I just tried placing an order on Mudhole.I was looking to buy guides BHNLG. The gentleman told me that Fuji is discontinuing their hardloy guides and he only has a few left. I don`t think this is true. Fuji hardloy guides have been around as long as I can remember. Their guides are used on many factory rods and haven`t given me any trouble throughout the years. Hardloy is a better grade of aluminum oxide and very moderately priced.

You can see what Jim has to say about it, but I would guess that it is probably true. Normally the Mudhole staff does not tell you something if it is not true to the best of their knowledge.

Be safe

As Roger said, it's probably true. I'm sure suppliers are made aware of an item that is going to be discontinued.

Fuji recently came out with an improved aluminum oxide ring material that they're using in their "O" Concept guides. Pricing is in line with their Hardaloy line of guides. If the order in which they list their ring materials is in a good, better, best progression. The "O" ring material falls between Hardaloy, and Alconite. So it's probably an improved version of Hardaloy.

It would make sense from a business standpoint to eliminate redundancy from a product line.

The Aluminum oxide / Concept "O" ring actually originally was a step below the Hardloy however it has improved over the years thus making the Hardloy unnecessary. Im sure Jim Ising will chime in here shortly but it is indeed true, the Hardloy line of guides is being phased out. Anglers Resources is already out of or low on numerous sizes and Mud Hole has therefore begun to closeout / inactivate the series as inventory is depleted.

Kind Regards,

Brook Oliva
Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc.
brook@mudhole.com
(866)-790-RODS

Yes, CONCEPT "O" is an improved aluminum oxide and it is also available in certain concept guide frames for the first time ever, Fuji has always reserved their best concept frames for ALCONITE and above rings, but the introduction of CONCEPT "O" has made an inexpensive ring available for the first time in Fuji's best selling concept frames like the LN and Y (deep pressed for the first time ever). This is a really good ring and makes Fuji's very best NGC guides more affordable than ever.

Jim, if I am interpreting your image library shots correctly the O guide ring is black, right? That has to make the guides, IMHO, much more handsome than that old gray hardloy color.