Shakespeare - Honor Built, Honor Sold

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have a rod that belonged to my great grandfather that has a label with Shakespeare in the middle, Honor Built at the top and Honor Sold at the bottom.  Doesn't look too fancy, no serial numbers anywhere.  There are 4 sections and all the eyes are metal with green wrapping.  Any idea as to the value?

ANSWER: Hi Molly,

Shakespeare rods with the Honor Built, Honor Sold label are pre-WW II models.  Shakespeare never actually made any bamboo rods; they had other firms make the rods and label them as Shakespeare.

I'll need some additional information about the rod.

Is there anything else written or printed on the rod?

Any other decals?  Any names or model numbers like 12xx or 13xx?

How long is the rod?

Do you have teh original rod bag and rod tube?

This information will help date the rod and estimate its value.

Thanks,  Joe

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Joe,

It is a fly rod as it has the metal reel holder first, then cork. The rod is 6 sided, there is nothing else written or any other labels or numbers.  The length is 9' with 3 sections.  There is a spare section for the tip.  There is no bag or rod tube to help with identification.  It just looks really old.

Answer
Hi Molly,

OK, we'll treat it as a "generic" version of a Shakespeare bamboo fly rod.  Shakespeare did not actually build any bamboo rods; they used a variety of other builders to produce the various models of bamboo fly rods that they sold.  They did sell bamboo fly rods from about 1930 through the 1950s...yours could be from anywhere in that time period.

A typical Shakespeare bamboo fly rod of 9'0"length in Good-Very Good condition would be valued in the $80-$120 range depending on actual condition; in Excellent-Mint condition in the $120-$220 range depending on actual condition.

You do have all four rod sections which is good.  Not having the bag or tube will tend to keep the value toward the lower end of the ranges.

Thanks,  Joe