2004
This is where the range finally settles down and all the top end snares are brought under the Black Panther umbrella, with Premium Series / Precious Metal / Hammered / Deep Forest sub-branding. The catalogue specifically mentions the drums being made in China for the first time and the badges from this time on say "Made in China"
- Premium Series (Traditional Maple in Flat Black or High Gloss Shell 24K Die Casts, Birdseye Maple Flat Black Shell Black Chrome Die Casts, Steel Banded Black Chrome Sheel & Powerhoops, Brass Black Chrome Shell & Powerhoops)
- Precious Metal Series (Phosphor Bronze Black Chrome Powerhoops )
- Hammered Series (Phosphor Bronze Hammered Black Chrome Powerhoops, Brass Black Hammered 24K Die Casts, Steel Hammered Chrome Shell and Die Casts)
- Deep Forest Series - the first time this name appears specifically for snares and interestingly with the newer style Deep Forest Badges. Can’t find any example in a catalogue of the older Deep Forest badges on any snare (Cherry Wax Natural Shell 24K Die Casts, Walnut Wax Natural Shell Black Chrome Powerhoops)
Notes:
- New style Orion/Saturn kit badges on the kits.
- Saturn badges clearly say "Made in China"; can’t see anything on the Orion series badges – not sure if that’s deliberate!
- No longer any mention of Orions coming with matching Black Panther snares, and the snares in the Orion kit shots are branded "Orion Series".
- Saturns now just called Saturn with "Saturn Series" on the badges, have a Maple/Walnut Construction and same low-mass oval lugs as the Orions.
- ProM kits have the same shell construction as the Orions but with different hardware.