I recieved samples of fly-tying hooks from Allen & Co.
http://www.allenflyfishing.com/
They seem reasonably sharp off the shelf (never hurts to touch them up as you tie your flies, of course), and seem like good, solid hooks. The thinner wires can be bent to shape, as some patterns call for. The heavier gauges are tough!
I recall the price for most of the hooks was something like $6.99/100 hooks, plus free shipping.
I took a picture of 4 of the size 8 hooks I recieved:
Dave:
The last two bunches of “cheap” hooks I got suffered two problems. In one lot the loop on many of the eyes were not completely closed and a thread could slip into the eye. They were tossed. In the others they were too brittle and some would snap off at the bend when pinching the barb off. I have in the past also had hooks that were too soft and would bend under normal thread tension while tying. Any opinion on your hooks relative to these potential problems?
David
Hello,
I want to answer some questions that are coming up on our hooks and give a little background.
First. Dave, glad you got the samples.
Our hooks have been on the market for now over 1 year. We started with a few fly shops on the Salmon River were my partner is from. One buys the hooks to ty there own flies and the other two buy flies. We supply over 1200doz flies on avg each month using our hooks. We used this as our test market before moving on to the direct consumer.
Yes, when we started. We had some issues, like most products do when they come out. We learned from those and improved the problems that we ran into.
After that, we started with past customers who purchases other products from us. They started using our hooks and had little to no issues with them.
I can see why the stereotype of “cheap” comes into account. However, we think the hooks are priced with the means of manufacturing, not by retail pricing standards. We’re not asking for people to buy our products without doing any research. We just want our brand to be on the minds of those that are in the market for a quality hook. If they go with us great. If not, then maybe in the future.
Again, thank you for all the posts. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
I didn’t try to pinch the barbs yet. I did check the eyelets, because I’ve seen some like what you mentioned, djo, in packs I’ve bought from Mustad. It isn’t common, but I have seen some. I’ve also seen some Mustads that had some weird sort of rough bumps on them, which could possibly cut the thread while trying to tie a fly on them. I usually simply discard these individual hooks when I find them. I still like Mustad hooks.
I did not see any evidence of either of these issues in the samples I recieved from Allen & Co. In fact, I tried to put a lot of stress on them to see if I could straighten them easily, or break them (I’ve also had these problems in the past with various hooks).
I could not break them. I could bend the finer wire hook, but not easily…like it would take a pair of pliers to bend the hook to the shape you needed for a particular fly. The heavier gauge hooks…I wouldn’t even try to bend those with pliers.
In short, my opinion is that these are good hooks at a VERY good price. I like that! 
I too was in contact with Justin at Allenflyfishing and will give them a go when he he gets the 7999’s in stock.I will be trying them and a few other hooks.He also offered to send me some samples but I said I would give them a go anyway
out of curiosity… on their website, are they just using the TMC numbers as reference? I thought TMC was the manufacturer? I’m just thoroughly confused right now. 
I guess this is to Allen Flyfishing then: Who manufactures your hooks, and/or supplies them? I’m very interested in buying good hooks at these prices, so ‘sell’ me some more.
Kelly.
AS far as I know the TMC# are for reference as comparson to their hooks or supplier, the 7999 that I refered to will be their compairable to tiemco"s 7999. For that price there worth a look to me
Says on the page that the TMC #'s are for reference right below the sample order box.
I’ve asked Justin a couple of times in pm along with some other questions but he seems to be missing that i’m still asking where the hooks are made. I’m itchin’ for some of the 7999’s to start, in the largest sizes.
MontanaMoose
look around these sites:
http://cn.countrysearch.tradekey.com/fly-tying-hooks.htm
Do you like reels?
http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Fly_Reel.html
How about rods?
http://www.chinasuppliers.globalsources.com/china-suppliers/Fly-Rod.htm
vests?
http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Fishing_Vest.html
Who needs a new line?
http://www.chinasuppliers.globalsources.com/china-suppliers/Fly-Line.htm
Flies?
http://www.china-fishingflies.com/
I think you get the idea.
Within the industry TMC has been taken to mean Tiemco. The numbers and silhouette they display match TMC’s. Why they appear to dodge the question is interesting. I have not seen any TMC hook retail for seven bucks per 100 in many a year, if ever…
Quoting myself…yeah i know…
Ok, I’m in contact with Justin from Allen & Co…great guy to talk with and he knows what he’s doing in my opinion.
The hooks are made in Southern China but i’d suggest these may be much higher quality than some found on ebay for example. As mentioned, the TMC is for reference. Guessing it would be pretty hard to start a hook numbering system that would mean anything unless a ref to something really popular was included. Other hook makers do it if i’m remembering correctly.
Hello Bakerloo, i’m not the smartest rock in the box so could you help me out when you list links to things made in China then say, ‘I think you get the idea’. I ask because i wasn’t sure who your post was directed towards.
I have no affiliation with Allen & Co beyond some correspondence nor have i received financial or other consideration for what may appear to be me defending the flyfishing industry. Not so much as one hook. Which i will most likely buy and you can bet i’ll report on them once i get them, tye on them and use them. Ok, off the box…next…
MontanaMoose
MontanaMoose, my statement “I think you get the idea” wasn’t directed at anyone. It was basically a rhetorical statement. 99% of the great fly fishing deals are made in China.
I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with Chinese gear. I think it’s great that enterprising Americans are opening small businesses using those manufacturers. Capitalism is a wonderful thing. Like it or not, globalization is here.
Good for Allen & Co.
Thanks Bakerloo, i just wasn’t clear, now i am. And yes, it’s good deals we get on the China gear, that’s for sure. I’m surrounded by it, prolly typing on it and if i’m not paying attn i’ve learned that i’m eating it.
I’d have to agree most of the China gear is fine and in fact i have two flyrod blanks to finish building as we speak. I’ve been waiting on a USA based company to introduce a new type of guide so i can finish my 7 wts.
Anyway, rambling here…thanks for the response, i’m all clear now and yes, it’s a global economy more and more.
Cheers,
MontanaMoose