Museum Archive: Vintage Paul Bunyan Flash eye spoon, 3/4oz Nickel / Red Eyes fishing spoon #4353

Nickel plating across a 3 1/4" (8 cm) body provides the high-flash base for which this Paul Bunyan Flash Eye Spoon is named. Collectors often look for the signature "Flash Eye" feature—two red jeweled beads set into the head of the lure to catch light and provide a distinct focal point. Stamped clearly on the reverse is the Minneapolis, Minnesota origin of the Paul Bunyan Bait Company, a detail that grounds this 3/4 oz (21 g) specimen, identified by Product Code 4353, in mid-century American tackle history. The metal surface shows light signs of shelf wear from its years in storage, maintaining a solid 4/5 condition that reflects the high-quality finishing of the era. A heavy-duty split ring connects the tail to a sharp treble hook, showing the construction intended for casting in freshwater environments. While many of these lures are now prized as display pieces, the thick gauge of the metal and the weight are characteristic of a tool designed for long-distance casting toward deep-water predators.