This question is often asked by someone wanting to know how collectable or valuable thier Penn reel might be. Several variables are involved. Older reels may have slight differences thru the years, while others have noticeable differences.

 I could go on forever about this, but some of the best info can be found in Mike C. Penn history book. If you have a question about dating your old Penn Reel, post it up here and we will help you out. P.S. I know nothing about international reels

 Dating this squidder to a 3 year period is possible if you know what to look for.

    WHAT A HORNETS NEST ON THIS SERIES !!!!!
 349 ,349C,349H, 349HC . Known as MASTER MARINERS
Two Levers Single Lever ,Free Spool ,NO FREE SPOOL . 2.33:1....    3.25:1  and maybe another  or two ranges SHEEEEEESH !!!
and you can't really tell WTF you have till you open one up and see what gears are in it .
Then I find you have different end Bearings on some . Different sized Metal Washers yet only one size of fiber Drags ??
Anyway I will try and enlighten some of the differences ,interchanges mods and etc. as time goes by on these since I seem to have wayyyyyyyy too many of these I have gotten over the years and NEED to sort these differences out in the way of interchanges of spools,plates,gears,end bearings and so on .



One thing about the 349 Series different from the 49,149,and 249 series is the double set of Chrome Rings and 9 Holes in them as compared to the others which only have 8.



 and one series has only an inner Chrome Ring while the 249 is a Knuckle Buster (Direct Drive ) Dragless and No Chrome Rings.
 
UPDATE  April 7th 2023
       
 Here is what I have found on the Different  Nomenclatures used on the MASTER MARINER

 1. The plain Jane 349 Master Mariner Has 1 Lever for Free Spool 2 1/3 to 1  Ratio
 
2. 349 C Has 2 Levers   with 2 1/3 Gear Ratio same as 349 plain Jane and the 2nd lever is described as a Reversible Star Drag which was throwing me for a LOOP cuz it dint make no sense . It actually takes the Anti Reverse function off .The Star Drag is not Reversed just not working unless you hold your Thumb on  the Spool.

3. 349H  has a 3/1/4 Gear Ratio( thus the H indicator ) and  a  Single Lever for Free Spool .

4. 349 HC is same Ratio as the H but with the 2 Levers ........



Another thing that was confusing me is that I was told  there were no Boxes with the various numbers on them to tell what Reel it actually was.  Plain Jane, C, H, or HC  ?
Really without knowing some of this you don't KNOW what Reel you have even with info on Box cuz someone may have it in the Wrong Box . There are NO Markings on the Reels indicating C,H, or HC.
With knowing about the Levers you can estimate the Type by counting the Spool Ratio when turning the handle and counting the Revolutions
 However there does exist some Boxes with the Model Type  .........like this one  off e-Bay



MORE L8tr


THEN YOU HAVE the 49's,149's  and a 249 >>>>> to mess with

The otherwise REEL GOOD PENN BAJA REEL and the U.S. SENATOR have a MAJOR FLAW in their Bridge/Bridge Plate as the Pins that hold the Dogs in place will just pop out causing CATOSTROPHIC  FAILURE if left unchecked .
This is REALLY a CHEAP ASS DESIGN in my opinion  and I can't believe Penn let them out to Customers  to start with .
Fortunately there are some things you can do if you catch it in time .
                                        What reels are affected?
ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED I HAVE TORN DOWN
Here is what I did on a few and Below there is a More Permanent Solution by Cortez Conversion that REELY TAKES CARE OF THE BLUNDER Below

Here is what happens . The pins come out  thus allowing the Dogs to just fall all over the place and eventually will tear up the whole Sprigenwerks





What I did is Clean the Hell out of the whole thing with Brake Cleaner
 




Then peen the pins back in place with a Center Punch by placing the  top on a Solid piece of metal and clobbering it from the Back Side .Then turn the plate over and Punch 4 or 5 spots around the circumference THEN add a few Drops of Suber Glue back and front .








This is a Fix and  NOT a Permanent one however  it will last a lot longer than originally configured and get you back fishing for some time .


The BEST WAY is to Buy a Modified Assembly from Cortez Conversions and don't worry about your 400 DOLLAR  reel Disintegrating on ya when you least expect it  which is  usually the moment you hook in to that Fish of  a LIFETIME.
 
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PART From TOM  https://cortezconversions.com

It is BEEFED UP with solid pins and re positioned springs, a Solid  Stainless one piece Gear Sleeve !



It is DAMN NEAR INDESTRUCTIBLE with a NEW Heavy Duty Stainless Steel  1 Piece MULTI Tooth Gear Sleeve ,Modified Pins , Springs, and Retainers .
       
                      AVAILABLE HERE

This is a Link to a Great History of the ZERO HOUR BOMB COMPANY
Now known as ZEBCO

  HISTORY CLICK HERE

Tom Hryniuk
Cortez Conversions
cortezconversions.com
408.504.9694

 CLICK HERE TO GO TO SITE