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Bruce & Walker rod advise

J

Justin Cubberley

Senior Member
I have just returned from a visit to a fishing uncle of mine. During my visit he produced a pair of rods that I remember him purchasing what must be 25 years or so ago.
The rods are Bruce & Walker Hexagraph 12' 6" carp rods with a 2.5lb test curve.
Now, I've never really been a fan of B & W but I know that some of you guys have an appreciation for them. These are in mint condition only having been used a handful of times and from what I can see have what I understand to be of the 'standard' factory build. Dark greenish blank, black whippings every inch or so up the rod, B & W stamped reel seat and abbreviated cork coloured duplon handle. They feature 10 or so runners, two on the butt section with the first of which being around 30mm diameter.
He now mainly fly fishes and so has fallen behind with modern coarse rods and was asking for my opinion of them value wise. My thoughts where that if he was to sell them as carp rods, they probably would not reach there true potential as the ringing and tc are not currently fashionable. Perhaps the phrase 'flood water barbel' would be more fitting with regard to the design by todays standards?
Anyhow, the reason for this email is to just to find out if you guys who are B & W fans have any idea how much these are worth?
 
They were probably designed in the mid 1990's along with a number of other specialist coarse rods inc roach, barbel, tench, pike etc. I think the cost back then was around £330-350.00 each for the standard model. In my opinion, they are quite rare. If you wanted to buy one new from B+W today, it would probably cost you in the region of £900-£1,000, if not more, that is if they still have the blanks already made up. Might have an old brochure somewhere with them in if i can find it. I think the carp range of rods, Hexagraph and Tubular were designed with the help of prominent specialist carp anglers of the day namely Tim Paisley and Chris Ball.
 
If you are wanting to sell these rods I would market them for there intended purpose i.e. as carp rods . There are a number of Bruce and Walker rod collectors floating around in the bay of E, and I am sure the rods will generate some interest . As to value , given the price of a new one and the fact that yours are mint I reckon you could get £500 to £600 each . Put them on with a reserve that you are comfortable with and see what interest you get . Good luck :D
 
I bought one of Ray's Hexagraphs around three years ago from the aforementioned auction site. It's a Number 2 with a tc of 1.25lb. It cost £400 (I had it spare at the time) and is the best rod I've owned. I think you'll get plenty of interest in a matching pair advertised (as Mike suggested) for their original purpose. Good luck!
 
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