Part of the allure of flyfishing lies in honoring its roots. That is why many fishermen have taken to collecting vintage bamboo fly rods along with vintage reels. Steve Ellis, collector of all-things flyfishing, talks about what to look for in a bamboo rod and what goes into determining the value.
Hello;
It is impossible to give you the value of something without a more in depth desription. Most bamboo rods were three piece and came with an extra tip. Circle K is not a premium rod. If it is more than 8 foot long the value is decreased. The shorter the better.
All sections should be the same length and all guides should be wrapped on and have the same color wrappings. If it doesn’t have the original rod tube and rod bag, the value is decreased. The tip section should have at leas t five guides on it if it is a three piece rod.
Chances are it is worth less than $50.00. If there are any Japanese symbols on the rod it is not worth a heck of a lot.
I hope I have been a little informative and helpful to you, but just because it is bamboo doesn’t mean it is waorth a bunch.
Steve
To find the value of an item or just to check out what it is worth, try clicking the Research Your Items button on the WorthPoint home page. You’ll find it on the brown bar near the top of the page. If you click on it you will find the Worthopedia (price guide) with millions of items of prices and pictures.
You’ll also find a second link for Ask a Worthologist, if you want an expert evaluation of an item.
Ask a Worthologist is an online service where, for $19.95, registered WorthPoint members may request an unbiased, expert opinion of a collectible or antique. Based on details and photos you provide, a WorthPoint Worthologist will return a detailed evaluation of your item which includes an estimated range of its fair market value.
hi i have hardy two peice bambo fly rod i think the top halve has bean repaired it is 4 inches shorter than the bottom it has a number on the handle and a small plate saying hardy,my brother give me this rod about 25 years ago , he thought it was pre war.would it be worth any thing if it has bean damged it still has its own cloth bag witch is starting to rip.
please oblige
fred connor
When I was growing up, my neighbor used to practice his fly fishing cast in his front yard with bamboo fly rods. Cars would always drive by and ask if he’d caught anything!
He passed away last year and I miss all the good times we spent talking about fishing, his military service in WWII, and being an Eagle Scout in the 1930’s.
He actually inspired me to be an Eagle Scout and I remember how proud I was to compare my award with his.
Hi Fred;
Even though it may be a better rod, the fact that it has been broken greatly reduces the value of the rod, and it is probably just a wall hanger or a parts rod. Condition of the bag appears poor as well. The butt section, if it is all intact has some value, but without knowing condition, length, how old the rod is and what it is made of (bamboo or green hart), it is hard to determine value. But it is not too much.
Steve
Hi Chris;
Thanks for looking at my video! I love hearing stories like that. One of my customers told me a story that he was one of Bing Crosby’s accountants and he would end up practice casting with him, occasionally, on the lawn of whatever studio he was working out of.
Steve
Hi steve i thank you for your information im on holliday at the moment and as far as i can remeber the handle is in good condition and i would be sure that it is bambo,the reasion i would b sure,my brother was in to fishing and seam to no his rods.I thank you steve for your help.
from fred
I have a ONE piece rod. This one is marked: “Lee Wulff “Ultimate”; #1726, 5′10 1/4″, 1 5/8 ozs Armour Cane; Made by Farlow’s in Aberdeen, Scotland”. All of this is hand-written in black ink – there is no printed label.
The rod is in its original blue cloth cover which has a wooden dowel in it as well, the same length as the rod. There is a woven label on the cover “Farlow’s London England; Established 1840″.
Hi Steve
A very useful and informative video. I have a Fosters of Ashbourne seven foot cane rod which I still use sometimes.
I have had it about forty years.
Hello Steve,
A friend has asked me to research the value of a bamboo fly rod that they have. When placed together, the three pieces measure 10′ 7.5″, there is an additional fourth piece which seems to be an extra (thin version) of the tip. I’ve found that the celluloid handle, patent dec 13 1881, was made by the Pritchard Brothers. There is also a patent Jan 10, 1888, double beveled wedge device for holding the reel in place. I have photos which I’m sure would help you, if you let me know where to send them.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Susan
Hi Steve, I was helping a friend move one day when he told me to throw out that old canister. Well long story short I kept it and it is a bamboo fly rod and case is also bamboo. The two ends appear to be maybe brass I’m not sure. Anyway on one of the brass ends are the words Turner Brothers “Delight”. And then I believe there is a patten #.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated I can’t seem to be able to find any info on this? FYI it is 4piece fly rod and short less than 8 ft I’m sure.
