Handle It Already! (a sweeping victory)

When considering the fit and function of any given swept handle, when installed to any given reel, there are 3 main criteria that must be considered:

1. drag star clearance

2. remaining drive shaft threads

3. handle orbit*

*handle orbit is defined as the relationship of the handle rotation relative to the frame size and gear ratio, i.e. too great an orbit, or too little an orbit.

Additionally, there are 3 secondary criteria that must be considered:

4. drive shaft nut fitment

5. retainer plate fitment

6. retainer screw fitment

The following handles have been tested rigorously to these criteria, the results are as follows:

Studio Composite 102mm (M7)

•Curado 300DSV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Curado 200DPV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Speedmaster 200–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Tranx 300–with an additional washer (optional), drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Chronarch 100Mg–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, however, the remaining drive shaft threads are insufficient and the handle orbit is incorrect.

Shimano Tranx 300 102mm (M8)

•Curado 300DSV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct. However, the use of YT Fusion handle adapters was adverse; given Shimano’s anti-reverse bearing back play, the extra rotation of the handle around the drive shaft proved unacceptable.

•Curado 200DPV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct. However, the use of YT Fusion handle adapters was adverse; given Shimano’s anti-reverse bearing back play, the extra rotation of the handle around the drive shaft proved unacceptable.

•Speedmaster 200–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct. However, the use of YT Fusion handle adapters was adverse; given Shimano’s anti-reverse bearing back play, the extra rotation of the handle around the drive shaft proved unacceptable.

•Chronarch 100Mg–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient but the handle orbit is incorrect. Additionally, the use of YT Fusion handle adapters was adverse; given Shimano’s anti-reverse bearing back play, the extra rotation of the handle around the drive shaft proved unacceptable.

Shimano Tranx 96mm (M7)

•Curado 300DSV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient but the handle orbit is incorrect.

•Curado 200DPV–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient but the handle orbit is incorrect.

•Speedmaster 200–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient but the handle orbit is incorrect.

•Chronarch 100Mg–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is barely achieved, however, the remaining drive shaft threads are insufficient, while the handle orbit is correct.

•Scorpion DC7–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

UNFORTUNATE OBSERVATION: The Tranx 96mm handle knob posts have additional material at the base, making them a little finicky to adapt aftermarket knobs onto. The Shimano Conquest 300 knobs have a cool possibility to accommodate 3 bearings per knob. This was not possible with the 96mm Tranx handle; neither would it accept Daiwa RCS knobs, as there was not enough space for the bottom bearing support due to the excess material at the base of the knob post.

GLORIOUS OBSERVATION: both the Conquest 300 and Studio Composite knobs can take 3 bearings each, so it really gives the handle rotation a nice, sturdy feeling.

GLORIOUS OBSERVATION II: the Tranx knobs accept 3 bearings each, so it really gives the handle rotation a nice, sturdy feeling.

Studio Composite 96mm (M7)

•Scorpion DC7–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Chronarch 100Mg–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, however, the remaining drive shaft threads are insufficient, while the handle orbit is correct.

•Scorpion Metanium Mg–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, however, the remaining drive shaft threads are insufficient, while the handle orbit is correct.

Hedgehog Studio 90mm (M7)

•Core 50Mg7–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Scorpion XT1000–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

•Scorpion DC7–with an additional washer, drag star clearance is achieved, the remaining drive shaft threads are sufficient and the handle orbit is correct.

Tranx Knob Compatibility

Shimano Tranx knobs agree with the following handles: Studio Composite 102mm (M7), Studio Composite 96mm (M7). Additionally, Shimano Tranx knobs agree with Calais 200ASV 90mm handle. All of these combinations accept 3 bearings each knob.

Septon Knob Compatibility

Shimano Septon knobs agree with the following handles: Studio Composite 102mm (M7), Studio Composite 96mm (M7), Hedgehog Studio 90mm (M7). Shimano Septon knobs agree with Calais 200ASV 90mm handle. All of these combinations accept 3 bearings per knob.

Studio Composite Knob Compatibility

Studio Composite carbon fiber knobs (silver) agree with the following handles: Studio Composite 102mm (M7), Studio Composite 96mm (M7), Hedgehog Studio 90mm (M7). All of these combinations accept 3 bearings per knob.

Daiwa RCS Knob Compatibility

Daiwa RCS knobs agree with the following handles: Studio Composite 102mm (M7), Studio Composite 96mm (M7), Hedgehog Studio 90mm (M7). All of these combinations only accept 2 bearings per knob.

*The Studio Composite 96mm pictured above did not leave enough drive shaft threads for the handle nut. But it looked so good I had to snap a photo of it anyways.