In the CFO, Orvis would harken back to a claim of American origin and a direct connection with the older, noble British tradition personified and practiced by House of Hardy. And it would connect to the modern, graphite era with modern, durability enhancing techniques. The first reels were constructed of cast aluminum, but machined for higher tolerances, then anodized, with a click and pawl drag. Within a few years it became obvious that the combination of old school look and tradition and new, high brow technology was a winner. Prices soared. The CFO became, as much as one could in a fly fishing world crowded with manufacturers and diverse beyond all precedent, the iconic fresh water fly reel. It spanned and played to both the old and modern bamboo tradition, AND to the graphite world and future.
In various incantations, the CFO evolved eventually into a fully machined barstock, anodized hardened, salt water protected, disc drag reel. And eventually manufacturing was moved from England to in Korea, at which point a lot of people lost interest in it. It was, from the beginning, both classic and modern, AND graphite-durable in all aspects…with the single exception of the line guard…..made of….for 100 years….by House of Hardy….nickel silver.
Make no mistake, in all other aspects the classic CFO of any age is as otherwise bulletproof as the Pflueger Medalist….and every other modern salt or high-end freshwater reel. But, given heavy use and casting from the reel, the reel guard will score. Hardy admits that with the two screws attaching the replaceable guard to the pillar.
And, for lack of a minor design or alloy treatment change costing pennies, just as eventually evolved with the fly rod, there would be no line abrasion issues with any degree of use or casting style…at all.
Tradition.
