Value of vintage(?) rods

Question
I am hoping that you may be able to help me please.
I have inherited 2 fly rods and need to know the value for insurance purpose.
1. Hexagonal bamboo rod, 3 piece in original cloth bag, excellent condition (I don't think it has ever been used).  Marked Shinbashi Tosaku.  I know that Tosaku were well known Japanese makers and that they were making hexagonal bamboo rods shortly after the end of WW2.  My Grandfather was in Japan at that time.
2. Fenwick Feralite FF98, 2 piece measuring 9 feet with the original cloth bag and carrying tube.  Again it is in excellent condition.  
I would appreciate any information that you can share.  Many thanks
Cathi

Answer
Hi Cathi,

Yes, Tosaku is a well known name in Japanese bamboo rod making history.  I have read that as many as 26 brand names were attached to bamboo fly rods and other bamboo rods made in occupied Japan following WW II.  Some of these rods are undoubtedly of better quality than others.  Most were high production rods and sold for $2 or so to US servicemen stationed in Japan.  Thousands of these rods found their way to the USA as gifts or as souvenirs for the servicemen.  Many were used as everyday fishing tools, but a surprising number were never used at all and can be found in essentially brand new or mint condition.  It sounds like your Grandfather may have brought this one home as a souvenir and kept it as a reminder of his war time experiences rather than used it as a fishing tool.

In general, the Japanese rods do not have a high collector value.  Most can be purchased in the $25-$50 range with really good specimens selling closer to $100.  I had a mint condition set a few years ago that I sold for $175 but that was really an exception to the general rule.  For insurance purposes, you may wish to consider your rod in the $150-$200 range as I am sure you won't be selling it and it will appreciate over time.  It is likely of higher quality than the average post war rod and would certainly be impossible for you to replace with the family history it holds.

The Fenwick FF98 in excellent condition is going to be valued in the $80-$120 range.  Perhaps a bit more if you were to find the right buyer.  The Feralite models by Fenwick have a strong following among portions of the fly fishing community.  They are very good rods and I have a number of clients who simply won't fish with anything else.  This rod is probably a first generation Feralite from the 1963-1971 time period and would use an 8wt fly line.

Thanks,  Joe