Let's take a look at some unusual/scarce Orvis fly rods

[Chopper]

Here is an unusual Orvis rod. It was made in 1944 and has green and red wraps. I called Orvis, and they say it was built a 3/1.

[Chopper]

I forgot to mention it is a 6’6” Rocky Mountain # 0853

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Chopper, what a lovely Orvis! Thank you for sharing. Did someone on here pick up the Rocky Mountain with the cork filler reel seat that Summers sold a few months back? Certainly that should be in this thread.

Cheers,
Joe

[Greg Reynolds]

Delighted to see this wonderful Rocky Mountain.

From the initial Corkran-era catalog used through 1941:


An ad from a 1941 issue of Field & Stream (sorry for the poor quality):


viewtopic.php?f=64&t=118536&p=821061&hi ... in#p821061

[Chopper]

Greg, thanks for the great info. I’m glad to see that mine has some brothers and sisters! I had never seen one with the green and red wrappings, and thought they might have just been messing around in the shop.

[tiptop]

Probably not really scarce but this 6'6" Battenkill Deluxe was built in 1954 by Wes Jordan. Serial no. 15637. The relatively unusual (I think) modified full wells grip is remarkably comfortable for my larger than average hands. The rod was fished a lot as evidenced by the wear on the grip and corners of the cane below the stripper. But still straight, full length, and repair-free after all these years. There is a 3rd tip which was added at some point with the same serial number but in a different hand. It fishes well with a heavy 4wt line but a 5wt is better for short casts.

[ibookje]

Nice!

[Greg Reynolds]

Probably not really scarce but this 6'6" Battenkill Deluxe was built in 1954 by Wes Jordan. Serial no. 15637. The relatively unusual (I think) modified full wells grip...

Great rod, thanks for posting the photos. A copy & paste from the Orvis records:

SERIAL # SERIES LENGTH PCS # TIPS Oz. FERRULE SIZE DATE MADE MAKER DATE SOLD SOLD TO
15637 Deluxe Fly (1/2 wells) 6-1/2' 2 2 2 11 3/23/54 W J 3/30/54 Eylers Inc - Ardmore PA

[eastprong]

I have a 1964 version of the 8 1/2' 16/10 rod and it is definitely what I would characterize as on the slower side of medium. My rod was sold through Abercrombie & Fitch, which strangely listed it at 4 3/4 oz, while the Orvis catalog listed it at 4 5/8 oz. I like it best with a Phoenix DT6 silk line.

NewUtahCaneAngler was kind enough to send me the taper for his 1964 8'6" 16/10 rod, so I compared it to my 1945 version. I use Hexrod's stress curves to compare tapers as it's easier to see what's going on than a straight taper plot. (In the stress calculations, all the variables are constant except for the taper.) It looks like Jordan didn't tinker with this one much as he dimensions are really close. The 1964 rod has a slightly thicker tip and mid and a thinner butt. Note that the stresses tapers meet at the ferrule points (35 and 70). Overall, not much of a difference; I've seen dramatic taper differences between lots of 1940s varnished models and their impregnated successors.

[barnesspecial6]

Scarce and unusual, Orvis ser# 35225, 9’ 2/2 GBG. Original Battenkill, presented by Orvis to Captain Jake Muller in recognition for winning the 1st Islamorada World Series Tarpon Tournament 1964 and unusual due to my request of the Orvis fly rod factory to convert the rod to a Shooting Star, improving the appearance as well as performance!

[Chopper]

I love rods with a story. I wish they all could tell us their secrets!

[gooseberryrods]

Here’s an early 7 1/2’ Manchester from ‘41 ( 7 1/2’, 3/2, 4wt, original condition).

[Flyman615]

That's a real beauty! Thanks for sharing.

Scott Z.

[jhuskey]

Yes, an absolute beautiful rod! Love the look of the grip and wood reel seat.

[ibookje]

Yes absolutely beautiful

[BearBio]

Don't know if this counts or not: Shooting Star, 9', 9 wt with detachable butt. Wes Jordan period.

[Greg Reynolds]

Here’s an early 7 1/2’ Manchester from ‘41 ( 7 1/2’, 3/2, 4wt, original condition).

I bid on Manchester #0129 at its last sale. It's among the most beautiful Orvis rod I've come across, and I enjoyed seeing the new photos.

[Greg Reynolds]

Don't know if this counts or not: Shooting Star, 9', 9 wt with detachable butt. Wes Jordan period.

Always liked the Shooting Stars--what a great name for a rod. From the 1966 catalog, the year #43980 was made:

[ibookje]

Here’s an early 7 1/2’ Manchester from ‘41 ( 7 1/2’, 3/2, 4wt, original condition).

I bid on Manchester #0129 at its last sale. It's among the most beautiful Orvis rod I've come across, and I enjoyed seeing the new photos.

The Manchester series is what later became the Madison series?

[Greg Reynolds]

The Manchester series is what later became the Madison series?

Sort of. The Manchester was Orvis' 2nd tier grade from 1940 through 1955. They all came with 2 tips, and there's little difference (that I can tell) between them and the Battenkill rods. In 1955, the "99" 1-tip rods replaced them, which were made through 1966. During 1967 & 1968, there was no lower grade Orvis rod--they sold the Battenkill for the 1st time with 1 or 2 tips to offer a lower-cost option. The Madison grade was introduced in 1969 and cataloged though 2009.