Dating a Hardy Rod

[GloucesterOldSpot]

Hardy put a code on their rods to indicate when it was built. It is often on the metal at the end of the handle.
You can look it up here (thanks to Andrew Herd)

http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/hardy_ ... _dates.htm

That page appears to be incomplete; it omits the G-prefix numbers that were used on composite rods - i.e. whole cane/split cane, or whole cane/greenheart. I forget which website has the full list, but should anyone have a G-prefix rod these can also be dated, given the correct reference table.

[Shaun Harrison]

Back in my tackle shop days I was stood behind the counter on a particularly busy Saturday afternoon so had quite an audience of anglers. We used to get quite a bit of old gear brought in for evaluation. Anyway one of the staff directed this chap clutching a cane rod over to me.

"Can I help"? I asked.

"Well I was wondering if you could give me any indication how old this is"? Came the reply.

A few customers came over for a look at this old cane rod as I said...

"Just a moment I'll get my bits".

I wandered around the back, picked up a saw and returned into to the shop.

"What are you going to do with that"? The startled customer asked.

"I was just going to cut it in half and count the rings to see how old it is". I replied.

I never realised how everyone in the shop used to listen to everything that was said up until that moment in time when there was a spontaneous eruption of laughter.

Fortunately the customer soon realised I was having a laugh on him and I duly gave him the information he was after without cutting his wooden rod in half.

Sorry, but it amused quite a few people at the time.

There are lots of 'Tales from behind the counter' stories in the book I started to write many years ago. I really should try and find some time to finish it.

[J.T]

That's great Shaun.

[The Sweetcorn Kid]

Brilliant, you should get it finished Shaun!!

[Badger]

Hardy put a code on their rods to indicate when it was built. It is often on the metal at the end of the handle.
You can look it up here (thanks to Andrew Herd)

http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/hardy_ ... _dates.htm

That page appears to be incomplete; it omits the G-prefix numbers that were used on composite rods - i.e. whole cane/split cane, or whole cane/greenheart. I forget which website has the full list, but should anyone have a G-prefix rod these can also be dated, given the correct reference table.

Gents, Does anyone have a link to the the G-Prefix table ?

[Deaf Cat]

From http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/vie ... 69&t=21112

In 1927 the "G" number was introduced to distinguish rods that were totally made of split bamboo from greenheart, whole bamboo or a combination of materials.
The records for the period September 1938 until June 1945 are missing

Year Number

1927 0-1444
1928 1444-3680
1929 3681-5739
1930 5740-6778
1931 6779-7526
1932 7527-9560
1933 9561-11297
1934 11298-13142
1935 13143-15100
1936 15101-17318
1937 17319-20067
1938 20068-21632
1939 21633
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945 25209
1946 25210-26257
1947 26258-26718
1948 26719-27502
1949 27503-28689
1950 28670-28389
1951 28390-30595
1952 30596-30814
1953 30815-31359
1954 31360-32146
1955 32147-32559

[Badger]

Thanks DC, much appreciated.