Abu 501 vintage reel
- Thread starter maver man
- Start date
Jeff Woodhouse
Moaning Marlow Meldrew
Is it in pristine condition?
Much better photographs required, but if it is, then about £20.
That's what I've seen them going through for recently on fleabay.
See this.
And as for one of these -
I got one the other week for £18.70 and it only had one small fault, hardly noticeable and something that was a common complaint with them anyway, a tiny bit of paint had flaked off near the reel seating. Tried it the other day and it was p-e-r-f-i-c-k!
Much better photographs required, but if it is, then about £20.
That's what I've seen them going through for recently on fleabay.
See this.
And as for one of these -
I got one the other week for £18.70 and it only had one small fault, hardly noticeable and something that was a common complaint with them anyway, a tiny bit of paint had flaked off near the reel seating. Tried it the other day and it was p-e-r-f-i-c-k!
Jeff Woodhouse
Moaning Marlow Meldrew
DON'T BACKWIND IT!
They weren't meant to be backwound. You're effecting the syncro drag, that's all.
You could end up breaking it if you keep doing that. It needed a quarter (at most) turn reverse to allow the drag to function, to stop the drag, you simply applied pressure forward again. Only later 1044, 704, 507 and the new 706 could be backwound... Unles it was somehow adapted, but then it might affect its price.
Take some better photos of it in daylight as close as you can, but so they're pin sharp.
They weren't meant to be backwound. You're effecting the syncro drag, that's all.
You could end up breaking it if you keep doing that. It needed a quarter (at most) turn reverse to allow the drag to function, to stop the drag, you simply applied pressure forward again. Only later 1044, 704, 507 and the new 706 could be backwound... Unles it was somehow adapted, but then it might affect its price.
Take some better photos of it in daylight as close as you can, but so they're pin sharp.
Last edited:
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
The drag adjuster is on the handle if you want to backwind turn it anti clockwise.
If carlsberg made reels......
If carlsberg made reels......
Last edited:
S-Kippy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 14,504
- Reaction score
- 5,829
Best of the c/f reels IMO and I've still got 2 that are as perfect as the day I bought them nearly 30 years ago and have had some right hammer.They were good but I never use them now. Never bettered IMO.
I meant to say were they really that good or was it just then...like 300's ?
There not worth that much at the moment, vintage reel prices seem to have gone down just lately. The best bet is just to put it on ebay with a low starting bid.
There are many Factors that can effect price :
1. Paint
2. Part Missing
3. Are the gears smooth
4. Operation
Hope This Helps Regards Mitchellman,
I would buy it off you but i have to many closed face abu's. They are just in boxes on cupboards. Im just after Mitchell 300's now
There are many Factors that can effect price :
1. Paint
2. Part Missing
3. Are the gears smooth
4. Operation
Hope This Helps Regards Mitchellman,
I would buy it off you but i have to many closed face abu's. They are just in boxes on cupboards. Im just after Mitchell 300's now
Will Golightly
Member
I'm after a Abu 501 and a 506 if anyone has one (or both) for sale. Good condition please but not looking for mint as I will be fishing with them.
Mitchellman, are you interested in a swap as I have several 300's that I would be willing to trade?
Will
Mitchellman, are you interested in a swap as I have several 300's that I would be willing to trade?
Will
Steve Spiller
Well-known member
My little 501 has no drag?
Has it been modified? It was a second hand gift, about 24 years ago, so I don't know it's origins or previous owners? But I love it.
It is the best closed face reel that has ever been made! IMO
Steve Spiller
Well-known member
That's what I thought Tigger, when you take the side case off there is no drag system. It is so simples and brilliant.
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,692
Steve, there's a little nut on the handle which is your drag. It actually tightens the handle up when backwinding. I usually have mine set pretty slackish and let the fish pull the handle round when belting off and simply slow the fish down by braking the handle with my finger or tighten up the nut a touch.....deffo simples
You can buy my Abu 501 of me if you want, im open to offers. Just remember it dont have a box.
thames mudlarker
Well-known member
Being a specialist in using 501 reels the above mentioned comment about not being able to backwind is utter rubbish, sorry fella but i don't think you really understand the full useage of the 501
mg:The 501 was one of the very first Abu close face reels to be launched and these were specifically made for backwinding, the other reels mentioned were able to backwind because they were a lot later reel with built in anti reverse pawl.
During the 70's and 80's many experienced match men would use the 501 and deliberately backwind when playing silver fish on light lines as the clutches on other reels of that era were simply not good enough.
I use the 501's all of the time nowadays solely because of the reliability of the backwind facility
When the 506 came into much use many again found that the clutch on this reel was useless and resulted in many a lost fish through the clutch being so very sticky a lot of the time,
This was soon soughted by removing the anti reverse pawl so that the 506 could now backwind the same as the 501.
The only slight difference with the 501 is that there is the tensioner thumb screw on the handle which slightly alters the overall tension of the backwind :thumbs:
---------- Post added at 10:58 ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 ----------
Absolutely, brilliant reels, I very rarely use anything else nowadays and yes I'll even use em for ultra light touch ledgering for river roach and chub aswell because there so reliable :thumbs:
thames mudlarker
Well-known member
mikench
Well-known member
I have posted about Abu closed face reels before within the context of reels I always wanted but never had! I first fished aged around 11 or 12 which would have been 1966 or 1967 give or take a few years. I wanted an Abu but it was noticeably more expensive than the Intrepid Black Prince which I did buy from my pocket money savings. Would that have been a 501?
Whatever model it was, unless it was a duffer, I will eventually buy one!
Just realised that this thread is 7 years old!!!
Whatever model it was, unless it was a duffer, I will eventually buy one!
Just realised that this thread is 7 years old!!!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,692
The original 501 Mike, I have several in tip top fettle and a 506, i've never removed the pawl from the 506 as I like things original but the drag is super sticky on it and last time I used the reel for tench fishing it was awkward to get the drag set to my liking
.Anyone looking for a 501 or a 506 give me a shout
.