Rarest Fat Raps - MFR-3

[montiac1]

I'm planning to do a separate thread for each of the types and sizes of Fat Raps--MFR-3, RFR-4, RFR-5, RFR-7, FR-5, FR-7, SFR-5, SFR-7, DRFR-5, DRFR-7, GFR-5, GFR-7, SS-5, SS-7 (any I missed?).

The "Winner" will be my opinion based on posts on this and other boards, collectors web sites, eBay, etc., and will usually be very subjective.  I also hope to provide a little history and any other info I can think of.  Please provide feedback on my first attempt.

Criteria:
- Was commercially available to the public at one time or another
- No prototypes, etc.
- "Proof" of existence in an original box (picture, catalog, etc.)

Ah, the diminutive Mini Fat Rap!  The smallest of the Fat Raps at 3 cm (1 1/2") and 1/8 oz., with two No. 12 hooks and a running depth of 3- 6 ft.  It was introduced in 1979 and is still available today (at least on Cabela's site).  According to rapalaworld.com:
For taking finicky fish, the tight swimming action is just right. The sinking Mini Fat Rap works with unmatchable action for attracting trout and other smaller predators.

Candidates:
B - Blue (Japan Special)
"N" series (for example, NOR, NPE, NYE, etc.) - (Japan Specials)
PW (Pearl White) (Japan Special only?)
RCL (Red Clown) - I have seen a few pictures of these, but none in an original box, so doesn't meet my criteria
RH (Redhead) (Japan Special only?)
SB, SG, and OCW (2nd generation) are some tough ones that aren't Japan Specials

The Winner:
RH (Redhead).  There is a very nice picture of one of these new in box on Page 8 of the "JOHN'S RAPALA COLLECTION LINK" thread on this board.

Thoughts???

[tinman27]

so I have what I am told is a rare fat rap. It is nib in mint condition never been opened and the hanger tab still bent over and the hole not punched. Now the question I am trying to answer is that the box says SFR-5 but the Bar coded sticker that is on it says SFR07 BB. The lure is in fact a Baby Bass and the box even says special edition on it and also appears to be the size of a 7. I can not see the writing on the bill to verify. I would like some help on determining the value of this. Thanks

[montiac1]

Yep...that's an SFR-7 BB. I'm not sure why the boxes they were put in say SFR-5, but that's the way all of them have been that I have seen. When they first came out, I think some of them went for over $100. I have seen them go as low as $30. I haven't seen many on eBay recently...you might be able to get $50.

[tinman27]

Thanks for the info!

[cdj711]

to all lovers of fat raps.

the RCL as well as the SGFR were listed in rapala opas 2000, so i guess this would qualify them for the list.

in addition, there was a MFR3 RH in special, but not japan special box, listed on ebay germany 4 months ago, which would indicate that the RH was not only issued for japan.

my absolute favorite one is the elusive B pearl.

and what is OCW 2nd generation? i think the 1st generation OCW is the tougher one, because this one was editied only for sweden in a kit of 3 rapala.

best,
wolfgang

[montiac1]

Wolfgang...
I've seen some images from the Rapala 2000 Opas catalog, but none of any Mini Fat Raps or any other Fat Raps. Do you know where any of those images might be available?

The 2nd generation OCW is the darker orange version that was released after the lighter orange version. I haven't seen a picture of the lighter orange in MFR-3 or the kit, but I'd love to see one! I guess the 3rd generation OCW would be the one that was released recently--darker orange but with different shaped barbs on top.

Thanks for your input!

Derek

[cdj711]

Hi Derek.

well, i always thought the light orange is just a color variation of the OCW. i have seen this in RNR and RFR, did they make a light orange OCW? i see now that these are 2 different lures. has the OCW2 been coming also in normal box or only in the set of 3? here there was no hang tag on the box and box was not glued.

i will try to scan the rapala opas page where RCL and SGFR are shown.
never seen any of these NIB though.

best,
wolfgang

[montiac1]

My guess is the light orange was the original OCW color and the darker orange came after it (as far as Fat Raps, anyway). I'm not sure when that happened, though. My light orange RFR-5 OCW was made in Finland and the darker orange one was made in Ireland, so not sure when that transition occurred.

The only MFR-3 OCW2 I have seen have been without hang tags and just the box, so maybe they were only available in the set of 3. You don't happen to have one you'd part with, do you?

Thanks again for your input.

Derek

[jmcfish10101973]

hi all

here is 3 you do not see much of



sfc special on pearl white body



redhead special japan



pearl white with red month japan special

john

[montiac1]

Agree, John, those are tough! Thanks for sharing.

[jmcfish10101973]

hi all

these are some more diff. ones also



2 diff. sb

1. scaled
2. none-scaled






2 diff. blues

1. foil body
2. special on pearl white body



2 diff. sd



3 diff. crawdads in diff. boxes



2 diff. colorings of gfr

john

[jmcfish10101973]

hi all

forgot the complete set of 8 in camo



john

[jmcfish10101973]

hi all

this is a photo of my mfr-3 collection so far



john

[jmcfish10101973]

hi all

this is a mfr-3 from japan





john

[montiac1]

Another interesting MFR03...that was actually an SFR-5, so it's been moved to that the SFR-5 thread.

SFR-5 Thread

[Jason]

That's an SFR 5 isn't it? SFR 5 bill for sure.

[montiac1]

Jason, you are absolutely correct! Thanks for pointing that out. I posted this picture in the wrong thread...I'll get it moved.

[Andy jones]

Jan 6, 2014 13:33:06 GMT -4 jmcfish10101973 said:

hi all

here is 3 you do not see much of



sfc special on pearl white body



redhead special japan



pearl white with red month japan special

john