Lure Condition Grading System

  The best way to determine the condition of a lure is to view it with your naked eye or from a close up photograph. As you all know most times this is not possible. This is why there was a need to develop a standard way of describing what a lure condition is.

  The NFLCC developed a lure grading system many years ago. This is the system I adhere to. It is a 1 to 10 grading system. If the numerical scale condition needs further clarification a 1/2 can be added to the end. You may also add + or - to the regular description. Example AVG+ or AVG-. The system is printed below for your use.

  Grading lures can be difficult and it takes experience to do it properly. A good way to gain experience is to view lures in person in all the various condition stages. I attend the Milwaukee NFLCC meets. I was able to view many lures in mint, excellent, very good, good, ect. condition. Quote from Michael Echols of Ft. Myers, Florida. "If you have never seen what Excellent looks like, then it is very hard to understand just how great the condition can be on some well preserved lures.

  Below I will attempt to illustrate lures in different conditions. Remember this is my opinion and it may not be the same as the next person. The decision is still made by the eye of the beholder and his opinion can and will be different than yours. What one person may consider to be excellent maybe very good to the next person.

	Mint : This 1930-1932 Cup Rigged Heddon Depression lure is in mint condition.  This lure has never been fished and has no flaws. The lure is shinny and is in absolute beautiful condition.
	Excellent : This 1917-1920 Heddon #100 Minnow is in excellent condition.  There are a few minor rubs in the varnish but the paint is shiny and there is no crazing or paint cracks.
	Very Good : This 1912-1914 Heddon #150 Minnow is in very good condition.  There are some very slight hook drags and a few minor paint cracks.  The hooks and propellers are rust free.
	Good : This 1908 Heddon Blunt Nose #150 Minnow is in good condition.  There are significant paint cracks and it is starting to chip around the eyes.  This lure still retains most of it's shine.
	Average : This 1907 Shakespeare #33 Submerged Wooden Minnow is in average condition.  There is serious hook drags, paint cracking and some small chips.  This lure is loosing it's shine and starting to show it age.
	Fair :  This 1907-1911 Heddon #100 Minnow is in fair condition.  It has major paint major paint loss along with more defects but the paint color is still quite good.  This lure definitely shows it's age.
	Poor : This c.1915 Shakespeare Rhodes #44 Wooden Minnow is in poor condition.  There is major paint loss and the paint color is very poor.  This lure has too many problems to list and has seen better days.  It doesn't get much worse than this.

Antique Fishing Lure Terminology And Its Definition.

1. Beater - A beater is a lure that's in very poor condition and is no longer considered to be a collectable. The lure may be worth saving for repair parts for a lure in better condition.
2. Crazing or Checking - Minor vertical and horizontal splits in the paint. In most cases they are not down to the wood. It is not as severe as a paint crack
3. Hook Drags - Hook drags are circular marks made by the hook. They are more severe than pointers and are a sure sign that the lure has been fished.
4. Paint Chips - A paint chip is the loss of paint and can be any size. A paint chip is very easy to see because the chip is usually down to the wood.
5. Paint Cracks - Simply means vertical or horizontal cracks in the paint. Usually the crack is down to the wood.
6. Parts Missing - Parts missing or broken hooks on a lure highly degrades the lure condition. This is where a beater lure with good parts can help repair a lure.
7. Pointers - Pointers are made by the lure hooks when it came into contact with the lure and punctured a hole through the varnish and paint.
8. Repaint - I classify a repainted or a touched up lure in the same class. This is a definite no-no and it removes the lure as a collectable.
9. Rub - Paint or Varnish rub caused by rubbing against another object. This is not a paint chip or varnish flake. Generally speaking this does not down grade the lure to much.
10. Touch Up's - Any touching up of the gill marks or the lure's paint in any fashion is against the rules and removes the lure from being a collectible. 
11. Varnish Flakes - Varnish that has been removed from the lure but not down to the paint. It is usually caused by lying against or rubbing against another object.
12. Worm Burn - This is caused by plastic baits that have been left against the lure for a extended length of time.  The paint usually burns and leaves behind sticky mess.  This type of defect usually will not allow it to be rated above average.

Easy Navigation Links

Learn about the world famous Bassman - Clyde A. Harbin Sr.

Heddon Index

CCBCO, Pflueger & Shakespeare Index

South Bend Index

Miscellaneous Subjects

Favorite link Page

E-mail Floyd Roberts from Bottom of Home Page

Copyright © since 2001 by Floyd L. Roberts

All Rights Reserved