I can pick up some of these fly rod blanks pretty cheap. Does anyone know anything about them? I am not looking for a top shelf rod.

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

I didn't think they sold the blanks, I thought they only did factory rods on their blanks!! I have not tried them but if I remember they are a unsanded blank!!

I have built a lot of rods on Diamondback blanks and they are some of the finest and lightest rods on the market.
The diamondback are quality sanded and finished blanks that build up into excellent rods.

Roger

From the follwing note that I found on the net, it appears that the Diamondback production equipment had been purchased by another company in late 2009.

" Last post: Dec 17, 2009
New Developments at McFarland Rod Company. ... Congratulations on acquiring the Diamondback blank rolling equipment. Being able to roll "

So, I do know that it had been some time sine I had last built on a Diamondback blank - when they were available, they were very fine blanks - strong and light.

Roger

I built a 9' 6 wt on a diamondback blank several years ago. Excellent blank lightweight med fast action.

The Diamondback All American series were an entry level blank, but a decent quality blank. They were made in Vermont. Diamondback was a stand alone company that made finished rods and blanks. Their most notable stuff were the Classic Trouts and Diamondglass series of finished rods and blanks. Those blanks, the ones made in Vermont are real nice stuff to build on. They also made blanks for other companies, for example, some of Cabela's finished rods and blanks were made by Diamondback. Diamondback was bought by Cortland Line Company several years back. Cortland did keep the Vermont operation going for several years and then they tried to move the factory to Cortland NY. When the move deal fell through, the Vermont factory closed and all the equipment was sent to New York, where it sat for a few years and then was purchased by Mike McFarland. It was really a shame to see Diamondback go down the tubes. Cortland still owns the Diamondback name and any rods sold under that name are being made in China. This also goes for the newer line of Diamondglass blanks, the blue ones, the blanks and components are being made in China, then shipped to the USA to be built out.
Another classic American business sent overseas. Those All American blanks are a great blank for the price, the finished rods retailed for about 200 if memory serves me. If you can lay your hands on one, the Classic Trouts are sweet dry fly rods, very similar to a Winston WT or Scott G series in their tapers.