Orvis Fullflex and Golden Eagle Rods - Collecting Fiberglass Fly Rods - Active Discussions - fiberglassflyrodders - Message Board - Yuku

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Orvis Fullflex and Golden Eagle Rods

Author	Comment
GRASSNGLASS	Orvis Fullflex and Golden Eagle Rods	Lead	[-]
Guide Posts: 180 (08/13/08 12:18:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I know the green Golden Eagles were made on Phillipson blanks. My question is if the Fullflex rods are Phillipson, or some other blank maker or combination of these??? I've heard there had been a break up between Phillipson and Orvis sometime in the midst of the Orvis glass rod period. I also believe any time you have a glass reinforced by metal ring ferrule it's a sign that blank is Phillipson. Any information appreciated. Thanks--Barry
jgestar		#1	[-]
Posts: 2591 (08/13/08 14:56:15) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Barry, From the various advertising literature of the day, I would say the Golden Eagles were made on Phillipson Epoxite blanks. The Epoxites were the top of the line Phillipson after 1970. Orvis had a few length/weights that were unique to the Golden Eagle line. I think the Fullflex rods were made on Phillipson Master blanks, but only because I see most of them with nickel silver ferrules. The Phillipson Masters also had nickel silver ferrules for most of their product life. There was at least one other line of Orvis rod made on Phillipson blanks, but the model name escapes me right now. Phillipson was purchased by 3M in 1972 and by 1975 the Phillipson rods were no longer offered. After that, Orvis developed their own rod production capacity, mainly for graphite rods. However, Orvis did make some glass rods in that facility and they are usually seen labeled Fullflex A. Finally, you are right about the metal ring. It is a distinctive indicator of a Phillipson glass sleeve ferrule. Although I have seen metal rings on a few custom made rods. The Orvis made Fullflex A rods did not have the ring. Tom
Guadalupe Bass		#2	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 190 (08/13/08 15:31:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Hi Tom, Didn't Phillipson also make for Orvis the "Fullflex" (i.e. without the "A") rods as well as the "Fullflex II"? http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/topic/6002 Is that the one you were looking for or was there another? Best Wishes, GB
Boo	Full Flex vs Golden Eagle	#3	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 448 (08/13/08 21:58:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Below are pics of the Full Flex, Golden Eagle, and Phillipson Epoxites. The 7 1/2'/7wt Orvis Full Flex I have casts IDENTICAL to the 7 1/2'/6wt Phillipson Epoxite. I've owned a few Orvis Golden Eagles and they are a tad heavier and a faster action, less full flexing than the other two.
jgestar		#4	[-]
Posts: 2593 (08/13/08 23:03:32) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Drat. I shouldn't trust my memory. What I should have done was consult the Orvis Wiki page. Gaddis has listed many of the glass models from his catalogs (he's GOOD!). The other rod I was trying to recall was the Orvis Powerflex. This is the one that feels much like a Phillipson Master to me. These were made with nickel silver ferrules. I have a pair of Fullflexes with glass Phillipson style ferrules (complete with the cool metal ring). I also have a Fullflex "Nymph" with nickel silver ferrules. It is an 8 footer labeled for a 5 weight line that is just fun with a DT4 line. I had this confused with the Powerflex line. As you can see by Boo's excellent photos, the Orvis reelseats were pretty spiffy compared to the standard Phillipsons. Kelly, Gaddis has the Fullflex II listed in the Wiki, but I've never seen one. I would guess by the date and the ferrules that the blanks were provided by Phillipson. Tom
JeffSod		#5	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 834 (08/14/08 11:07:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I have several of the Orvis marked Full Flex rods. The Full Flex II series had the glass ferrule with the ring like this well used 7'6" one- But the 7 foot Full Flex I have as seen below has the nickel silver ferrule- They sure are a colorful lot when you get them all together-
whrlpool		#6	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 554 (08/15/08 03:33:10) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Gentleman, thanks for the account and photos of some of the fine Phillipson/Orvis of the time. The Orvis rods, especially, are elegant in the simplicity of their furnishings and the telltale design signature of the ferrule ring. The photos provoked a memory from about 1972 on the upper Saranac river in the Adirondacks, where I guy I'd met along the Ausable set out a few Orvis rods to cast, a couple bamboo and the others 'glass, 6 and 7 weights. I remember enjoying the company and the casting so much that I never did go fishing that day. I never got one of the Orvis 'glass, either, which I should have.
GRASSNGLASS		#7	[-]
Guide Posts: 182 (08/15/08 13:27:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks for all the great info and pics. Barry

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