A.H. Fowler bamboo fly rod

Question
Hi Joe, It's Pete again on some follow up info.It is six-sided and the line guides are rings that flop back and forth (all there)The ferrules are silver in color and are six-sided where it meets the rod.And it is a 3 piece rod.Thx for your info Joe---Pete

Answer
Hi Pete,

Thanks for the information.

Six sided probably dates it after 1878.  Ring guides are appropriate for that time period as well...the ring guides are typically hand made.

Fowler used spiked ferrules (on the male side) until about 1885.  If yours are spiked the rod is pre-1885, if they do not have spikes it is post-1885.  The ferrules also may be hand made.

Dr. Fowler passed away in 1903 and I don't know if, or for how long if it did, his rod making business continued.  You might try doing some research on that.

The ferrules are most likely what is called German Silver or Nickel Silver...this is brass plated in nickel and was quite common for use in the latter part of the 1800s and on into the 1900s.

Is it a two piece rod with two tip sections or is it a three piece rod with only one tip section?  If it is a three piece rod, you are missing a tip section...it should have two.  That will affect the value somewhat, but the rod is so rare it may or may not turn out to be significant.

Do you have the rod bag and tube or the fitted carrier?

Don't rush the sale and make sure you get a couple of appraisals if possible.  You have a quality rod that is somewhere between 111-135 years old with a good collector following and it is a rare item.  Good luck.

Thanks,  Joe