I can't provide too much info on the 3M design regarding Charlton. The only thing I know is after 3M acquired Charlton in 2000 they quit production after three years. As for the System 3 reel, I am unaware of any Charlton provenance... I rarely to never see any 3M reels being used here in the Keys for tarpon, bonefish, etc. This is not to say that they won't do the job on big fish... I have had no experience with them except for the first ones that came out in the 70's... Maybe someone else out there could shed some light on this… Seef?