Super quality. Would also make a perfect  ‘big carp in the lilies’ stalker. £225

 

F.E.Williams 1955 c Mk IV 10’2” /2 The renowned old firm of F.E.Williams made very few Mk IV rods, but they were all to the highest possible standard. Extremely closely whipped. Superb decorated ferrule. Thin onion topped handle with original lightweight reel bands. Completely restored to better than new. Agate butt and tip. Low bells intermediate. Extremely rare. £495

 

Gale1958 c‘Little Mk IV’8’4” A very good Barnstable Devon maker. This may be the same as the better known B.James ‘Grebe’ rod. The action does indeed appear to be similar to the Mk IV in a scaled down version. Restored to high standard. Original agate butt and tip, new FOB intermediates. Whipped in fine silk. Maker’s bag with woven label. An ideal chub stalker or spinning rod. £285

 

Hardy’s. 1920 c Tonkin rod tube. 4’6” x 3” diameter. Chrome leather cap/ buckle. Bored whole Tonkin cane, with twine whips at nodes, all varnished over. This is a lovely thing. The nicest possible caddy for a fine rod, and an object that will attract great admiration in its own right. £260

Hardy Bros. 1951 ‘The Lightweight Rod’ Thames Style. 11’/ 3 A rare creature for the collector or user. Lightweight whole cane with split cane in the tip. Perfectly restored beyond Hardy’s standard. Fine Emerald Green silk. Agate butt and tip. HBL inters. Marvellous. £355

 

Judds of Hillingdon  REQUIRED URGENTLY. JUDD SENIOR WIZARDS OF EITHER 12’ OR 11’ LENGTH.  TOP PRICES PAID. WILL COLLECT . DISTANCE NO OBJECT.

 

Milwards 1959 c Swimversa 12’ /3 Hollow-built split-cane butt section with reverse taper, whole cane middle section with spliced-in split-cane distal end, twin taper split-cane tip section. In near new condition. Designed by Terry Thomas. An innovative but very complicated design of rod that was far too labour-intensive to manufacture. It was extremely expensive in its day, so inevitably sold in very small quantities. Like the later Swimaster design, the Swimversa had a short production span. It is one of the rarest, most desirable, and most usable of all post war cane bottom-rods. £380

Milwards1965 Swimaster Hollow-built 12’3” /3 This rod was acquired from its original owner. It is in perfect new condition, having been bought originally as an investment, used on two occasions, then stored in dry conditions for thirty-five years. The original bronzed-brass ferrule-stoppers, and high quality zipped and pop-studded bag are still with the rod. It would be difficult to imagine a better all-round coarse fishing rod than this. Light, and steely. The Swimaster was made for a very short time, and in very limited quantities: it was also very expensive. It was produced at the time when plastic rods were taking an increasing share of the market. It is therefore one of the rarest split-cane bottom-rods. Very collectable, but it deserves a proper user/owner. £595

Milwards 1960 c Featherlight 11’0” /3 A jewel of a roach/dace rod. Lightweight patterned whole cane butt/middle. The tip is twin (compound) tapered. Long thin handle with original lightweight sliding fittings. Delicate S/O rings. Agate butt and tip. Completely restored to perfection. £340

Milwards 1956 c Aerolite 11’6” /2 An extremely rare, and highly sought-after rod. Thought to be the model for the cult Aspindale Aero. Hollow-built butt, un-hollowed tip. Both butt and tip are twin (compound) tapered. Long fine handle with original lightweight sliding fittings. S/O rings. Agate butt and tip. Sold as received, but it was previously completely restored to a very high standard. £390

Milwards 1955 c ‘Springtail’ 10’2” An amazing and delightful rod. Considerably faster taper than a standard Mk IV Avon. and with a reverse taper split cane element the slim and tapered 26” handle. The result is a tight, powerful rod, with a unique action, found in no other model of rod. Superb reinforced and decorated ferrule.  Restored to better than new, with clear agate butt and tip, and green pure silk ties (originally tied in red jasper). 5000 series. Pre-dates ‘Versa’ rods. The only one of its kind seen. £425

 

SOLD Oliver’s of Knebworth 1965c A Highly Important Rod Custom-made Carp Rod 11’0” This rod was made to specification. A powerful eleven footer that appears to have remained unused from new. All the usual Oliver’s features (plus utterly magnificent real agate 20mm cradle butt ring. Full intermediates, peerless Southwell-quality cane. A definitive split-cane rod for big modern carp (God help us!) £850

 

Norris 1960 c The Conway. 8’6” /2 A really beautiful rod of high quality. Long slim handle with fine alloy reel bands and fittings. Agate butt and tip, LBL inters. Reinforced ferrule. Green Elephant silk whippings, with red jasper signature spirals. Finely restored. A PERFECT carp stalker. £285

 

Ogden Smiths 1958 c ‘The Arun’ 11’0” /3 A very high quality rod from one of the top London makers. In excellent original, unrestored condition. Original maker’s bag with traditional copperplate script on cloth label. The Arun is a whole cane butt Avocet in all but name.  The two rods appear to be identical, and this one appears to be made from Southwell blanks. The rod has had very little use from new. Agate butt and tip, with FOB intermediates. £595

 

Sharpes (Aberdeen) 1968 c F.S.Sharpe 9’3”2/ Salmon Spinner. As new condition. £275

Sharpes (Aberdeen) 1968 c F.S.Sharpe 8’0”2/ Sea trout/Grilse Spinner. As new condition. £275

 

NOTE: The two rods above, and the Salmon fly rod in the fly rod section, were bought as a set.