autographed rapalas

[jpkawalski]

I saw an autographed rapala lures . Are these rare?,anyone no much about this lure? Are they manufactured? or sharpied?

[jmcfish10101973]

hi my name is john i think if they are 100% rapalas signed by someone from the rapala faimly they are very rare and are worth about $80 to $150 each and it all depeens on the size and style of the rapala.i have seen some go for as much as $200 and up so all and all if you find one get it

john

[007fishfingers]

hi, hand written lures are hard to get, if your not sure if its the real thing look at my collection for jarmo or jasons collection,or anyone else who has them and compair the signatures as ours are the real thing if not put a pic here sure we should tell if its a true one or not

[90collector]

I would guess he saw the 100th anniversary lures since you can still get them at some stores.
In that case rare? no

[jpkawalski]

No its not jarmo Lure co. Its a rapala.

[jpkawalski]

Nor a 100th an lure. It's a 18 Original silver.

[bacon]

value varies based on person, lauri will be worth more then the sons or grandson. i would value a lauri at $150-200, risto, ensio, esko valued at $125-150, and Jarmo around $100. Thats my take, for what its worth. i have 2 f-9 originals with Ensio Rapala signature, and i paid an average of around $150 for them. i know for a fact that a small handful (less then 25) F-18 originals were hand made and signed be lauri for special members of the rapala/normark family. i know this, because i was told about them by the owner of one, Ray Ostrom, co-founder of normark. he was given the lure by lauri, handmade by him, and one of the most detail f-18s ever made, since lauri not only hand carved it, but also used a small nail to 'scale' the sides of the lure. by Rays account, there were 12 made in silver and gold(i never found out if that was 12 each or 12 total, but damn few either way. Ray kept his in his houseboat on lake of the woods in MN. also a little fun fact, rays boat was named after his wife, norma jean if my memory serves me correctly, but it had been renamed, the house boats original name was Lord Rapala, as it had hosted many a fishing trip for members of the rapala family while they visited in the early years on rapalas venture into america.
my first Ensio lure came from a seller who got it from Ray, he was the one who put me in contact with Ray, what a cool day that was. my second ensio lure didnt get me as cool a story, but i did find out a little about them. that seller was a former fishing rep, and back in the late 60's early 70's he got the lure from a trade show where rapala was being promoted, by Lauri and his Boys in person. it was a give a way lure, they were just handing lures out left and right, signing them for anyone who wanted it, lauri was busy with a line of people and ensio was not as busy i guess and thats who he had sign his. i got the feeling that most didnt get a lure autographed, but some definatly did, and there out there, but numbers are distinctly unknown. you can bet some used the signed lure, lost it, abused it, ect, some but it a box and havent seen them since, what ever, but every once and a while you will see one pop up, as a collector, i think they are must haves, and i kick myself from time to time on ones that i have missed, and wont be happy til i have one of each of them(all three generations), and even then im guessing i will long for one of those beautiful handmade, nail punched, f-18's with a great story. good luck on your lure finds.

bacon

[jpkawalski]

Thanks, awesome read...thanks