Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Dardevle Cop-E-Cat, 1oz Yellow / Red / Nickel fishing spoon #2241

Stamped clearly on the nickel-finished back, the DETROIT USA origin mark anchors this classic piece of Michigan fishing history. This 3 1/4" (8.5 cm) Dardevle Cop-E-Cat features a distinct color scheme with a vibrant yellow diagonal stripe cutting across a deep red face. Weighing in at 1 oz (25 g), the spoon's substantial weight and oblong concave body are built for effective casting or trolling. You can spot the classic devil head logo printed directly onto the yellow stripe near the tail. The hardware remains robust, featuring a large treble hook secured by a split ring. This specific specimen is identified by product code 2241. Evaluated at a 4/5 condition, the painted surface shows light marks from handling, while the polished metal on the reverse side retains a bright finish. While Eppinger eventually moved operations to Dearborn in 1959, the stamp on this particular lure points to the brand's long-standing Detroit heritage where Lou Eppinger first developed these heavy-gauge brass spoons.