Fenwick 6 piece pack rod

[jtwill98]

Today I received a Fenwick 6 piece pack rod that looks like it was rarely (if ever) used. 

What caught my attention is there are two (fly rod & spinning rod) handles and 4 rod pieces.

Would anyone know if this was custom made for rod Wm Coats, Jr or production rod?

[happyhooker]

My '82 Fenwick blank catalog shows several pack rod blanks and the corresponding rod models.  So, at least back then, they were selling pack rod blanks and finished rods.  The Feralite only came in brown then; your pics kinda hint at brown or gray color.  Not sure about the graphite pack rods color.  The guides on your rod look like all metal (no ceramic), and if that is the case, it would be a rod with a few years on it, I'm guessing.

Frank

[jtwill98]

TY for the information. I'm was just wondering about it origins. 

Guessing out loud, it looks like it was a custom made set for the Wm Coats Jr.

I can't find any information on the lad or a relationship to Fenwick.   

[happyhooker]

I noticed a couple of Wm. Coats obits online where there was a fishing connection.

Frank

[Midway Tommy]

I'd say it was probably a custom build. There was a high up (Colonel) Wm Coats Jr. Retired, originally from Omaha, that was a dentist and spent 27 years in the military. He may have originally had it built for him. Those dual purpose pack rods were kind of a thing back in their day, plus a lot of guys really liked, and still do, that style of guide.

[happyhooker]

Those guides look like the old Aetna Foulproofs (and maybe they are); were valued because they flexed some as the rod flexed, without making a stiff section like ordinary two-foot guides did.  My first rod build more than 40 yrs. ago was a 7 ft. spinning rod with those types of guides.  They sit low on the blank, which many spinning rod folks didn't care for.  I like 'em a bunch.  Someone (I forget what company) is offering similar, modern guides these days. 

The big auction site has quite a few Fenwick pack/travel rods listed, including some with guides like on the subject rod here. 

Frank

[Midway Tommy]

Twenty five plus years ago Cabela's was one of the biggest, and go to, rod building parts suppliers, along with Jann's Netcraft. Cabela's offered Fenwick blanks and also offered complete kits. That Coats pack rod could very well have been a kit or individual parts offered by Cabela's. I would lean towards kit since it has two different butt sections. Wish I still had some of my old Cabela's catalogs from the '70s, '80s & '90s.

[jtwill98]

It's an interesting discussion going on here about this rod pack.  I'm learning a bunch from this discussion.  Ty for sharing.

[oc1]

Someone (I forget what company) is offering similar, modern guides these days. 

That may have ben Jann's Netcraft.  They have the Flexlite that is very similar to Aetna with the same advantages and disadvantages.

Jann's Netcraft is as good as ever for rod components and they're much more prompt and friendly than Mudhole.

[Gfish]

Never seen purple thread on a Fenwick that was store-bought.

[happyhooker]

I loved the Netcraft catalogs from the 1980s. Man, the variety!

Frank

[DougK]

definitely custom. Fenwick never made a rod/blank with two handles, never used purple, and those ferrule wraps below the male ferrules are unusually long even for a custom build.

It's a good clean build otherwise, and I actually like the idea of two handles for the fly/spin rod. Everything else is a compromise in either looks or function.

Does the blank/rod say Fenwick somewhere on it ? I can't see it in the pictures..
those ferrules are not Feralite ferrules and I've not seen a Fenwick blank/rod with the spigot ferrules like this.
Those look more like a Fisher rod/blank..

[oc1]

Is that a graphite or fiberglass blank?  The grey male ferrule looks like a modern female-over.  It's pretty cool whatever it is.

[jtwill98]

Does the blank/rod say Fenwick somewhere on it ?

There are no Fenwick labels. Only the Fenwick butt cover on the handle end. I suspected it was a custom build because of the Wm Coats, Jr labels. 

Tommy may be correct about it being a custom rod or kit build for Wm Coats, Jr.  It would be an interesting connection and story for the rod if I could confirm the origins to the "Colonel".