Does anyone have any experience with the 'natural stone' inserts offered in nickle silver guides?... That's the closest thing I can find to new, never used 'agate-like' inserts.

Are the natural stone inserts as tough as the agate guides?...or prone to damage / cracking, etc? Are they even the same caliber material? Is that a fair comparison putting the stone inserts in the same category as the old agate inserts? Or are they just machined common rocks trying to compete with a superior material?

For that matter, are the original agate inserts just another rock? Or are they a jem of some type?

And does anyone have a source for new, genuine agate inserts (not red plastic) in the nickle silver guides?

Is there a stone or agate insert available in a stainless guide?

Brent, Angler's Workshop and Angler's Roost both carry agate guides. I suspect that Mudhole may also carry some.

Natural agates are formed from volcanic processes. Agates can be cracked especially when they are cut and formed into rings for guides. They are also heavier than most guides. As a stripping guide on a fly rod, this extra weight will not have too large an effect. They are not cheap. I hope this helps.

Mike Blomme

Agate is just microcrystalline quartz with color patterns in it. It's a common natural semi precious rock, but it can also be manmade to get a reliably repeatable color pattern. It's like sapphires, you can buy natural ones or man made ones. They are made of the same material, just one came from the ground already made and will have variations not present in a manmade material produced in a factory.

I've only seen nickel silver agate guide frames, but I haven't a clue if there's stainless ones. The people listed on the left have agate guides, I've seen them listed on at least a couple of their sites. Mudhole and Anglers Workshop to name two.

Thanks Mike, Carl,.. that's great information. I sure appreciate it.

I know it adds weight, and they're expensive (new or vintage). But there's nothing quite like a nickle silver agate guide to set off a nice vintage restoration. It makes a 'great' rod into an 'awesome' rod. I keep telling myself 'there's just not that many guides on a rod!' to justify the expense! I've transplanted the vintage guides to another rod, but I have a couple of really nice rods that would be worth the expense of new guides. So its on my 'bucket list' to restore one with all new agate guides.

There's still the problem of what to do with the the tip-top. I could put on a vintage tip-top, or a stainless one, but may not get a good match that way. I'll check out those sources; maybe they sell the tip-tops as well.

I've grown to appreciate the full spectrum... the rod full of history with lots of fishing stories (that's better off left untouched - especially if the history is known)... to a full up restoration that's good as (or even better than) new. And I've even grown to appreciate the old relics for that 'rustic' look, that you couldn't restore if you wanted to ( I know.. that's sick... I have a buddy that would rather have an old rusty gas pump than an expertly restored one; guess that's rubbing off). I keep telling him they'll be no rust in heaven! Anyway, the full restoration is where my heart is.

Thanks again guys.

Generally -
agate = natural stone (crystalline quartz)
agatine = reconstituted (pressed) agate

You will also find glass inserts - lots of bamboo rods were made with them.

In addition to those sources already mentioned Arcane Components and Golden Witch also offer n/s framed guides. If I recall correctly
PacBay has new stainless steel / pvd coated 'agate' guides as well

Thanks Ken, There sure are some beautiful products out there. I've checked out all the sources suggested and there are some real possibilities.