Leonard Model 50 Tournament

0 Kudos

Author	Comment
LeeB	Leonard Model 50 Tournament		Lead	[-]
Posts: 129 10/02/2009 15:51	Tags : None After seeing another recent post about a Leonard Tournament, I've been anxious to get this one back, and see what else I can learn about it. For quite some time I've been looking for an 8' - 3/2 which is a true 4 weight. Found this one a while back in need of some TLC, and just picked it up Wednesday after being beautifully restored by George Guba. I've attached a "before" photo to give you a feel for its original condition, and tried to provide some relevant information in hopes that I can learn more about its age, model, or any other related information. Here's a few of the facts: - 8' - 3/2 - 4/5 weight, but came with a 3rd tip which was down 3/4", and appeared to be factory made by Leonard, but possibly from a different rod. Other two tips are full length. - Medium to medium/slow action ideal for a DT4 or WF5. IMO a fantastic 4 weight - Weighs 3.7 ounces, considerably lighter than my Model 50DF - 5 weight - Petite (4 1/2") cigar grip - Dramatic swelled butt - English twist guides, including a snake guide as the stripper - Patent information on female ferrule of butt section as follows (I think): Line 1: PAT.SEP.3.1878 Line 2: PAT.OCT.26.75 - Engraving on butt cap: See third photo - No serial numbers or other markings - Thin diameter brass capped tube with chocolate brown liner I hope this information helps. Please let me know if there is any additional information or photos that would be useful. Any thoughts or comments you have are most welcome. Lee Last Edited By: LeeB 10/02/2009 16:03. Edited 1 time.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
cwfly		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1093 10/02/2009 16:20	In the 1925 Mills catalog, it was written that other makes of rods were being sold as "Leonard." Consequently, the firm wrote that henceforth (March, 1925) all genuine H. L. Leonard rods will bear this marking on either the metal reel seat or butt cap of each rod. THE LEONARD ROD H. L. LEONARD ROD CO. MAKERS Your rod appears to be 1925 or later. Mary Kelly wrote that in 1927 Mills began to stamp "Reg. U.S.PAT.OFF." underneath the last line. Since your rod has Tournament stamped underneath, I certainly could not say whether it was in lieu of the 1927 added stamp or simply dates your rod precisely between 1925 and 1927. In 1925 the 8' 3/2 Tournament, Model 50, had a metal reel seat and weighed 3 ¾ ounces. But the catalog also stated, "we make the No. 50 and No. 51 rod in the Catskill style (wooden reel seat with reel bands), instead of with solid metal reel seat…." The weight was 3 ¾ to 4 ounces and the model designation was 50 D.F.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
BobS		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1142 10/02/2009 17:14	Lee: Great job by George. Rod really sparkles. My Leonard 50 Tournament is much like yours. Same grip size, swell in butt, maker's mark, English twist snakes, and dated ferrule. Wrap color as on your rod prior to redo. Differences: The "TOURNAMENT" designation is on the opposite side of the cap, and the stripper and tiptops are agate. Got no tag or tube with rod, but it came in a heavy tan canvas bag with a (likely original) aluminum tube for the tips. It weighs 3.5 oz. and is great with a 4wt line. Was there a tag with your rod? Bob
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
LeeB		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 130 10/02/2009 18:28	cwfly - Thanks. Exactly the kind of information I'm interested in. Was curious as to whether it might be a Catskill. BobS - Unfortunately no hang tag. The chord is still there attached to the bag, but the tag is gone. Would love to know whether it was marked "Catskill", or anything else unique.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
cwfly		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1095 10/02/2009 18:50	LeeB, I'm glad it was helpful. I think it is an early 50 D.F., which is a Tournament with "Catskill style" grip. With all the help I have received over the past few years, I'm pleased to be of whatever assistance I can be. Charlie
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
DrakeBob		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1575 10/02/2009 20:11 Formerly Drake	I agree with Charlie on all counts but also cannot state for certain that Tournament appears on the front always in lieu of "Reg. US Pat Off." Both versions show up in that period (along with Tournament on the back) and then after a while everything seems to shake out and as the patent information finally disappears from the ferrules, "Reg. US Pat Off" appears with regularity below the emblem. That is the basic butt cap that stays in place until the fire in 1964. Whether the rod is a model 50 or a 50DF, it cannot be a Catskill. The 50 and 50DF were not part of the Catskill series although in the days of the metal reel seat could be configured "in the Catskill style" as Charlie notes. Bob Piscator Non Solum Piscatur Last Edited By: DrakeBob 10/02/2009 20:25. Edited 2 times.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
bobk		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 96 10/02/2009 20:24	Lee, Bob, I have a Leonard 50 3/2 Special Tournament. The butt cap is marked THE LEONARD ROD H.L.LEONARD ROD CO. MAKERS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. on the back side of the cap it is marked TOURNAMENT The hang tag reads "H.L. Leonard, SPECIAL Tournament 3 5/8 oz, 50 I bought this rod from a man who's father received it as a wedding present in 1938. It has been refinished but not recently. The stripper is not an agate and the grip measures 5". It has the correctly marked female ferrule on the butt section and the witness marks on all sections align with the guides. Clear light tan silks, butternut spacer, swelled butt and original bag and tube. I fish it with a 5 wt silk line. I don't know what "SPECIAL" which is printed on the hang tag in red means and would appreciate anyones opinions. I have 2 other 50's (I like Leonard's) one a DF. all three rods act differently and it is my understanding that The Leonard Co. would make a model 50 anyway the customer wanted. Bob
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
DrakeBob		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1576 10/03/2009 09:57 Formerly Drake	Bob, I've seen "Special" show up on tags in both red and black. I don't know that the color signifies anything in particular and I've always assumed (I have no hard evidence) that "Special" can be interpreted literally, i.e., it means a special order of the rod. Personally, I think too much is made of Leonard building rods "to suit." Yes, cosmetically they would do that. The idea that they would alter any taper any time a customer requested goes a bit beyond what I personally feel they were willing to do. Perhaps they would do it for a "professional" or tournament caster at his request, but not for the average production rod. They made a sufficient number of rods in different models and actions that they simply had to refer a customer to another choice rather than do so much custom work. Again, this is my personal opinion. We do know that Leonard tapers varied sufficiently over the years that many rods of the same model feel different. I've cast both 50s and 50DFs that could be anywhere from 4- to 6-weights even though the 50 is supposed to feel like a 4- or 5-weight and the 50DF is supposed to feel like a 5- or 6-weight. A lot depends on the era in which the rod was built. Then too, and again this is strictly my personal opinion, if any maker's rods simply varied from rod to rod rather than achieve the legendary consistency of Ed Payne, that would be Leonard. If you're planning on fishing a Leonard, "try before you buy" is an absolute must. Bob Piscator Non Solum Piscatur
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
PayneRods	Leonard 50 DF	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 34 10/16/2009 21:58	Probably a light 50DF. The 50's that I have cast in that configuration were about 3.4 oz. Whether someone wishes to argue refinished versus restored here, I do not know. Unfortunately, not to original wraps colors or specs. But Guba dis a wonderful job. Please enjoy fishing it.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
gofish60		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2098 10/17/2009 10:11 Registered User	Try a TT 4 or a Sylk DT5, both IMHO, 4 1/2 wt. lines. I had a similar rod, marked 50DF on the tag, and those lines suited my casting style with that rod beautifully. gofish
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

Leonard Model 50 Tournament

Leonard Model 50 Tournament