Vintage Split Bamboo Fly Rod & Pflueger Skilkast Reel - Appraisal & Info

Question
We have a 8' split bamboo 3 piece Fly Rod. It comes with 2, tip sections one seemingly lighter than the other. Comes in a luan wooden box. The name Vicki Decal in Gold and Green. Wondering about age, value?

ALSO

Pflueger Skilkast FlyReel Model # 1953 Original box, Price tag, Instructions, and extra cork arbors Excellent Condition

Any help is appreciated
B.F.

Answer
Bill,
Luan wood is a light weight plywood , I believe. If you box looks like strong balsa wood then your rod is Japanese. Pictures to macsrods@yahoo.com will confirm.

Originally sold by the thousands to GIs in a light long box with lures and huge flies . Mostly considered trinkets by collectors but memorial to GIs , they have little resale or fishing value. I have never seen any written history on them in English except the following. http://www.maxrod.net/article/
There is  a book  on Google books, with a little history  and a  limited preview: Bamboo In Japan by Nancy Moore Bess

Luck,
Mac

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