Hi Guys - long time
Does Orvis sell blanks ?? Do they make there own, or does some one make them for them ?

Orvis began making their own graphite rod blanks sometime back in the mid 1990's. I don't know if they sell them any longer, but at one time they did. Check with Orvis or one of their dealers. I seem to recall that Angler's Workshop used to sell them. Perhaps they still do.

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I looked into getting an Orvis blank about 5 years ago. There was a model I really liked, but unfortunately was not available in a blank. They had a few of their models you could get at that time, but I don't know if they still do or not. The answer I always got was that some were available, most were not. Would be nice to get though, I really like their rods.

Orvis has been making their own graphite blanks in their Vermont factory since at least 1979 when they brought out the "Superfine" series. They don't make all their own rods, but they do make some of them. They sell most of their rods as blanks (though never their latest/greatest), and also some unique components. As with most companies, they don't go out of their way to identify the blanks they make themselves vs. their cheaper imports.

Orvis gets a lot of abuse for being a company that sells way more than fishing rods, but to lump them in with BPS, Cabelas etc. is to ignore history. Orvis has been around the rod business a long time, and they make some really nice rods.

Hey Mike, that is great to hear that you can get their blanks (some) and components. Where might these be available? I checked out Orvis' website and saw nothing on their blanks. They don't even have a rod building section. I've been fishing in a pair of their breathable waders now for about six years, love 'em. About four or five years ago they a rod out that I believe was called the "Trident" model that I tried to get a blank of but never could find one available.

I've always liked the finish Orvis puts on their wraps too. They tend to stay right on the wraps without extending the finish past the threads, and also put on just barely enough to cover the threads. I've always been impressed with the look of those wraps, but never actually done it that way myself.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2007 02:18PM by Jason Gist.

He's back. Oh my,

JK Fisher made all the Orvis graphite rods and blanks until the late 1980's, at least according to the folks at Fisher. I don't think Orvis actually bought any blank making equipment until the late 1980's.

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I don't doubt that JK Fisher made blanks for Orvis, I just question whether they made all of them. Ask people in the Orvis rod factory in Vermont and they will tell you that they started making graphite rods in the "Superfine" series in 1979. Perhaps that's a lie, I have no way to know without demanding receipts for mandrels...

I tell you this, I have a Superfine rod I bought from Orvis in 1986, and I have one of the last ones to roll out of their factory a few years ago (before they "improved" them). They are identical to the eye (and very unique with the old-school external ferrules and unsanded finish).

Jason- the best thing to do is to call Orvis and ask. Don't just ask whoever picks up the phone, ask to speak to someone who knows the rods. Then ask what they have available. Last time I checked, which was maybe 3 years ago, they sent me a list of what was available. I ended up with several blanks and some reel seats not available anywhere else.

Hay Billy - be nice ?? Ha Ha

Billy Do you have another book out ? I have one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2007 08:54AM by bill boettcher.

Mike,

I don't know either. But I know the time period when Orvis did buy some equipment for making their own rods and to my knowledge they didn't have any prior to that, but like you I'm only going on what I've been told by people who with the companies involved. It could be that they were in fact making some of their own graphite rods prior to the late 1980's.

It probably doesn't matter for the question at hand, but for rod making history's sake I'm sure somebody would know for sure. I no longer have any idea where the people who were at Fisher are now. I do know a couple people at Orvis but they weren't there in the late 1970's.

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