Question
fly rod
I got this rod from my uncle it is a bamboo fly rod 3 pieces and a forth piece that holds the two different tops. it says Winchester on it and a number the number is 6035. I asked a few people they knew nothing but one person told me to ask you. I hope the pictures help.
AnswerDonavan,
Early Winchester rods were advertised as being built under the direct supervision of E.W.Edwards and they are considered high quality rods with significant value today. These rods usually have a four digit number designation beginning with "6" stamped into the reel seat. Edwards ended his association with Winchester in 1924 by which time it appears rods were of lower quality and mass produced.
Winchester sold its rodmaking division to Horrocks-Ibbotson in 1935. H-I/Winchester rods are typical H-I rods and can be identified by the model name and the Winchester name written on the blank in white ink, with letters running toward the grip. This is a brief description of the excellent information found in Michael Sinclair's, Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook.
Your rod has intermediate thread wraps every 1-3 inches so it was probably built before 1935.
Books:
Antique & Collectible Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide Homel, Dan. 1997 (2nd edition 2000) add about 30% for age of book.
Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook by Michael Sinclair
The model 6035 is not in Sinclair. Homel gives the Model 6044 trout fly rod 8' (c. 1932), with an extra tip, 3 sections a value of $75, 200 and $385 for poor, good, excellent condition respectively. I do not know the length of your rod , longer is less collected and valuable. The prices given are close.
An e-mail from the author, Patrick C. Garner, "The Winchesters are all documented with a number of charts etc in my 2008 edition of "Playing With Fire: the Fly Rods of EW Edwards." The top line were all 61xx rods; the second tier were 60xx rods.
It isn't a Eustis-made rod but what Winchester described as "Edwards-supervised."
To get value for this rod it needs to be well described or sold to someone in the know. My estimate would be 500 - $600.
I quote these books written by researchers so you know I am not making it all up, But I include my experience as well.
It has taken me the best part of an hour to write this up , please take a few seconds to provide feedback. Please remember I am a volunteer , the feedback is the only result I get from doing this.
Luck,
Mac
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