I'm seeing similar price hikes in some of the old style 'pre retool' mustad hooks.

I think it's a matter of supply and demand. They had these hooks in their stocks for quite a while. Now, everyone is scrambling to get whats left.

Some, not all but some, retailers are taking advantage of this new demand and raising the prices to be more in line with what the 'new' models sell for.

I think this will continue. While many retailers lowered the prices to get rid of the old stock, some are now seeing this as a mistake as the demand for the older style hooks escalates. Since they really can't replace these hooks at a similar price point, they have little to lose and everything to gain by selling them for as much as they can get.

If you find some cheap, buy them when you see them. They may either be gone or cost more tomorrow.

Buddy