Kingfisher wooden surf/boat pole

Question
QUESTION: Came across an old KINGFISHER surf/boat pole. About 10' long wooden octagon 2 piece pole. it has one silver eye at the top, and about 2' lower it has 2 same size eyes. one in line with top eye , the other is dirrectly oppisite it 180 degrees. those are the only eyes on the pole. figure the two eyes in line are for surf and the one eye for the boat. trying to figure out how old and the value.

ANSWER: Hi Doug,

You have what is most likely a surf rod made of bamboo.  The tiptop guide should accept line from either side of the rod.  This combined with the dual guides 180 degrees opposite each other should allow you to turn the rod shaft in the handle to line up one side or the other with the reel seat.  This allows you to rotate the rod from time to time to avoid undue stress on only one side of the rod which will cause a set or bend to occur in the rod shaft.

The rod is probably from the 1930s-1940s era and value would be in the $20-$100 range depending on actual condition of the rod.

Thanks,  Joe

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QUESTION: The only problem is the top guide is fixed on only one side, it only lines up with one of the dual guides. thats why i thought the short side might be used as a boat pole.

ANSWER: Hi Doug,

Well, that is a creative idea, I would not have thought of that.  However, I doubt that was the way the rod was to have been used.  More likely, the tiptop was damaged and changed at some point and the only type they had handy was one that only had an opening on one side.

Are there any obvious signs that the tiptop has been changed?  Maybe a different thread color used or different finish at the tip end of the rod?  Maybe the tiptop is metal only and the guides are agate lined?  Anything like that?

Thanks,  Joe

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QUESTION: POPSSIBLY THE TIP MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. DO YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF WHAT THE DUAL TIP WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY LOOKED LIKE?

Answer
Hi Doug,

Yes, I do.   Send me an email at [email protected] and I will send you a couple of pictures.  This type of tiptop is called a stirrup top as it looks like the stirrup on a saddle.  It is open on both sides to allow line to enter and has a flat end with a hole in the center to allow the line to exit.  The actual tiptops vary a bit in size and design, but all have the same general look.

Thanks,  Joe