Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Dardevle Imp, 2/5oz Red / White / Copper fishing spoon #10012

Tipping the scales at 2/5 oz (11 g), this Eppinger Dardevle Imp, product code 10012, is a classic example of American tackle history. Measuring exactly 2 1/4" (5.5 cm), the spoon features the iconic red and white striped pattern on the front, accented by the well-known devil head logo stamped in the center. Flipping it over reveals a clean copper back, clearly stamped with "DARDEVLE IMP U.S.A." to denote its origin and model. This particular specimen is in 5/5 condition, showing excellent preservation of the paint and metal. The spoon's hardware consists of a sturdy split ring attached to a sharp treble hook, ready for casting. Historically, these copper-backed versions were often favored for cloudier water conditions, where the warm metallic flash could cut through the murk. The concave, oblong shape is a signature of Lou Eppinger’s 1906 design from Detroit, though later production moved to Dearborn. This size makes it quite versatile for light-to-medium casting setups targeting pike or bass. The paint exhibits high gloss, and the stamped markings on the reverse remain crisp and legible against the copper surface.