Calcutta 100B Or 200B Owners - Got A Minute?

[Goose52]

Anyone out there have a current production Shimano Calcutta 100B or 200B?  If so, can you measure the handle length (center-to-center on the posts)?  Doesn't have to be exact and can be in inches or millimeters.

 

I'm looking at handle options for a 50-size Calcutta.

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[John G]

My 100B is a few years old and the handle on it measures just over 3 5/16" center of the post to center of the post. This is without knobs. I replaced my 100B handle with a CTE100GT handle. I went from 0 ball bearings in the knobs to 4 total. The CTE100GT handle is the same size as the 100B.

 

I have a spare gold colored Calcutta handle and it's the same size as the 100B handle. I am not sure what  Calcutta it came on cause it came with Power Grip knobs.  It has a different screw that holds the knobs on and it doesn't have any bearings either. If bearings are not important to you, you can have it. 

 

I just compared the 100B handle to the handle on a 200GTB and they are the same size.

[*Hootie]

Exactly what I got Goose. Just answered your PM, then saw your post.

 

Hootie

[Goose52]

Thanks John and Hootie - that's exactly what I needed to know.  I have a CTE-100GT and a 200GT but didn't know if the standard 100/200B handles were the same length as the GT handles and it looks like they are.

 

John - I thought of the CTE-100GT handle as well but Shimano wants nearly $50 for that handle and that's a bit more than I wanted to spend.  This handle will go on an older 50-size reel and I don't want to put in a lot of $$$ on it.  And thanks for the offer for the no-bearing handle. I'm still trying to decide whether I want to go for a bearing-capable handle or not. Shimano has a left-hand CTE-201 handle (they don't list CTE-200 handles as being available) listed for only $17 that would give me two bearings....but since I'm right handed the knobs would be angled the wrong way. If the knobs bothered me I could order some right-handed knobs and end up at about $23 plus shipping. I have some extra knob bearings laying around and if the CTE-201 has removable bushings on the back of the knobs I could end up with 4 bearings.

 

Hmmm - have to think about it.

 

Thanks again guys.

[baluga]

You can consider building the handle using the Chronarch 2005e handle parts..Handle shank, washers, handle knob, handle cup, handle knob screw for a total of around $15.  Plus you can re-use your spare bearings, existing calcutta handle nut and nut retainer.  Only down side is that the shank can only take two bearings instead of four.   

 

The Chronach handle shank  has drilled holes and looks better than the plain  Calcutta B series handle, IMHO.

[Goose52]

Another interesting option - thanks Baluga!

 

The main goal of this swap is to gain handle length at minimal cost. The 70mm handles that Shimano puts on the 50-size reels are irritatingly short.

[baluga]

Another interesting option - thanks Baluga!

 

The main goal of this swap is to gain handle length at minimal cost. The 70mm handles that Shimano puts on the 50-size reels are irritatingly short.

Yeah, that stock handle from CT 50 is really short. 

 

Using the Chronarch handle parts would make it look something like this:

 

 

Merry Christmas Goose!

[Goose52]

That 50XT is looking good!  Thanks for posting the pic.

 

Merry Christmas to you as well Baluga and good fishing in 2014!

[Catt]

My CT50A has the same handle as the CT100A, 3 5/16, how long is the Chronarch?

[Goose52]

My CT50A has the same handle as the CT100A, 3 5/16

 

Thanks Catt.  It seems like on the later 50s Shimano went to a 2 3/4" / 70mm handle...............toooooo short!

[Catt]

My Cardiff's are the same length 3 5/16

[John G]

I've got a sliver colored JDM Calcutta 50 and it also has a very short handle. It must be the later ones with the short handle.

[Catt]

Could the problem be these are JDM reels?

My 50A is non-JDM

[Goose52]

Could the problem be these are JDM reels?

My 50A is non-JDM

 

The short (~70mm) handles are both US market and JDM - and both 50-size, and in one case 100-size.  In the house right now, I have: US market CTE-50GT and CTE-100DC - both with ~70mm handles (and I'm assuming the current USDM 50Bs have 70s as well).  Then I have JDM Calcutta 50XT and Conquest 50s - all with 70mm handles.  The Calais 100A  I have came with a bit longer handle but stock it's still only 75mm.  All too short (at least for me).  So, I am looking at ways to gain a little length.

 

The Calais 100A now sports an 84mm handle from a Calais 200DC (with the 200DC getting a HawgTech).

The 50XT is the subject of this thread and I'm exploring options.

The Conquest 50s just look so purdy with their stock handles I may not change them out.

The CTE-50GT may get a CTE-100GT handle eventually.

The CTE-100DC may end up with a HawgTech.

 

Too bad Shimano wouldn't put a bit longer handles on these reels stock..  Perhaps the Bait Monkey has a kick-back scheme with Shimano.....

[Catt]

Huh!

Have you considered Deluxe Pro Hog Handler? They are 3 3/4"

BPS's XPS Handles are 4 1/8-4 1/2"!

I have a older Bantam with the rose wood handle & I built a new handle out of 7075T6 aluminum.

[John G]

I just noticed that my Conquest 100 handle is the same length as my JDM Calcutta 50 handle. Both handles are shorter than the CTE100GT handle.

[Goose52]

I just noticed that my Conquest 100 handle is the same length as my JDM Calcutta 50 handle. Both handles are shorter than the CTE100GT handle.

 

Yup - and the handle on my US market CTE-100DC is also that little 70mm handle.  That's why I started this thread. Shimano doesn't use the same length handle across reels of the same size.  I have a CTE-100GT with an 84mm handle, and the 100DC with the 70mm handle, so I needed to know what the length was on the 100B since you can't assume a "standard length" 100-size handle.

 

On my 100DC, I could put a 200DC handle on it ($70 from Shimano) to keep it looking stock and get it to 84mm, OR, I could buy a HawgTech handle (bare) and transfer over the knobs/bearings from the stock 100DC handle, save a few bucks, and have a much longer handle (too long perhaps). 

 

The 100DC handle is a project for another day.....

[John G]

The reason that I bought the CTE100GT handle for my 100B is because I think the solid gold colored handle looks very nice with that reel. I have 3 Hawgtech's and Hawgtech's are nice but I wanted the gold. I would not mind a longer handle for the Conquest 100 but if I did that, I would get the Avail swept aluminum handle in gold.

My Calcutta 50 is the one that they call the 05' Calcutta. It has the short handle but it also has 4 ball bearings in the knobs. I just bought a 100 05' Calcutta off of ebay this morning and it too looks like it has the short handle. I agree with you that the Conquest 50 is just too purdy as is to mess around with.

[Goose52]

Since these are "niche" reels that I won't be using a lot, I decided to go for the frugal option - stock Calcutta 100/200B handles (BNT3324) - only $12.97 each from Shimano. No bearings, but longer than the stock 50XT/100XT handles with much better knobs.  A 14mm length increase doesn't sound like much...but it makes a considerable difference in feel...