Al Gerhards is America's most famous pioneer in the development of long distance boomerangs. Al was an active thrower, designer and competitor in the 1970s and early 1980s. His most popular model is the Standard Hook which was made out of strip laminated hardwoods. It was occasionally made without weights, but the majority of these boomerangs had a single lead weight on each tip with a unique serial number stamped in the weight on the lift arm tip. Early examples (1970s) had an additional half weight inserted into the underside of the elbow, but this was not put into hooks made in the 1980s because the elbow weight was often the source for strip delaminations following a hard landing. Al also made strip laminated large hooks, small hooks, omegas, traditionals and Big "U"s. The large hooks were called "White Lightning" hooks and Al used one of these to set a World Record in the long distance event with a documented throw of more than 125 yards back in the late 1970s.

This boomerang is the "Standard Hook". It is made out of Pignut Hickory strip laminations. It has a single weight inserted into each blade tip. This boomerang is signed and dated October 1981. The serial number is #502. This hook is in nearly mint condition with no obvious signs of damage. However, it does have the initials "HV" burned into the surface near the lift arm weight and the letter "I" burned into the surface of the elbow. The burned lettering is on the underside. This boomerang is being offered by the estate of Hugh Vandergrift, thus the "HV" initials. This is a premium collectable that is rarely offered for sale. Most of the throwers and collectors who have them will never let them out of their collection. I do discourage the throwing of this fine collectable unless it is thrown under carefully controlled conditions because of it's collectable value and the possibility that the glue may have degraded over the past 20+ years.