QuestionI have a Winchester. #6086 fly rod in fair shape with brass shank .It is 9' long.IT is in 3 sections.IT has an extra tip section as well. Could you tell me when it was made AND appx. value range ? Thanks DTB
AnswerFred
I am going with Winchester in the title of your question not wichester from the body.
You rod was made by the firearms manufacturer.
Early Winchester bamboo rods were advertised as being built under the direct supervision of E.W.Edwards and they are considered high quality rods with significant value today. These rods usually have a four digit number designation beginning with "6" stamped into the reel seat. Edwards ended his association with Winchester in 1924 by which time it appears rods were of lower quality and mass produced.
Winchester sold its rodmaking division to Horrocks-Ibbotson in 1935. H-I/Winchester rods are typical H-I rods and can be identified by the model name and the Winchester name written on the blank in white ink, with letters running toward the grip. This is a brief description of the excellent information found in Michael Sinclair's, Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook.
The Winchesters are all documented with a number of charts etc in Pat's 2008 edition of "Playing With Fire: the Fly Rods of EW Edwards." The top line were all 61xx rods; the second tier were 60xx rods. So this 6086 falls into that 2nd tier quality. It's definitely not an HI, and was made in the Winchester New Haven factory. It wasn't a Eustis-made rod but might be what Winchester described as "Edwards-supervised."
I ordered the book ,Playing With Fire: The Life and Fly Rods of E.W. Edwards by Patrick C. Garner yesterday and it should be here in 10 days. I will have more details when I get it , feel free to e-mail me at that time,
[email protected] , love to hear from you on this.
Does the rod have intermediate thread wraps every 1-3 inches ?
You could have a low resale value HI rod if built after 1935.
Not sure what you mean by "brass shank"? Do you mean the rod is round metal , I am assuming it is flat sided bamboo? Or are you referring to the metal parts ?
Pictures would not hurt, to confirm (
[email protected] )
Price Book:
Antique & Collectable Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide Homel, Dan. 1997 (2nd edition 2000) add about 30% for age of book
Homel gives the 9 ft Winchester model 6085 c.1932 with an extra tip, 3 sections a value of $60, 140 and $275 for poor, good, excellent condition respectively. But the 6085 is close.
I quote these books written by researchers so you know I am not making it all up, But I include my experience as well.
It has taken me the best part of an hour to write this up , please take a few seconds to provide feedback. Please remember I am a volunteer , the feedback is the only result I get from doing this.
Luck,
Mac
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