Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Weedless Dardevle Imp, 2/5oz Red / White / Nickel fishing spoon #4262

A vibrant red feather tail accents the single hook of this vintage 2 1/4" (5.5 cm) Eppinger spoon, specifically designed for navigating heavy cover. This model, known as the Weedless Dardevle Imp with product code 4262, carries the famous red and white striped enamel finish on its convex face, complete with the unmistakable black devil head logo. Turning the lure over reveals a bright nickel-plated reverse stamped with "DARDEVLE U.S.A.," a mark of the Dearborn, Michigan manufacturing tradition that began in Lou Eppinger's Detroit workshop. Weighing 2/5 oz (11 g), the lure is equipped with a tensioned wire weed guard that shields the hook point from underwater snags during casting. The specimen is in 5/5 condition, retaining a clean metal finish and sharp paint lines. The concave shape is achieved through the manufacturer's proprietary dies, which have remained a core part of their production process for decades. The red feathering remains supple and firmly attached to the hook shank, providing a soft-textured profile to the trailing end of the metal body.