equivalent_url":""}],"hook_type_application":["bait"],"collectability_rating":6,"collectability_summary":"Scarce and historically significant. Represents pre-eyed-hook technology and a distinct American fishing tradition. Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks are modest collector interest, not commonly seen intact with original packaging.","collectability_detail":"Positive factors:<\/strong> Documented blind-eye construction demonstrates early snelling technology; marked shank is engineering detail of historical interest; Mustad-Cincinnati branding reflects specific regional marketing strategy; original hand-stamped card with decorative border has aesthetic appeal; pre-1960s dating with clear era evidence supports vintage collector market; represents functional fishing technology mostly abandoned after 1960s; marked shank hooks increasingly rare as collectors prefer eyed variants.\r\n\r\nLimiting factors:<\/strong> No fly-tying market demand (modern tyers prefer eyed hooks); bait fishing tradition has declined relative to fly fishing; blind-eye construction requires specialized snelling knowledge; not premium rarity tier (more common than Partridge or early Edgar Sealey variants); size 19 (vintage scale) not equivalent to modern standards, limiting functional reuse; condition of original card affects value significantly, and many examples found loose without packaging.","rarity":"uncommon","market_value_low":8,"market_value_high":18,"market_value_notes":"Original hand-stamped card with intact packaging commands 12\u201318 USD. Loose hooks alone typically 4\u20138 USD. Condition of orange card is primary driver: mint\/excellent card can double value. Pricing reflects modest specialty-collector demand; most sales through vintage tackle dealers and eBay rather than premium auction venues. Regional North American sellers moving higher volumes than European markets.","where_to_find":"eBay vintage fishing tackle; specialist dealers in vintage bass and catfish hooks; tackle swap meets and fishing heritage fairs; occasional estate sales with old-tackle collections.","collector_id_tips":" Look for the Key Brand skeleton-key device at upper left and the repeating floral or rosette border. The printed identification includes \u201cQual. 3310,\u201d \u201cMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks,\u201d \u201cSuperior,\u201d and \u201cMarked Bronzed\u201d (P). On the photographed card, the size is handwritten as 19 beside the printed \u201cNo.\u201d field.<\/p>","packaging_format_code":"GW-M-CARD-01","packaging_description":"Orange printed card or label with a repeating floral or rosette border and a Key Brand skeleton-key device. Printed text includes O. MUSTAD & S\u00d6N, MANUFACTURERS, OSLO - NORWAY, Qual. 3310, Superior, Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks, 100, Marked Bronzed, No., and Made in Norway. The number 19 is handwritten beside No. The photographed hooks lie loose below the card.","packaging_condition":"very_good","ebay_sold_listings":null,"ebay_history":{"ebay_date_range":"","ebay_avg_price":"","ebay_price_range":"","ebay_avg_shipping":"","ebay_total_sellers":"","ebay_data_notes":""},"meta_title":"Mustad 3310 Cincinnati Bass Hooks \u2014 Mustad Hook Reference | garrenwood.com","meta_description":"Mustad Quality 3310 Cincinnati Bass Hooks reference with blind marked shank, Superior point, bronzed finish, and documented specimens in sizes 18, 19, 20, and 23.","page_intro_paragraph":"The Mustad Quality 3310<\/strong>, marketed as the Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks<\/strong>, is a distinctive Norwegian-manufactured bait hook representing a distinct era of fishing technology. Produced by O. Mustad & S\u00f8n in Gj\u00f8vik from approximately the 1920s through the 1960s, this hook features a marked (ridged) shank and blind flatted eye \u2014 design elements that enabled the snelling technique, in which anglers wrapped fishing line directly onto the hook shank before eyed hooks became universal. The Sproat-family bend with rounded bottom and moderate gap was optimized for live-bait fishing with minnows and crawfish, particularly in American Midwestern waters. The 'Cincinnati' branding exemplifies Mustad's strategy of creating region-specific hook names to appeal to local fishing traditions. This reference documents the size 19 vintage-scale example with original orange kraft-paper packaging, letterpress Key Brand logo, and 100-hook card \u2014 an increasingly scarce collectible for hook historians and vintage tackle specialists.","primary_search_terms":"Mustad 3310, Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks, Cincinnati Bass Hooks, Superior point, Marked Bronzed, blind marked shank, Mustad size 18, Mustad size 19, Mustad size 20, Mustad size 23","image_1_alt":"Mustad Quality 3310 \u2014 point and barb detail showing hollow point taper and small barb \u2014 size 19 vintage scale \u2014 bronzed finish on measurement grid","image_2_alt":"Mustad Quality 3310 \u2014 original packaging card and two hooks mounted \u2014 size 19 \u2014 orange kraft paper with Key Brand logo and letterpress text","image_3_alt":"Mustad Quality 3310 \u2014 shank profile and marked ridges showing blind eye termination \u2014 size 19 \u2014 bronzed finish","image_4_alt":"Mustad Quality 3310 \u2014 full side profile showing bend geometry and overall proportions \u2014 size 19 \u2014 bronzed finish","additional_sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"primary_source_analysis","title":"Packaging Text and Marks","source":"Photographed Mustad 3310 card or label, IMG-2","content":" The printed card or label reads: \u201cKey \/ Brand\u201d; \u201cO. MUSTAD & S\u00d6N \/ MANUFACTURERS \/ OSLO - NORWAY\u201d; \u201cQual. 