Thanks
Hi Susan;
Usually long rods have a lower value and are usually not highly collctable. The problem with your rod is that all the sections are not of equal length. I haven’t heard of Pritchard Bros and pictures would be most helpful. Remember condition is very important. All the sections should be of equal length and all the wrappings should match in color and all the hardware should match.
Thanks,
Steve
Hi Doug;
It is virtually impossible to give you any help without seeing pictures of what you have. I haven’t any knowledge about Turner Bros. and would have to investigate it further under guidelines from WorthPoint.
Thanks,
Steve
Hi steve i sent you an email about a bambo fly rod,sorry steve its split cane Hardy is it worth any thing.I explained in my other email,that i thought the top had bean broken its a two peice rod and the top half is about 4 inces shorter than the bottom,its a very hevy rod when i was learning to fly fish i could not use it be cause of the weight.thank you.
please oblige
fred connor
hi – i just aquired a vintage bamboo fishing kit. it says: Stellar 43 piece fishing kit (made in Japan). it has 5 pieces (2 flyrod tips, one regular tip) it has the wooden box, the cardboard outer box, and all of the pieces it came with. it was used maybe once. all of the pieces are in excellent shape, the varnish is really good, all of the eyes and threads are intact and the same color. it even has all of the flys (albeit a little disentegrated). any help with its’ age and or value? thanks so much!
I have an antique bamboo fly rod made in Japan by the Idarisho Ueda Co LTD. It is a type CS-R split bamboo rod that comes with a spin casting tip. The butt of the rod unscrews and can be turned around to make a spin casting rod feet 5 inches long. The fly rod is 8 feet long. It was professionally restored before I bought it. Could you give me an estimate on the price and age of this rod? Thanks
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I have a bamboo fly rod just wanted to see if its value. It has a trade mark that has a circle k on it.it has 3 tips . has black lacor.
Hello;
It is impossible to give you the value of something without a more in depth desription. Most bamboo rods were three piece and came with an extra tip. Circle K is not a premium rod. If it is more than 8 foot long the value is decreased. The shorter the better.
All sections should be the same length and all guides should be wrapped on and have the same color wrappings. If it doesn’t have the original rod tube and rod bag, the value is decreased. The tip section should have at leas t five guides on it if it is a three piece rod.
Chances are it is worth less than $50.00. If there are any Japanese symbols on the rod it is not worth a heck of a lot.
I hope I have been a little informative and helpful to you, but just because it is bamboo doesn’t mean it is waorth a bunch.
Steve
To find the value of an item or just to check out what it is worth, try clicking the Research Your Items button on the WorthPoint home page. You’ll find it on the brown bar near the top of the page. If you click on it you will find the Worthopedia (price guide) with millions of items of prices and pictures.
You’ll also find a second link for Ask a Worthologist, if you want an expert evaluation of an item.
Ask a Worthologist is an online service where, for $19.95, registered WorthPoint members may request an unbiased, expert opinion of a collectible or antique. Based on details and photos you provide, a WorthPoint Worthologist will return a detailed evaluation of your item which includes an estimated range of its fair market value.
I hope that is helpful.
hi i have hardy two peice bambo fly rod i think the top halve has bean repaired it is 4 inches shorter than the bottom it has a number on the handle and a small plate saying hardy,my brother give me this rod about 25 years ago , he thought it was pre war.would it be worth any thing if it has bean damged it still has its own cloth bag witch is starting to rip.
please oblige
fred connor
Steve,
A very informative video.
When I was growing up, my neighbor used to practice his fly fishing cast in his front yard with bamboo fly rods. Cars would always drive by and ask if he’d caught anything!
He passed away last year and I miss all the good times we spent talking about fishing, his military service in WWII, and being an Eagle Scout in the 1930’s.
He actually inspired me to be an Eagle Scout and I remember how proud I was to compare my award with his.
I wonder where all his bamboo fly rods are now…
–Chris
Hi Fred;
Even though it may be a better rod, the fact that it has been broken greatly reduces the value of the rod, and it is probably just a wall hanger or a parts rod. Condition of the bag appears poor as well. The butt section, if it is all intact has some value, but without knowing condition, length, how old the rod is and what it is made of (bamboo or green hart), it is hard to determine value. But it is not too much.
