Possible value of a fly rod

Question
QUESTION: I recently bought a granger greenhart premier 8.5 fly rod circa 1930. The tube has seen better days. the rod is in very good shape finish is shiny almost no damage. the cork is discolored and has a large flat spot. It is a 4 piece rod with 2 tips. I half way suspect that it may have been redone but dont know for sure. thank you for your time Kc

ANSWER: Hi Keith,

The Goodwin Granger Rod Company started in 1918 making split bamboo rods.  I am not aware of them making Greenheart wood rods, nor do I find mention of Granger using Greenheart wood for rods in the reference books I use.  I suspect your rod is split bamboo.  The Premier is one of the highest grades of Granger rods.

I would like to have a bit more information to be able to better identify the rod and estimate its value.  If you could answer the following questions, it would be helpful.

1.  Are there any markings or writing on the rod?  Where are these located and what do they say?

2.  Can you describe the reel seat and any markings or writing on it?  Are there any patent dates?

3.  Can you describe the handle?  Is it fairly straight, coke bottle shaped or more of a half-wells shape?  Can you describe the flat spot?

4.  can you describe the signature wraps?  The wraps just above the handle...how many, what spacing and what color?

5.  Is the stripper guide agate lined?

6.  Is there any visible writing on the tube or rod bag?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The discolored cork is an indication of the rod being used.  When you fish with a rod, you inevitably get fish slime and dirt on your hands and transfer that to the cork handle.  Nothing to worry about.

Thanks,  Joe



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Joe
The only writing i have found is at the base of the handle on the reel seat. It reads GRANGER PREMIER.
 It has a straight handle and i held it with reel facing down and the flat spot is where my right hand rested directly under my knuckle felt almost as if made that way.
 One signature wrap just above the handle is black and it is 3/8ths inch wide.
The stripper guide (first eye?) is red in color and may be agate.
No writng on the bag or tube other than a paper tag hand written that reads 8 1/2' greenhart 4 pc flyrod made about 1930 and the name John Aliard. (Allard)
The rod is dark brown and wrappings around the eys are a tannish color. Oe of the tips is 1 & 3/8ths inches longer. Where the metal seats at the end of the sections has a darker brown band 3/16ths inch thick. Thanks Kc

Answer
Keith,

If possible, can you answer these last questions?  You may also want to contact me directly at [email protected] to discuss this rod.

My reason for nagging you about this is that if the answers are what I expect, you may have a very rare rod.  I can tell more with the additional data.

Thanks,  Joe

Hi Keith,

Thank you for the replies...this helps.

Here's what this tells me so far:

If the stripper is indeed Agate, and it probably is given the red color, this indicates an early manufacture date.  It could also be Garnix, but I don't think this was used on the Premier model.

The wraps are probably gold which look tan under the varnish.  There should be no trim bands or tipping on the wraps.

The writing on the reel seat should be between two knurled bands inscribed into the seat and just below the butt end of the handle.  If this is so, the reel seat should be the sliding band type with knurling on both outside edges of the sliding band.  The end cap for the reel seat should fully cover the butt end of the seat and be soldered in place.

The relatively straight handle indicates an early manufacture date.  I don't know the significance of the flat spot.  This may or may not have been original.  It could have been modified to make the handle more comfortable for some previous owner.

Some more questions, if you don't mind:

1.  Is the metal winding check round or hexagonal?  This is the metal transition piece between the tip end of the handle and the rod blank itself.  It may be covered with varnish as well, but the shape is all I need to know for now.

2.  Is there a wrap, or small pattern of wraps, half way between the winding check and the stripper guide?  If so, what does it look like?

3.  Does the very bottom of the reel seat (the end, when looked at from the end) have a pattern on it that looks sort of like a target?  If so, it will be a couple of concentric rings inscribed in the metal cap.

4.  Does the rod have a swelled butt?  By this I mean does the bamboo itself appear to swell and get noticably larger in diameter as it approaches the tip end of the handle?  If it does not, this is another indicator of early manufacture date.

5.  Is the rod six sided or round?

Thanks for the information.

Joe