Score! Vintage Fenwick

[JasonGotaProblem]

Got this on for less than $40. Pics were bad so it was a gamble. One guide seems crushed but I'm replacing all of them anyway. Other than that it's great condition

I'm confused as to whether this was an UL spinning rod or a fly rod. The grip could go either way but the guides seem more spin-ish to me.

Fenwick model SP621. Is anyone familiar with it? Id love to know an age range, and what the intended lure and line size was.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Found references on another forum to the rod in a 1976 catalog as 2-6# 1/16-1/4 lure. And now I'm even happier. This will become an awesome finesse rod. Probably add a proper reel seat.

[jgp12000]

Need A 500 series reel on it

[Midway Tommy]

Yeah, that was considered a UL in the time period. The slip rings are appropriate for a UL reel attachment at that time, as they still are today. A lot of the high quality rod makers still offer the Tennessee slip ring handle option today. Those type handles are high sensitivity. 

[jgp12000]

I am thinking vintage 308,Cardinal 3,or DQ 265.As for modern option I like the Shinano Sienna 500.I have a 1000 version,great reels for $30.

[Jim Fujitani]

I used that exact model blank to build a few UL spinning rods, with the Aetna "foul proof" guides, back in the 70's.  And then I branched out to the FL models for light weight fly rods.  One could build quality light rods for under $20 each and sell hand tied flies for $5/dozen.

[quang tran]

I used to buy Fenwick fiberglass blank from a man in Minnesota and built some rod with better guides ,not sure that he still have them

[JasonGotaProblem]

I can see why people like this kind of grip. It might be the first time I build a rod without a Fuji seat. I kinda like it. The 3 guides it has came off easy as pie and I have a very similar thread. I might keep this a spinner.

[Swami805]

The cork should clean up nicely with a little sand paper and elbow grease. It makes a nice spinner or maybe a BFS rod?

[Midway Tommy]

I can see why people like this kind of grip. It might be the first time I build a rod without a Fuji seat. I kinda like it. The 3 guides it has came off easy as pie and I have a very similar thread. I might keep this a spinner.

Good for you, Jason! You'll probably learn to like that handle design quite a bit. They're especially nice on UL & light spinning setups. You can get some of the grime off by lightly wiping it lacquer thinner, then lightly sanding it with 3--400 grit, next maybe a little higher grit for smoother surface, and then you can seal it with a couple of coats of Penetrol if you have some. The nice thing about Penetrol is that it soaks into the cork surface rather than just laying on the surface like a lot of other cork sealers.     

[jgp12000]

I have used green 3m pads on cork then penetrol or spar urethane.I like the penetrol feel better though.Spar urethane looks better but could be slippery when wet.

[JasonGotaProblem]

The grips cleaned up really nicely with just some acetone on a paper towel and not much rubbing.

But as much as I like the grip style, and it can hold a baitcaster, but it's too small for my big goofy paws. I'm likely gonna add a reel seat. The top of the current grip is the right size to mate up with the bottom of a trigger seat. I'll consider going that route. Even though I'm awake now I'm still technically sleeping on it.

[Midway Tommy]

Shame to transform a tough to find cute little ultra light spinning rod into a casting outfit, but to each his own priorities. 

[oc1]

Tommy is right.  It won't really be a "vintage fenwick" rod when you get through with it.  Maybe "repurposed Fenwick blank".  Can't say that I haven't done worse things myself though.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Jury is still out. I know you can't go backwards. Maybe I'll just extend the cork.

It won't be a true vintage Fenwick when I put modern guides on it either. But that's a definite.