Steve
Hi Chris;
Thanks for looking at my video! I love hearing stories like that. One of my customers told me a story that he was one of Bing Crosby’s accountants and he would end up practice casting with him, occasionally, on the lawn of whatever studio he was working out of.
Steve
Hi steve i thank you for your information im on holliday at the moment and as far as i can remeber the handle is in good condition and i would be sure that it is bambo,the reasion i would b sure,my brother was in to fishing and seam to no his rods.I thank you steve for your help.
from fred
Hi Steve,
I have a ONE piece rod. This one is marked: “Lee Wulff “Ultimate”; #1726, 5′10 1/4″, 1 5/8 ozs Armour Cane; Made by Farlow’s in Aberdeen, Scotland”. All of this is hand-written in black ink – there is no printed label.
The rod is in its original blue cloth cover which has a wooden dowel in it as well, the same length as the rod. There is a woven label on the cover “Farlow’s London England; Established 1840″.
Is this worth anything?
Regards,
Taco Nolf
Hi Steve
A very useful and informative video. I have a Fosters of Ashbourne seven foot cane rod which I still use sometimes.
I have had it about forty years.
Regards
Noel
Hello Steve,
A friend has asked me to research the value of a bamboo fly rod that they have. When placed together, the three pieces measure 10′ 7.5″, there is an additional fourth piece which seems to be an extra (thin version) of the tip. I’ve found that the celluloid handle, patent dec 13 1881, was made by the Pritchard Brothers. There is also a patent Jan 10, 1888, double beveled wedge device for holding the reel in place. I have photos which I’m sure would help you, if you let me know where to send them.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Susan
Hi Steve, I was helping a friend move one day when he told me to throw out that old canister. Well long story short I kept it and it is a bamboo fly rod and case is also bamboo. The two ends appear to be maybe brass I’m not sure. Anyway on one of the brass ends are the words Turner Brothers “Delight”. And then I believe there is a patten #.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated I can’t seem to be able to find any info on this? FYI it is 4piece fly rod and short less than 8 ft I’m sure.
Thanks
Hi Susan;
Usually long rods have a lower value and are usually not highly collctable. The problem with your rod is that all the sections are not of equal length. I haven’t heard of Pritchard Bros and pictures would be most helpful. Remember condition is very important. All the sections should be of equal length and all the wrappings should match in color and all the hardware should match.
Thanks,
Steve
Hi Doug;
It is virtually impossible to give you any help without seeing pictures of what you have. I haven’t any knowledge about Turner Bros. and would have to investigate it further under guidelines from WorthPoint.
Thanks,
Steve
Hi steve i sent you an email about a bambo fly rod,sorry steve its split cane Hardy is it worth any thing.I explained in my other email,that i thought the top had bean broken its a two peice rod and the top half is about 4 inces shorter than the bottom,its a very hevy rod when i was learning to fly fish i could not use it be cause of the weight.thank you.
please oblige
fred connor
Hi steve is split cane different from bambo
Hi again Steve,
Here is info on the Pritchard (Prichard) brothers and their patents:
http://www.oldrods.com/prichards.htm
If you find anything else, please let me know!
Thanks,
Susan
Steve,
I wrote to you on 17 April about a one-piece rod. Did that ring any bells, and can I have a response, please?
Hi Steve i was asking you was split cane different from bambo
please oblige
fred connor
hi – i just aquired a vintage bamboo fishing kit. it says: Stellar 43 piece fishing kit (made in Japan). it has 5 pieces (2 flyrod tips, one regular tip) it has the wooden box, the cardboard outer box, and all of the pieces it came with. it was used maybe once. all of the pieces are in excellent shape, the varnish is really good, all of the eyes and threads are intact and the same color. it even has all of the flys (albeit a little disentegrated). any help with its’ age and or value? thanks so much!
I have an antique bamboo fly rod made in Japan by the Idarisho Ueda Co LTD. It is a type CS-R split bamboo rod that comes with a spin casting tip. The butt of the rod unscrews and can be turned around to make a spin casting rod feet 5 inches long. The fly rod is 8 feet long. It was professionally restored before I bought it. Could you give me an estimate on the price and age of this rod? Thanks
I have a heddon 100 and 200 casting rods in ex condition. would you be interested in them. i can send some pictures. i’m asking 75.00 each.