Milwards Bamboo Rod

Question
QUESTION: I just acquired a Milward's Bamboo Rod with fitted metal ferrules. The cork appears to look unused. The only flaw is the label is half gone. What would this be worth? How do I best sell it?

ANSWER: Hi Sam,  First, you have a good quality rod there.  Second, I would need a bit more information to provide much more than a generic response.  Milwards bamboo rods are a product of Great Britain.  Many Milward rods found their way into Canada and over the last few decades have been migrating down into the USA.  My reference (Homel, 2003) lists only five Milwards models. However, I am certain there are many others.  The five listed are: Flylite 7'0" 2 piece, 2 section (2/2), Flymaster trout 8' 2/2, Flymaster heavy trout 2/2, Bartleet (ca.1918) 16' salmon rod (Greenheart wood) and Spincraft 9' 2/1 a two handed spinning rod.

In Good-Very Good condition, the book lists the fly rods to range from $140-300 and the spinning rod at $75.  Without knowing the exact model of your rod it is difficult to do much more.  Does the remaining portion of the label indicate any model name?  Perhaps the length will help; how long is the rod?  How many sections?

I assume it is a six sided bamboo rod which rules out the Bartleet.  I also assume it is a fly rod which rules out the Spincraft.  In general, the shorter fly rods tend to be the more valuable; 7' is worth more than 8' which is worth more than 9' and so on.  In the case of a Milwards Flylite rod at 7', 2/2, the value in Good-Very Good condition is shown as $300, and the value in Excellent-Mint condition is $600.  Your rod is at best likely to be in Good-Very Good condition as it has been used and has a portion of the label missing and may have other signs of wear that I can't see.  

What is the condition of the varnish on the rod?  What does the reel seat look like and can you tell what it is made of? Are all the guides in place and in good condition?  Is the stripper guide metal or agate?  Is there any writing on the rod itself in addition to the label?  Do you have a bag and tube or fitted holder with the rod?  Do they bear the makers name?  Are they original to the rod or replacements of some kind?

I realize you may or may not be able to answer all these questions.  For purposes of this discussion let's assume you have a Milwards 8' or 9' in Good-Very Good condition, and that you have at least an original rod bag.  The Homel pricing guide dated 2003 is not a guarantee of rod value but more of a reflection of sales of rods of each type over time and how those sale prices seem to apply for three generic definitions of rod condition.  It's much better than a wild guess.  Given the amount of time that has transpired between the 2003 publication date and now, I would tend to take the G-VG rating as the floor and estimate this rod, sight unseen and with no added information, in the $125-250 price range depending on actual condition and appearance.  Of course, more data would help and could change the estimate substantially in either direction.  Wow, is that vague enough for you?

If you want to sell this rod, you need to find someone in your area who can provide a hands on appraisal of the actual condition of the rod.  You will probably have to locate a Milwards fan to buy the rod to get the best price you can get for the rod. Online auctions are usually places where people are looking for a "deal".  However, if you have a good idea of the rod's value, you can manage your online auction to locate a buyer for the rod willing to pay a reasonable price, if one exists.

You may be able to find a local antique store or auction house that will sell the rod for you on commission.  I would caution you to not necessarily expect a quick sale.  There are plenty of people who love bamboo rods and don't mind paying for quality, but there are a lot more people who don't know the difference between good and bad bamboo rods; or even worse, think they make good stakes for tomato plants.

I hope this helps rather than simply confuses you.  If you want to reply with more details about this specific rod, I would be happy to do a bit more research on it for you.  Thanks, Joe.

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

QUESTION: More info - It is 9 foot long. The reason it is in excellent shape, very clean and appears unused is that there are no guides or tip top. It looks like a finished rod without guides. Cork looks new. Varnish finish is clean, no marks. It is a 3-piece, single handled rod. There is no bag. Thanks much for your opinion.

Answer
Hi Sam,  This one sounds like it was in the process of being restored when the work stopped for some reason.  Sounds like you have only one tip?  If you have two tips, the rod is worth more.  The cork may well be new.  The varnish may be new as well.  The reel seat may even be new.

To sell it you will need to have the guides installed and finished.  Your other option would be to find a rod builder who would like to buy the blank and finish rebuilding the rod.  The remaining work might not be too expensive.  As a fully restored rod, the value may be lower in the opinion of some buyers.  If the restoration work is well done, it should have little, if any effect on value.

If you want to return this rod to fishing condition for your own use, I suggest you find a local custom rod builder to complete the work for you.  If you want to sell it, you definitely need to have the restoration completed.  Rod Builders International is a good place to contact for help finding a local custom rod builder.  Thanks, Joe