This forum began as Clark's Classic Bamboo Rod Forum, founded by Clark Davis for all who share a passion for classic rods. The forum is now owned by Whitefish Press aka Dr. Todd Larson - banjo.
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Trying to identify a 7' 3 piece fly rod, the reelseat is a little unusual as it looks almost like its made from bamboo? Plus, all the sections are built in
odd lengths. The butt is 27.5", mid - 30.5", tip - 29.5". Why would a builder create a rod with unequal sections? Ferrules and reel seat are
pinned, overall the rod looks to be quite old. The bag included with the rod is quite heavy material and in its day must have been fairly high end.
Tiny stripping guide and tip top, all with red/garnet & green wraps. Any help appreciated.
You'll never plough a field by turning it
over in your mind.
Interesting hardware. Can you post a picture of the windings above the winding check? Looks like the start of a signature there. Also a close-up of the
winding check and a shot of the entire rod, with sections side-by-side might be helpful.
I think I may have answered my own question. This rod appears to be a Wm. Mills & Son rod. The wraps all match the rod shown on page 118 in Jeff
Hatton's Rod Crafting. Calcutta cane, open ferrules. But it is definitely a unique small stream rod, can anyone shed any light on this old tackle supplier?
William Mills & Son's were an early dealer for Leonard as far back as the 1880s. Gnome could probably give you more info, but the rod may be an early
Leonard private branded for Mills.
The rod was built far too late to be a Leonard built for Mills. (Leonard never built "for" Mills. Leonard sold out to Mills who retained the Leonard name.) Nor does it exhibit Leonard quality or fittings. It's "something else," a production rod by a middle-quality maker.
Thanks AJ, Kind of confusing as the rod has the same signature wraps as displayed on other "Mills" rods, but most likely you are right and I will probably never identify its maker. It doesn't really matter to me as its an unusual rod and collectible to me based upon that only. Maybe built by a hobbyist to resemble an actual Mills rod of the day? I need to take its measurements and cast it to learn more about it.
Tim
Last Edited By: oldschoolcane 05/06/2010 14:15.
Edited 1 time.
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