ABOUT US

Engineered to Remove Luck from the Equation

Abu Garcia Story

Our Story

In 1921, by the river of Mörrum in Svängsta, Sweden, Carl August Borgström founded AB Urfabriken. The company manufactured pocket watches, telephone timers and taxi meters. Borgström was a brilliant craftsman with a talent for light precision engineering; skills he had acquired during his years in the Halda watchmaking

factory.Unfortunately, World War II caused a sharp decline in the demand for taxi meters. Undaunted, ABU redirected its skills toward the development of precision fishing reels used by anglers the world over. That's why Abu Garcia later received the honor of being chosen "Purveyor To The Royal Swedish Court," a distinction bestowed upon a select group of manufacturers for consistently exceeding its highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.

Abu Garcia Precision Engineering

Precision Engineering

Abu Garcia's influence on the sportfishing community is unmatched. The company remains firmly committed to maintaining its industry leadership position by providing anglers everywhere with the highest quality, most innovative products.

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES

  • 1921

    AB Urfabriken is founded as a watch factory in Svängsta, Sweden

  • 1941

    The first Abu Garcia fishing reel, the ABU Record® is introduced

  • 1952

    The world famous Ambassadeur® reel is introduced

  • 1954

    Abu Garcia® unveils the Ambassadeur® 5000 at the New York World's Fair

  • 1955

    The ABU 444, the company's first spinning reel is produced

  • 1956

    The ABUMatic® is introduced

  • 1965

    The Cardinal® spinning reel makes its debut

  • 1977

    The ABU museum is opened in Svangsta, Sweden

  • 1984

    The company name is changed from ABU to Abu Garcia when a company distributor in the US called Garcia was combined with ABU

  • 2006

    The Revo® low profile baitcast reel takes the angling community by storm

  • 2009

    Abu Garcia releases the V-Series of rods with the Vendetta® and Vengeance®

  • 2010

    The first Revo spinning reel is introduced with Revo Premier

  • 2013

    The Revo Low Profile Family is completely redesigned to be lighter, more compact and more powerful