New rod shootout!

[joe h.]

Well, Joe, I certainly didn’t mean to run you off.  I was joking myself.

Zach

You didn’t run me off!

[Chris Ray]

zach,
what would the comparable js blank be to the hardy sintrix or loop cross s1?
chris.

[Jon Conner]

Try flyrodknockoffs.com. 😉
JC

[R Black]

I watched a science program a while back demonstrating how carbon fibers are made or grown.

[Zach Matthews]

Chris –

That isn’t the kind of thing you could figure out without measuring out the taper, one because they aren’t going to advertise that and two because it would vary between each rod in the series.  There’s no guarantee that the exact same blank would ever appear in another rod series (and it would definitely not have the Sintrix dust, for whatever that’s worth); however you could probably find a taper that is perilously close.

Check your PMs.

Zach

[Brian Greer]

The ‘lifting’ of product design goes on quite a bit. Probably more than we know. Especially on high priced or highly marketable items. Watches, sunglasses, etc.

Very interesting thread.

I think that some manufacturers circumvent this by doing the higher end stuff only in the USA. I’ve also heard that some manufacturers make the blanks in the US, then ship them off to have them finished because of the price of labor.

It would be very interesting to know exactly what blanks get made where. It would also be interesting to know how the knock-offs compare to the real McCoy.

Brian

[Zach Matthews]

Brian –

I think the more common scenario is the reverse: blanks and componentry made overseas then shipped into the U.S. to be assembled.

[Karlin Bilcher]

“But a great many “brands” you see are just re-badges of commercially available blanks and tapers.  I have actually been approached myself about “designing” a line of rods, as have most of the bigger fly shops in this country.  Some of those fly shops have gone ahead with house brands.”

Hey Z –
Can you please tell us more about who approached you to design rods and why?  Was it because of your celebrity status or your influence being equivalent to “most of the bigger fly shops”.  As Lefty is to TFO so Zach is to…..?  Fascinating stuff.  A little background would be awesome.  
Kb

[Brian Greer]

Brian –

I think the more common scenario is the reverse: blanks and componentry made overseas then shipped into the U.S. to be assembled.  That allows the product to be designated as “Made in America” (and keeps the ‘Made in Korea’ sticker off them).

Zach

I read somewhere that some companies were sending the blanks overseas to be finished. Their reason behind this is to keep proprietary materials under their own supervision and easy to track the number of blanks being sent to the rods sent back.

I wish I could remember the source of where I read that.

[Zach Matthews]

Karlin –

Snark notwithstanding, my point was about how low the bar is, man.

[Brian Greer]

Wonder if the H2 is USA “assembled” rod?

I’m pretty sure the H2 is 100% Manchester, Vermont.

[Zach Matthews]

Brian –

I’ve also been told that directly, probably from the same guy who told you.

I think all Orvis premier-level rods, including the Superfine series, are made in their factory in Vermont.

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