I’m considering a new Orvis CFO III fly reel. I’m looking for opinions from anyone that has one or has used one. Specifically the new non-english made one. I’ve looked at the reel and even though its made overseas (China or wherever) it still seems really well made. And I do like the traditional looks of the reel and it is pretty light and would balance out my sage slt pretty well. Plus I love the sound it makes.
I would appreciate any opinions good, bad, or otherwise. I’ve never owned an Orvis product at all.
The original CFO was designed by Stan Bogdon and made by Hardy (I believe 1972 was the first year) in England for Orvis. The originals were click pawl…the disc drag was added in the mid 90’s. You can tell the early reels by the rivets on the back plate. In the mid 90’s Orvis bought BFR (British Fly Reel) and started making CFO’s themselves. To a collector the originals are more desireable.
The pic is of a anniversary addition machined reel from 1992 with spare spool. The darker reel is an older die cast model showing the rivets on the back plate. Both were made by Hardy.
Orvis has dropped the click pawl CFO in favor of the disc drag…A mistake IMO.
It is probably a good reel. I just cannot bring myself to buy fishing tackle made in China. Earlier this year, I was shopping for a CFO I and found one that the store had in stock that was still made in England. I have owned CFO reels from the earlier Hardy-made period down through the recent models. In some ways, things have cheapened up. The box and the reel case that my last purchase came with seem very cheap in comparison with the quality level that this reel is supposed to sit in. I found the reel foot mounted slightly crooked when I got home from the store and had to straighten it out myself. I also think the spool latch covers on the newer models are cheap looking compared to the machined aluminum on the older models. All in all, they are still very sweet reels, but they should still be making the Hardy-era model unchanged, in my opinion.
I love my 3 CFO’s. China has minimal quality problems now. I sell them various commodities, and they are superb copycats. Expect them to be at least as god as the Brit made reels… Except much cheaper.
That opinion is unpopular, but true.
I don’t mean to hi-jack this thread but,
I have and old Scientific angler real that was made in England by the Hardy Bros. Ltd.
Is it worth anything?? Its a S-A System 5 and it belonged to my father who purchased it back in the early 70’s.
I can relate to you a personal experience with their new reel and it isnt exactly a glowing endorsement. I bought the new CFO right when it came out and for the EXACT same reasons you did. It lasted all of 6 months. I am no expert in how these operate, so what I believe to be the part that makes the click noise, the triangle inside the reel, worn out from use in 6 months! I took it into the store, and they said this was the 2nd or 3rd reel they had seen fail in that manner. Apparently, the metal they use to manufactre this part is lighter and softer than the old model, and mine was worn away making the click noise virtually silent…as well as messing up the drag altogether.
NOW, the rest of what you hear from Orvis was right on track, they immediately showed me their other products and when I didnt find what I liked, they refunded me in full. No hassle, nothing. I own pretty much all Orvis stuff, and for this very reason. As for the reel, I recommend you look at J. Austin Forbes Avon reel. It comes in bronze, has the similiar sound and drag, is a beautiful peice of work and solid as a rock. I think you will sacrifice the customer service, however. If you would like more info, PM me, and I can give you a call.
I will add, that the FOOT on the asian reels are thicker. I have a custom built ban style reel seat and the Asian foot does not sit in it right. A little put off when I called Orvis and asked if they had other feet and they said no, and sorry…that was it. I had to sand one down to fit. Thank GOD I still have some of the English ones.
Fly Goddess, have you tried the Voessler reels? They look pretty sweet and their prices aren’t bad. The vice you got from them looked pretty cool too.
As far as the CFO’s go, I still like the old British made ones better than the Asian version. The newer BBS seem pretty nice, though.
