The Pflueger Medalist is the classic American fly reel: a simple, single-action reel with a click mechanism and an adjustable drag. Pflueger, the brand of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Akron, Ohio, applied for the design patent in 1928 and introduced the Medalist in 1929, and versions of it have been made ever since. The 1495 is the larger-capacity model, about 3⅝ inches across, with room for heavier lines and more backing than the standard 1494. That makes it the Medalist for bass bugs, steelhead and saltwater flats.
Akron production
For its first four decades the Medalist was made in Akron. Collectors look for early features: a round line guide, a metal spool-latch cover rather than the later plastic one, sculpted pillars, and a patent-pending marking on the earliest reels. Shakespeare bought Pflueger in 1966 and continued making Medalists in Akron until the end of the 1960s.
Later production and the letter codes
From 1970 Medalists were made in Asia. Letters after the model number help identify them: CJ marks Japanese production and AK marks reels made in Hong Kong or China, and the reel foot is usually marked with the country as well. DA is a date code indicating a version that went into production in 1970. These later 1495s are plentiful and fish well. Our latest market snapshot found 27 listings for the 1495, most at $35–60 delivered, with round line guards, boxed 1960s reels and early Akron markings commanding a premium.
The 1495½ and other sizes
The Medalist family includes smaller and larger reels, such as the 1492 and the 1498, and a wider 1495½ that holds more backing. The 1495½ is collected as its own niche. Make sure the model number on the reel matches the listing, because the sizes are easy to confuse in photos.
What to check
- The click. Spin the spool in both directions. The click should be crisp and even, and turning the drag adjustment should change the resistance. A soft or uneven click usually means a worn click spring or pawl.
- The spool and frame. A Medalist that was dropped or stepped on can have a bent spool or frame. Spin the spool slowly and watch the gap between spool and frame; it should stay even, without rubbing or wobble.
- The spool latch. It should hold the spool firmly and release it cleanly.
- The line guide. Look for grooves worn into the guide, which can damage fly line.
- The markings. Read the model stamp and the foot before paying an Akron-era premium. A listing that says "vintage Akron" without photos of the markings deserves a question.
How much more is an Akron reel worth?
There is no fixed multiple. Most later 1495s sell at everyday prices, while early Akron reels with desirable features, boxes and papers sell for more, and the premium depends heavily on condition and documentation. Use current sold listings for the exact version you are looking at rather than a rule of thumb, and remember that a pristine early reel and a well-fished one can differ in price far more than their eras do.
Buying advice
For a working fly reel, a clean later 1495 with a crisp click and a straight spool is an inexpensive, dependable choice for heavier lines. For a collector piece, look for an Akron reel with early features, original box and papers, and clear photos of the markings. If you fish lighter lines, the 1494 is the standard trout size. Pflueger also made casting reels such as the Supreme; see the full Pflueger catalogue, or browse all vintage fly reels.
