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Who made this blank?

R

Ralph Harris

Active Member
Many years ago before such a rod was popular, I wanted a rod for float fishing for barbel. My local tackle dealer offered me a Kevlar blank, so you now know it was really some time ago because they were still adding Kevlar to carbon rods then. It was a 12ft Kevlar Avon 1 1/4lb test curve. Although it does not have a typical float tip to the rod I ringed it for float fishing, but I had little success. There are now far better powerful float rods so I want to repurpose the Kevlar Avon. However, it would be nice to know who originally made the blank and what it was made for originally.
Does anyone recognise the blank and can tell me anything about it?
Not much to go on but the typeface is quite distinctive as is the blanks weave and colour.
I think it was supplied with a part finished butt with a fuji reel seat, but I cannot be certain, since I built this rod I have washed my brain in red wine and bitter so I’m likely to forget.




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I had Kevlar Avon rod many yrs ago made by North western rods….lettering looks the same from memory and also the weave, but their blanks also had the NW rods logo/words so can’t be sure!?
It was a lovely through action rod I used for tenching
 
Alan Palmer said:
I had Kevlar Avon rod many yrs ago made by North western rods….lettering looks the same from memory and also the weave, but their blanks also had the NW rods logo/words so can’t be sure!?
It was a lovely through action rod I used for tenching
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I would of guessed north western too Alan
 
Ive got a very similar looking rod and when it went off to Dave Lumb for re-ringing he reckoned it was a North Western Avon.

Floppy action and excellent fun to play fish on.
 
Many thanks for your thoughts, I too was thinking it might be North Western Avon and nothing else has been suggested, so I guess that’s what it is.
The term floppy action sounds a bit unkind, but I cannot deny that it is an accurate description. It was certainly hard to hit sharp chub bites at distance.
I will take the float style rings off and put on rings more commonly seen on rods of this style. Then perhaps I will look for a close range tench to try it on. I’ll enjoy it for what it really is, rather than keep it as something it has always struggled to achieve.
Thanks once again for your comments.
 
Ralph Harris said:
Many thanks for your thoughts, I too was thinking it might be North Western Avon and nothing else has been suggested, so I guess that’s what it is.
The term floppy action sounds a bit unkind, but I cannot deny that it is an accurate description. It was certainly hard to hit sharp chub bites at distance.
I will take the float style rings off and put on rings more commonly seen on rods of this style. Then perhaps I will look for a close range tench to try it on. I’ll enjoy it for what it really is, rather than keep it as something it has always struggled to achieve.
Thanks once again for your comments.
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I had a pair of NW carbon/Kevlar 1.25 test tench rods from the same era (late 80’s, early 90’s). Lovely rods as long as you didn’t have to cast very far ! They did a cheaper carbon version that was noticeably stiffer.
 
I had a pair of the 12ft Carbon Kevlar NW rodcraft rods for my big Bream fishing back in the late 80’s. A ceramic ring came out of the tip eye so i rang them in a panic and they told me to either post it to them or call in the factory at Middleton in Manchester. I drove down and they were great, gave me a quick look around and replaced the whole rod. I was really chuffed until i used them and the guides were i slightly different spacings from the other (not sure how/why?) which really bugged me!
Proper old factory but great people and fascinating to see inside. Think it’s gone now
 
My immediate thought was North Westerns. I have included some decals in picture below. All very utilitarian. Possibly apropo of nothing at all, my current 42in net arms that I have used for nearly 30 years of carp fishing are North Western built which is quite impressive as every other item hanging from them has been changed multiple times. Talk about Trigger's broom.
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Already confirmed by others, but 100% definitely North Western - I have two which are identical to that, right down to the lettering and lack of brand name, one 12ft and one 11ft. I also have a 11.5ft rod with exactly the same blank and absolutely no writing on there at all - a totally blank canvas, but it was sold to me as a North Western 1lb tench rod. Comparing it to other 1lb rods I have I think it's right. The guy I bought all three rods from told me they were all custom builds by a rod builder, so I'm guessing any without the NW branding are custom made.

Fantastic rods, although the guy I bought them from did tell me rods made by NW themselves had a tendency for the varnish to crack and flake after not much use. I've only got one NW branded rod, which I THINK is okay, so I don't know how true that was/is.
 
Hi Steve, Thanks for removing any shadow of doubt about their origin. Is there a chance you can post a picture or two of the 12 footer? I would like to see what rings were used and an idea of their spacing. If there is already an accepted ring pattern for this blank I would like to use it.
 
It might also be worth checking the reel seat. All my NW's with the screw reel seats have a little NW logo
 

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Steven Sweet said:
It might also be worth checking the reel seat. All my NW's with the screw reel seats have a little NW logo
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The wind has dropped a bit so I’ve been able to open the garage without fear of it being blown in. Had a look at the reel seat, it just has the Fuji logo. But a good point well worth another look.
 
There is something about Kevlar in rod blanks that makes them feel that much nicer - don't seem to see it any more. I assume due to price ?
 
Jon Elliott said:
There is something about Kevlar in rod blanks that makes them feel that much nicer - don't seem to see it any more. I assume due to price ?
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Yeah agree….tends to make the blank more rigid whilst retaining a lovely cushioning playing action, it is my understanding that the Kevlar weave wrap used in rods such Fox Kevlar/kevlex, NWR, daiwa amorphous etc deteriorated quicker inder UV rays than the fibreglass it was wrapped around. And the manufacture process was very expensive, and as new carbon fibre technologies emerged it made the use of Kevlar redundant.
I’m sure there will be folk in here with a more detailed accurate knowledge of it …in the meantime I get my Kevlar/kevlex rods out for a few cherished outings per season and thoroughly enjoy using them
 
My first rods, post JW Avon Quiver were North Westerns and I wish I'd never sold them. They were delightful!
 
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