Openned up my new Cabelas catalog and Abu is bringing back the Cardinal 3 with some significant changes like 7 bearings. Looks like they kept the old drag system.

I like my old Cardinals so I'm looking at it but the abu spinning reel have been less than
steller over the last 20 years. I'll still give it a try.
Steve

The new ones do not have the same reverse worm gear drive system - just the standard ring and pinion that nearly all spinning reels of the last 25 years have utilized. So it's a different reel with the old name attached. Whether or not it's any good I have no idea.


..............

Are these the same reel that used to be made by Zebco many years ago.That Cardinal 4 was a silky smooth reel.

No they are not, they are built on a newer design much like the reels everyone else makes as Tom noted, they appear the have the same type drag design which many people liked about them, but it appears they don't have the line capacity of the old reels which, if I remember right was about 200 yds of 8 lb in the 3 size. I don't imagine the internals aren't made of marine bronze either which held up very well in all but my size 6 which had the habit of getting light shaft bends in the spool shaft and effect smoothness even though it was twice the diameter of most shafts I've seen on spinning reels. Quit using mine only when I couldn't get parts to keep them going. (bail springs, etc.)That's the same story for my Shimano 201s (pawls) and my DAM Quick also. About the only reels from that era still around are the Abus and Penns and they have been "improved". I replaced one of my Cardinal 3 with a Penn 430 SS that has held up very well ( stainless parts and huge, smooth drag).

I still use my Cardinals 3, 4, 6, from the west coast to the great lakes to the gulf of Mex.
And don't think they will hold up as well if I don't like it I'll give it to my kids.
I got lucky and picked up some parts to keep my reels going.
Steve

I am new to this forum, just found the site. The old Cardinal 3 and 4. I still have two of each. There not in use anymore but will keep for sentimental reasons. All were a gift from a dear friend Billy Westmoreland from Celina Tn who passed in 2002.