3310 \/ Superior\u201d; \u201cMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks\u201d; \u201c100\u201d; \u201cMarked Bronzed\u201d; \u201cNo.\u201d; and \u201cMade in Norway\u201d (P). The number 19 is handwritten beside the printed \u201cNo.\u201d field. A skeleton-key device appears with Key Brand, and a repeating floral or rosette border surrounds the card.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"size_anomaly","title":"Recorded Size Labels and Measurements","content":" Specimen labels identify sizes 18, 19, 20, and 23 (P). Physical-caliper records give overall lengths of 41.33 mm for size 18, 40.16 mm for size 19, and 36.09 mm for size 20 (V). The size 23 specimen has a proposed grid-derived overall length of about 28.9 mm (E).<\/p> FlyHooks.org independently documents a size 18 specimen at 43.04 mm overall, 32.9 mm shank, 15.4 mm height, and 1.25 mm wire (V). Those measurements describe a different specimen and are retained separately from the physical-caliper record on this page.<\/p>"}],"specimens_recorded":[{"specimen_key":"S1","display_label":"Size 19 card and loose hooks","size_label":"19","size_basis":"label","packaging_variant":"V1","container":"card","hook_condition":"Both visible hooks appear complete with intact points and barbs; no heavy red corrosion is visible.","packaging_condition":"very_good","label_transcription":"Key\nBrand\nO. MUSTAD & S\u00d6N\nMANUFACTURERS\nOSLO - NORWAY\nQual. 3310\nSuperior\nMustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks\n100\nMarked Bronzed\nNo.\nMade in Norway","label_layout_notes":"Key Brand device at upper left; manufacturer and model text centered; quantity and number fields at lower left; Made in Norway at lower right.","typeface_notes":"","trademark_description":"Skeleton-key device between Key and Brand; repeating floral or rosette border around the printed card.","printed_marks":"Decorative floral or rosette border.","handwritten_marks":"19","specimen_notes":"The two hooks are photographed loose below the printed card or label; they are not mounted to it.","preservation_notes":"","image_attachment_ids":[8064]},{"specimen_key":"S2","display_label":"Size 20 loose specimens","size_label":"20","size_basis":"label","packaging_variant":"V2","container":"loose","hook_condition":"Hook appears complete with intact point, barb, and marked shank; no major corrosion or deformation is visible.","packaging_condition":"","label_transcription":"","label_layout_notes":"","typeface_notes":"","trademark_description":"","printed_marks":"","handwritten_marks":"Mustad\n3310\n#20","specimen_notes":"Loose specimens photographed on a measurement grid with a modern handwritten identification card.","preservation_notes":"","image_attachment_ids":[8938,8939,8940]},{"specimen_key":"S3","display_label":"Size 23 loose specimens","size_label":"23","size_basis":"label","packaging_variant":"V3","container":"loose","hook_condition":"Hooks appear complete with intact point, barb, and terminal markings; no heavy corrosion is visible.","packaging_condition":"","label_transcription":"","label_layout_notes":"","typeface_notes":"","trademark_description":"","printed_marks":"","handwritten_marks":"Mustad\n3310\n#23","specimen_notes":"Loose specimens photographed on a measurement grid with a modern handwritten identification card.","preservation_notes":"","image_attachment_ids":[8941,8942,8943]},{"specimen_key":"S4","display_label":"Size 18 loose specimens","size_label":"18","size_basis":"label","packaging_variant":"V4","container":"loose","hook_condition":"Hooks appear complete with intact point, barb, and marked shank; no heavy corrosion is visible.","packaging_condition":"","label_transcription":"","label_layout_notes":"","typeface_notes":"","trademark_description":"","printed_marks":"","handwritten_marks":"Mustad\n3310\n#18","specimen_notes":"Loose specimens photographed on a measurement grid with a modern handwritten identification card.","preservation_notes":"","image_attachment_ids":[9005,9006,9007]}],"manufacturer_period_context":"","rarity_basis":"","market_value_basis":"","market_value_as_of":null,"market_sold_observations":"","open_questions":[{"question":"Do you have a Mustad catalog or price list that lists Quality 3310?","evidence_gap":"The model's introduction date, discontinuation date, complete manufactured size range, factory specification, and period bend terminology are not documented by the current sources.","submission_prompt":"Please send clear scans or photographs of the catalog cover, publication date, 3310 listing, and any price-list page that includes Quality 3310."}],"record_change_notes":null,"entry_type":"full","reference_layout_v2":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8065"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15242,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8065\/revisions\/15242"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"gw_hook_concept","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/garrenwood.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gw_hook_concept?post=8065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}