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Penn 525 Mag4

Casker said:
From what I can tell, you and many others @Angrybear rate (what I assume to be) the #1's highly. But then #2 and #3 525s seem to have a (n)reaction. Then the #4 seems to be loved or denigrated in equal part. Personal preferences and experiences: I've now got a #4 and who knows what I will think over time ?
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As a point of interest does it say "made in USA" on the box ? I was wondering if they moved production to China where some of their spinning reels are made ? Also the company was sold in 2019, now owned by the same people as ABU, Berkley, Spiderwire & Stren.
 
Angrybear said:
As a point of interest does it say "made in USA" on the box ? I was wondering if they moved production to China where some of their spinning reels are made ? Also the company was sold in 2019, now owned by the same people as ABU, Berkley, Spiderwire & Stren.
Click to expand...

Pure Fishing, who bought the parent company of Savage Gear too, last year I think.


I've got a Penn 320GTI level wind reel, genuine USA one, new still in its box unused.
Invested in a new Penn Boat rod & reel years ago, and 4 days later, my mate rang me and said he was moving house and the boat had been sold!

1721421156344.jpeg
 
I have been using a pair for over a year now with no problems. The only issue I had was that the blue spool tensioning knobs had a very limited thread on them and actually fell off, so I purchased a couple of gold ones from Black Dog, added a small O ring and all is good. Now I have said this they will both probably melt in the sunshine when I go out again on Monday :)

reel.JPG
 
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Angrybear said:
As a point of interest does it say "made in USA" on the box ? I was wondering if they moved production to China where some of their spinning reels are made ? Also the company was sold in 2019, now owned by the same people as ABU, Berkley, Spiderwire & Stren.
Click to expand...
Nope - mine is deffo made in China. (I didn't ask how old it is.)
 
kevothefish said:
I have been using a pair for over a year now with no problems. The only issue I had was that the blue spool tensioning knobs had a very limited thread on them and actually fell off, so I purchased a couple of gold ones from Black Dog, added a small O ring and all is good. Now I have said this they will both probably melt in the sunshine when I go out again on Monday :)

View attachment 67448
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The 525 looks tiddly on that rod, but .... ! :)(y)
 
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Angrybear said:
As a point of interest does it say "made in USA" on the box ? I was wondering if they moved production to China where some of their spinning reels are made ? Also the company was sold in 2019, now owned by the same people as ABU, Berkley, Spiderwire & Stren.
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Mag 2, 3 and 4 are all products of China. Only the original 525s were made in the states.
 
Casker said:
More pics required @Trampster
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What? Of the reel? Got some I think.

1721458474631.jpeg

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1721458695436.jpeg

I did consider selling both the Reel and the Penn Senator Rod I bought with it. Took some photos and that was as far as I got.

1721458992254.jpeg
 
Trampster said:
Pure Fishing, who bought the parent company of Savage Gear too, last year I think.


I've got a Penn 320GTI level wind reel, genuine USA one, new still in its box unused.
Invested in a new Penn Boat rod & reel years ago, and 4 days later, my mate rang me and said he was moving house and the boat had been sold!

View attachment 67446
Click to expand...

Well as of 2019 they are all owned by Sycamore Partners ltd an investment company, who band them together under the Pure fishing name that they also own.
 
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Its an utter utter piece of wanky shite...... your now going to have to buy something decent as s spare for when if breaks on the beach.
 
Casker said:
Thanks for the pics Trampster. So "Hi-speed" was once upon a time 4.5:1 !
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Probably fast enough for hauling up rigs from the depths on a boat.
 
chesilpete said:
Its an utter utter piece of wanky shite...... your now going to have to buy something decent as s spare for when if breaks on the beach.
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I'm assuming @chesilpete you are referring back to my starter post = Penn 525 Mag4 reel.
I will report in due course whether my (Chinese) 525 is one of the really duff ones or a goodun.
In the mean time, I invite Members to share their actual bad or good experiences of a Penn 525 Mag (or a 515) of any vintage (#1. 2. 3, 4)

How many of us have used or owned a Penn 525 and given up on it because it was just too unreliable ?
 
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Casker said:
I'm assuming @chesilpete you are referring back to my starter post = Penn 525 Mag4 reel.
I will report in due course whether my (Chinese) 525 is one of the really duff ones or a goodun.
In the mean time, I invite Members to share their actual bad or good experiences of a Penn 525 Mag (or a 515) of any vintage (#1. 2. 3, 4)

How many of us have used or owned a Penn 525 and given up on it because it was just too unreliable ?
Click to expand...
Yep mk1s good..... mk2 525 not complete wank, rest utter utter utter wank.
 
I've got 5 Mk1 525s. Only 2 from brand new.
I use them for boat and beach.
Never had a problem really, clean and oil now and then. Replaced a few bearings over the last, probably, 20+ years or so.
The only thing that has gone wrong is the cage cracking at the magnet end. Superglued a couple back together without any problem.
Remember the Penn Sidewinder/525 Mag deal In Sea Angler mag? I got one and still have them both.

They are my main reels, I have an old Slosh20, another good reel, and a couple of grinders.
 

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