Orvis Database Update

[Greg Reynolds]

Thanks G-Man. They're both new additions...

[jeverist]

Hello, Greg

I am the lucky recipient of a gifted Orvis Flea, serial number 78420, 6' 6", single tip, 2 0z, HFG weight. It is in excellent condition. A very nice period CFO II reel came with. While I've done most of my fishing in Montana with graphite stuff, lately the Driftless Area of Minnesota and Wisconsin has been a destination. Those small spring creeks beg for a light bamboo rod, and I've been researching a purchase. My sister-in-law is moving and remembered that she had the Orvis set-up which she inherited from the original purchaser, and out-of-the-blue asked if I'd like it! What luck!

For some reason your data base page won't finish loading on my computer so I can't see what year it was manufactured. Mid to late seventies I'm guessing. I'd be glad to contribute pictures or any further info for your page

[G-ManBart]

Hello, Greg

I am the lucky recipient of a gifted Orvis Flea, serial number 78420, 6' 6", single tip, 2 0z, HFG weight. It is in excellent condition. A very nice period CFO II reel came with. While I've done most of my fishing in Montana with graphite stuff, lately the Driftless Area of Minnesota and Wisconsin has been a destination. Those small spring creeks beg for a light bamboo rod, and I've been researching a purchase. My sister-in-law is moving and remembered that she had the Orvis set-up which she inherited from the original purchaser, and out-of-the-blue asked if I'd like it! What luck!

For some reason your data base page won't finish loading on my computer so I can't see what year it was manufactured. Mid to late seventies I'm guessing. I'd be glad to contribute pictures or any further info for your page

I took a look for you...it's listed and shows 1976 production. That's a great gift!

[Greg Reynolds]

Hello, Greg

I am the lucky recipient of a gifted Orvis Flea, serial number 78420...

Hi,
Serial number 78420 is on the database.

Scans from the 1976 Orvis catalog:





A copy and paste from my notes:
"The 6 1/2-foot, 2-oz, 10/64-ferrule Flea has a slow-action taper for 4-weight synthetic lines. It was designed by Wes Jordan for 4-weight lines in collaboration with Bud Frasca of William Mills & Son in New York City. It was introduced in the 1967 catalog and made through 1992.

During its production, it was also offered in Madison (1969-1992, variously with walnut or cork-locking reel seats) and “125” (1982-1985) grades. The Flea was reissued in a special high-grade limited-edition in 2007 and cataloged through 2009."

I'm sending you a private message.

Best regards,
Greg

[G-ManBart]

I've jotted down a few more that don't appear on the current published list:

- 26281, Battenkill, 7' 6", 2/2, 4oz, HDH, aluminum tube with blue/gray label and a gray bag.

- 45288, Midge, 7'6", 2/2, 11/64 ferrule, no bag or tube.

- 73214, S/S/S, 8' 9", 2/2, 6 7/8oz, WF10F, aluminum tube with hex cap, green/silver label.

- 75170, Madison, 8' 6", 2/1, 4 5/8oz, aluminum tube with green/silver label and a green bag.

[Greg Reynolds]

I've jotted down a few more that don't appear on the current published list...

Thanks for keeping me in mind...

[Drossi]

Here's one to add, 8' 2-piece Orvis "99" serial number 24795. Gray tube, green bag, label unreadable.

Per Orvis, "It was built in December of 1958. The craftsmen were George Reid and Calvin Skinner. Marked as a 6 weight"

[Greg Reynolds]

Thank you...

[G-ManBart]

Just missed this one the other day. Battenkill #87019, 8', 3/2, 4 3/8oz, marked "6 Line" on the label, but I couldn't see that part of the rod markings in the pics. Black crinkle finish tube, tan Orvis print sock.

Greg, can you talk to the taper on this rod? I did a search and didn't come up with much. Also, it wasn't at one of the more common auctions, so if you'd like to see pics, they are still up and I can PM you a link.

[Greg Reynolds]

Thanks G-Man...

A copy & paste from my notes:
The 8-foot, 16/64 & 10/64-ferrule taper is a Wes Jordan design with a medium-action. Orvis recommended HDH or HDG silk lines line for the rod though 1967, which are about equivalent to synthetic DT6 or WF6 lines. From 1968 through 1976, the line recommendation was changed to WF7. In 1977, the recommendation reverted to WF6 line.

It was cataloged by 1948 and was made through 1992. During the tapers production life, it available in Battenkill (1940s-1992), Manchester (1940s-1955) and "125" (1982-1985) grades.

I spent a morning fishing one loaned to me by forum member Spruce Grouse on a small Bitterroot River tributary. IIRC it was paired with a 5-weight line, which it cast nicely.

[Greg Reynolds]

The latest revision of the database has been posted on my host Richard Alexander's excellent Antique Rod and Reel Library website. There are 446 new rods in a total of 35103, which is 38% of Orvis' production since 1939.

I also added a transcript of the rod offerings from the fairly scarce 1965 annual catalog. As I already owned the 1965 Christmas issue, I hadn't pursued the annual catalog because the two issues tend to offer the same rods. However, Leigh Perkins bought the company in 1965 and made changes to the rod lineup by Christmas.

Thank you to the forum members that have contributed. Especially you Paul...

