Matarelli? Whip Finisher

[5strips]

Hello All
I picked up this Whip Finisher, and was wondering if anyone recognized it original.
It looks like a Matarelli, but I cannot find any markings.
I haven’t unscrewed the blade coverplate yet to see if the are any initials.

Thanks for the help
Kevin

[Brooks]

sure looks like a true Materelli to me. The little silver spacer beads, the point, the bends. I compared to mine. The cutter is cool.

[Booman2]

Mine looks the same. Identical curves, bearings etc. The barrel on mine is brass (?) the wire is probably stainless. No markings and I think it was normal on whip finishers

[16pmd]

In my opinion, highly unlikely to be a Matarelli whip finisher, though it's possibly an early experiment that wasn't produced. On the orignal, the cutter was a notch ground into the shaft of the stainless steel shaft and not a separate blade as in yours. With the sharpened notch, there was no need for an additinal separate brass cover for a blade. Finally, those made with a notch had his initials added to the notched end of the shaft, F on one side, M on the other.

[ibookje]

Does it matter?

[Hellmtflies]

Well unscrew the darn thing and have a look! Geeze.....

[narcodog]

I have one and it's not a Matarelli.

[3creeks]

Does it matter?

It only matters because, apparently, the real deal Matarelli whip finishing tools are worth some dough. I've got two so I guess between those and my standard angle Lie Nielsen block planes I'm set for retirement.

[16pmd]

It only matters because the original Matarelli whip finishers with notch cutters are collectible, very useful, and getting pricey since no longer made. Most of those were given by Frank to friends and tiers those work he admired and a few sold through Blue Ribbon Flies. If this one with the separate blade and screwed-on cover were an original Matarelli it would be a unique experimental model and probably worth even more. Unscrewing the cover would be pointless, since there wouldn't be any need for a blade if there was a notched cutter end underneath.

[Hellmtflies]

It only matters because the original Matarelli whip finishers with notch cutters are collectible, very useful, and getting pricey since no longer made. Most of those were given by Frank to friends and tiers those work he admired and a few sold through Blue Ribbon Flies. If this one with the separate blade and screwed-on cover were an original Matarelli it would be a unique experimental model and probably worth even more. Unscrewing the cover would be pointless, since there wouldn't be any need for a blade if there was a notched cutter end underneath.

I simply thought that perhaps the "FM" initials might be under the brass plates. So, opening them might unveil the initials.

[narcodog]

It only matters because the original Matarelli whip finishers with notch cutters are collectible, very useful, and getting pricey since no longer made. Most of those were given by Frank to friends and tiers those work he admired and a few sold through Blue Ribbon Flies. If this one with the separate blade and screwed-on cover were an original Matarelli it would be a unique experimental model and probably worth even more. Unscrewing the cover would be pointless, since there wouldn't be any need for a blade if there was a notched cutter end underneath.

I simply thought that perhaps the "FM" initials might be under the brass plates. So, opening them might unveil the initials.

They are not

[Brooks]

I learned something here. I didn't know that true Matarelli's were identifiable. I bought mine in around 1986 in Lakewood Colorado at a flyshop (possibly named Walker's? He made cool dubbing spinners). The owner's tying desk was a big thing autographed by dozens of tiers. I looked closely at the flat piece below the rotating handle, and sure enough, it appears to have a strike of an F on one side, and an M on the other. Really hard to tell, microscopic almost. Cool.

[bluesjay]

Hi Guys, I have a couple 'fm' Materelli's, and I like the idea of a cutter on the end, but if I sharpen a whip finisher it won't be a Materelli. I could sharpen an 'import', but I worry I'd stab myself. This gadget on the end seems like a good idea.

Jay Edwards

[narcodog]

Hi Guys, I have a couple 'fm' Materelli's, and I like the idea of a cutter on the end, but if I sharpen a whip finisher it won't be a Materelli. I could sharpen an 'import', but I worry I'd stab myself. This gadget on the end seems like a good idea.

Jay Edwards

Take a jewelers file and cut a groove on both sides of the "flat spot" it will not decrease the value.

[Flyman615]

Once upon a time I had one that Frank gave me at his house in West Yellowstone. (It had the thread cutter end and was marked FM).

Over the years several Forumers seemed to want this original Matarelli tool more than I did, so I ended up selling it for a couple of hundred dollars, believe it or not.

That said, I could not believe the amount of questioning; controversy and nit-picking this little tool generated before and after my sale. (See the above.) Sheesh!

Scott Z.