Old Orvis Graphite Rod Info

[outsider]

In the early 70's I bought an Orvis 7' 1/5/8 oz. graphite fly rod. It has a spigot ferrule and a ceramic top guide. The male spigot is hollow and is not tapered. It has an all cork grip and sliding bands.

The engraving on the butt cap:

ORVIS
7' 1 5/8 oz. (5)
GRAPHITE

Apparently this is a very unusual Orvis rod, and Orvis would like me to send pictures to identify it (spent 1/2 hour on the phone today with them while they looked up early graphite rods). Also, the rod tube has a plastic cap, unlike the other rods I bought in that era, which had metal caps.

Anyone ever heard of an early Orvis graphite rod with spigot ferrule and ceramic top guide?

 

[TimRobinsin]

all cork grip and reel seat?

the hollow spigot ferrule has me confused.

I have a 1979 Far n Fine and the ferrule has a piece of wood or bamboo in the male end.

very interesting indeed. bet it casts a 4wt line sweetly!

 

[outsider]

No Tim, it does not cast a 4 weight. It is an extremely fast rod, could easily overline it with a 6 weight. And yes, the male spigot is hollow. There is no date on the butt cap or the rod tube.

 

[PennKev]

The ceramic tip sounds odd.I don't think I've ever seen a fa Tory built for with a ceramic tip guide and snakes guides. I would not be surprised if it was a DIY repair attempt. Original tip got damaged or fell off, ceramic spinning/casting tip was used to repair. Just a thought.

 

[outsider]

PennKev wrote:
The ceramic tip sounds odd.I don't think I've ever seen a fa Tory built for with a ceramic tip guide and snakes guides. I would not be surprised if it was a DIY repair attempt. Original tip got damaged or fell off, ceramic spinning/casting tip was used to repair. Just a thought.

Not possible PennKev. I bought this rod new from an authorized Orvis dealer (who was a friend of mine). In fact, the rod was not in stock at the dealer, had to be ordered.

Someone on another forum did see a factory Orvis rod from that era with a ceramic tip top, but not the spigot ferrule as I described.

 

[shortrod2]

I can think of two possibilities.

1. Orvis did make a 7' 5wt in the 70's. It was called the 'Otter'. I have one at home and will check the marked weight of the rod. But that may not match because mine has a locking alum cork spacer reel seat.

2. At times Orvis offered a fly/spin combo rod. I think those were 7'. That might explain the ceramic tip top.

 

[outsider]

shortrod2,

It is not the Otter rod. Someone at Orvis thought it might have been named "Trout". Definitely not a fly/spin rod. The all-cork grip with sliding bands is similar to the grip/bands on my Orvis bamboo Flea rod made in the same era.

 

[shortrod2]

outsider wrote:
shortrod2,

It is not the Otter rod. Someone at Orvis thought it might have been named "Trout". Definitely not a fly/spin rod. The all-cork grip with sliding bands is similar to the grip/bands on my Orvis bamboo Flea rod made in the same era.

Yeah, I checked my Otter, it is from 1980 and marked as 2oz. I know they made a 7 1/2' and 8' Trout models but have never heard of a 7' Trout. I have seen Trout models with the sliding bands.