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Thanks G-Man...

A copy & paste from my notes:
The 8-foot, 16/64 & 10/64-ferrule taper is a Wes Jordan design with a medium-action. Orvis recommended HDH or HDG silk lines line for the rod though 1967, which are about equivalent to synthetic DT6 or WF6 lines. From 1968 through 1976, the line recommendation was changed to WF7. In 1977, the recommendation reverted to WF6 line.

It was cataloged by 1948 and was made through 1992. During the tapers production life, it available in Battenkill (1940s-1992), Manchester (1940s-1955) and "125" (1982-1985) grades.

I spent a morning fishing one loaned to me by forum member Spruce Grouse on a small Bitterroot River tributary. IIRC it was paired with a 5-weight line, which it cast nicely.

Is this the MCL reel seat version of the better known 4 1/2 oz 3/2 8'? The weight has me puzzled.

[G-ManBart]

Is this the MCL reel seat version of the better known 4 1/2 oz 3/2 8'? The weight has me puzzled.

The weight was what had me confused as well. Here's a picture of the reel seat:

[Greg Reynolds]

Orvis upgraded the cosmetics of the Battenkill grade rods in 1986, which resulted in some of the advertised weights changing.

1985 Catalog:



1986 Catalog:



Orvis didn't make 3-piece rods in "99" or Madison grades, so no cork locking reel seats.

Notice the mention in the 1986 issue that "all Orvis bamboo rods are impregnated with a special resin"...

[jan96]

My new(to me) Orvis rod.. Madison 8'#6. Interesting thing about this rod is its tube which is clearly not original to the rod. Rod's serial number is 82730 and the serial number on the tube is 70785! It would be nice to know where are their "original partners"...
This is a third Orvis in my small collection. First two are Battenkill and Madison, both 8'#7. Action of those two is much more powerful and much faster compared to the 8'#6 which is quite slow... In my hands it is more a #4/5 than #6...
r

[Greg Reynolds]

Thanks for the information and photos Jan. Madison #82730 was completed in January of 1979.

A copy & paste from my notes on both models:
"The 8-foot, 4 1/8-oz, 12/64-ferrule taper has a delicate slow-action. Orvis recommended a WF6 line for this model although it will cast 5-weight lines equally well. It was intended for primary use as a basic trout rod and it’s among the more sought-after Orvis models.

The rod was introduced in the 1970 catalog and made through 1996. It was available in Battenkill (1970-1996), Madison (1972-1996) and "125" (1981-1985) grades."


"The 8-foot, 4 3/8-oz, 13/64-ferrule taper has a medium-action. Orvis recommended a 7 or 8 weight line for it depending on the production year.
It will cast a wide range of flies from small dries to large weighted nymphs, large streamers and small bass bugs. It's useful when fishing conditions are unknown or changing.

Because of its versatility, Orvis heavily promoted it as a general-purpose fly rod. It was the company's most popular model by far and they're very common on the secondary market.

It was initially cataloged in 1963 and was made through 1985. During the tapers production life, it was available in Battenkill (1963-1985), "99" (1963-1966), Madison (1969-1985) and "125" (1982-1985) grades."

Scans from the 1979 catalog:

Wes Jordans son Bob is the man holding the culm in the photo below. He died on 2/6/1977 and they continued to use his photo.

[JamesEric]

Greg,
What can you tell me about my Wes Jordan , 8 1/2’, 2/2 for GAF (9)? Serial 63xxx? It’s all there including original owner’s name inked on it. Has a right hand grip. Please RSVP.
Thanks.
PS What was this heavy rod designed for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Greg Reynolds]

What can you tell me about my Wes Jordan , 8 1/2’, 2/2 for GAF (9)? Serial 63xxx?...?

A copy & paste from my notes:
"The 8 1/2-foot, 5 1/8-oz, 15/64-ferrule taper has a medium-action. It was developed by Wes Jordan. Orvis recommended 7, 8 or 9 weight lines for it depending on the production year. Its intended use was for large fish--heavy trout, steelhead, light salmon, bass, pike and others.

It was the company’s 3rd most popular taper during much of its production period.

It was initially cataloged in 1963 and made through 1975. It was available in Battenkill (1963-1975), "99" (1963-1966), Madison (1969-1975) and Wes Jordan (1969-1975) grades, and in the big game "Shooting Star" (1967-1970) and “Light Salmon” (1963-1966) configurations."

The rod was made in 1971:



See the description for the equivalent Battenkill:

[jan96]

I hope you don't mind a question not related to the Orvis database... It looks that Orvis rods don't have ferrule plugs like other rods do. Is there a concrete reason for that? Or I'm wrong and they have/originally had ferrule protectors/plugs(and all got lost!? )...?
r

[Greg Reynolds]

I hope you don't mind a question not related to the Orvis database... It looks that Orvis rods don't have ferrule plugs like other rods do. Is there a concrete reason for that? Or I'm wrong and they have/originally had ferrule protectors/plugs(and all got lost!? )...?
r

The only Orvis rods that came with ferrule plugs, that I'm aware of anyway, were the best-grade "125" models from the early to mid-1980s. I may be wrong, but I believe that most American rods weren't supplied with them.