Ogden Smith rod, but what is it ?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 4:33 pm
I have just taken possesion of an Ogden Smith rod today, when I collected it it was not what I expected and in fact I am really pleased with it , I think it is an earlier O.S and that it is a fly rod, could be easily be wrong in that though as the handle would be a tad long for a fly rod, not a salmon rod as too short and not stout enough , but what do I know about Salmon Rods ? Very little.
Description..
3 piece rod with spare tip section. Cane in top class condition , but really needs a rebuild, could actually be used as is. Has a slight set but that can be sorted easily enough.
Lockfast ferrules
Assembled 9ft 2 inches in length less the missing rubber but cap.
Handle 23 inches long .
Fully lined agate rings throughout .
Clear agate “Tulip’ style tip rings .
Full intermediate whippings ,
No transfer or logo on the cane, Cane scuffed but undamaged on butt section
It has a fixed lower reel fitting “shoe”inscribed “Ogden Smith “ with a two fishing hooks above a fish logo.
Same Logo on the Brass tapered winding check.
Inscribed “Ogden Smith,62 St James St, Picadilly . London SW 1.on the brass butt cap .
Comes in a very tatty O.S rod bag with logo .
Now I am in a quandrary as to what to do with this rod. It would make a lovely short Avon style float rod with the handle adapted to take a couple of sliding reel bands ,and high bells fitted .
Do I rebuild as is , using the original fittings ?
The problem with that is I would not use it as I find the reel position very uncomfortable .
Any suggestions as to which OS rod it is gratefully recieved , also , is it a collectors piece, or just a run of the mill rod.Do I rebuild as is or adapt to my own specs etc etc.
I would suggest it was a more expensive rod when manufactured due to the quality of the fittings and line guides , which incidentally are all fly rod sized .
No idea what to do myself. Its a nice problem to have though .
David
Description..
3 piece rod with spare tip section. Cane in top class condition , but really needs a rebuild, could actually be used as is. Has a slight set but that can be sorted easily enough.
Lockfast ferrules
Assembled 9ft 2 inches in length less the missing rubber but cap.
Handle 23 inches long .
Fully lined agate rings throughout .
Clear agate “Tulip’ style tip rings .
Full intermediate whippings ,
No transfer or logo on the cane, Cane scuffed but undamaged on butt section
It has a fixed lower reel fitting “shoe”inscribed “Ogden Smith “ with a two fishing hooks above a fish logo.
Same Logo on the Brass tapered winding check.
Inscribed “Ogden Smith,62 St James St, Picadilly . London SW 1.on the brass butt cap .
Comes in a very tatty O.S rod bag with logo .
Now I am in a quandrary as to what to do with this rod. It would make a lovely short Avon style float rod with the handle adapted to take a couple of sliding reel bands ,and high bells fitted .
Do I rebuild as is , using the original fittings ?
The problem with that is I would not use it as I find the reel position very uncomfortable .
Any suggestions as to which OS rod it is gratefully recieved , also , is it a collectors piece, or just a run of the mill rod.Do I rebuild as is or adapt to my own specs etc etc.
I would suggest it was a more expensive rod when manufactured due to the quality of the fittings and line guides , which incidentally are all fly rod sized .
No idea what to do myself. Its a nice problem to have though .
David