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All of my Fenwick cork insert up locking reel seats are the same, 756, 805, several others, have the same style reel seat. That is, both ends of the reel feet are secured to metal. Only my 605 has a semi cork reel seat, however, at the bottom, the reel foot is inserted into metal so that it is secure and the top band then slides down on the upper reel foot which nestles on cork. My non Fenwick rods that have true cork reel seats are entirely different, having the reel secured by two sliding bands only. I don't have the chance to use these much, so my opinion that the reel isn't as secure as the Fenwick style probably doesn't hold much water. But remember, the Fenwick was designed for the mass market and so had to be more foolproof and secure than a more specialized style of reel seat. JMHO Glenn

Upstreeam, somewhere it is stated that the cork inserts were offered only in certain years. Mine are 605-L, 705-M, 756-N, 805-M, 806-M, and 857-N, so I tend to agree. Now the nature of these rods is considered later, and a little faster. I have many earlier and like the later. I picked up the cork insert rods thinking they were a little nicer to have. My non cork inserts are 806-4, FF79 (6wt. 8'), 858, FL6 (786 Woodstream) and a 9010, which I need a fighting butt for, the previous owner didn't know what it was for and threw it out. Glenn

Yes, I agree. It's the blank, not the seat that determines its properties. As you live in Sarasota, I wonder if two identical bamboo rods, one from humid south Florida, and one from a drier, western climate would handle differently? My furniture certainly suffers here in southern New Mexico. Yesterday we had 7% humidity, and I look at my bamboo rods and wonder if they are being adversely affected? Glenn