Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater F5, 3/32oz G (Gold) fishing lure #14276

Weighing exactly 3/32 oz (2.5 g), the balsa wood construction of this 2" (5 cm) minnow features a classic Gold (G) finish with a black back and scale-patterned sides. The clear diving lip is stamped with the brand's name and Finland origin, identifying this Rapala Original Floater F5, product code 14276. Looking closely at the head, you can see the hand-painted yellow eyes with black pupils and the iconic red strike point under the nose. This specific specimen earns a 5/5 condition rating, with its finish and hardware showing remarkably well. It is engineered to operate at a depth of 2–6 ft (0.6–1.8 m), making it an effective tool for both casting and trolling in various water layers. The buoyant balsa body allows for steady cranking or surface twitching, while the two darkened treble hooks remain in excellent shape. The transition from the dark spine to the metallic gold sides captures the traditional craftsmanship that defined these Finnish exports for decades.