Kingpin Reels

Company Profile

The story behind Kingpin, began more than 20 years ago when Dave Swallow, a well known angler based in the south of England and regular visitor to the nearby Throop and Royalty fisheries, decided to design his perfect centrepin reel. After much deliberation, Dave commissioned Arnold Engineering, to undertake the commission and they began manufacturing the Swallow Centrepin in the early Nineties.

After many years making the reels under the Swallow brand, Arnold Engineering introduced its own version, calling it the Arnold-Kingpin. Another Dorset company, KW Engineering, specialising in aerospace and military precision engineering, had been making spools and back plates for Arnold. KW saw the potential for the product and, being a larger organisation, eventually purchased the drawings and the name. Due to Arnold no longer being involved, KW decided to drop the Arnold name and register the reels under the Kingpin brand. The reel’s manufacture was put on hold for a while, until retired surgeon Ron Baxter, an avid centrepin user, rekindled KW’s enthusiasm in the project. Following some subtle design improvements, manufacture resumed.

Combining the science of its engineers with the expertise of anglers, Kingpin’s mission is to produce reels of unrivalled quality and functionality. The result is unprecedented precision, control and sensitivity in one astounding reel. Each reel is machined, precision ground and assembled to exacting tolerances. The consumer is given a choice of precision bearings to suit style and use – greased or oiled, stainless steel or ceramic. Kingpin offers a customisation service at special request. Customers have a choice of ten different
handles including burled wood and faux ivory.

There is also a choice of three lever positions on the ‘Gold’ series, catering for left-handed and right-handed users and also providing the option of positioning the lever near the reel foot. The reel comes in five standard colours – black, bronze, silver-black, red-black and gunmetal grey – plus the manufacturer will listen to special requests for “something a little different.”

Parts and accessories for the Kingpin are of the same high standard as the reel itself. These include a dovetailed gift box handmade from cherry wood with solid cast brass fittings and brass Kingpin plaque. Also available is a black, branded thick neoprene pouch with Velcro strap to afford protection on or off the rod. Kingpin’s after-sales service includes a dedicated workshop in North America and another in the UK to service Europe.

For more information about the Kingpin range of centrepin reels, please visit the company's website by clicking the image below.