Krash
Member
Here's a fun story.
12 years ago, I was on a Boy Scout campout with my middle son getting ready for out 12 day outing at Philmont ranch. We parked at the Santa Fe ski area and hiked in 7 miles to Spirit Lake which is at 10,300 ft. New Mexico was in the middle of a drought so the lake was receded about 25 feet. We were looking around, jumping from log to log, when I saw a fishing rod sticking out of the mud. I pulled it out and cleaned it up. It was about 5' long and did not have a handle. I figured some poor guy lost it while casting. As I looked at it, it seemed to have multiple joints in it so I pulled it apart and it broke up into 6" sections. Maybe it was a backpacking rod.
The only marking was the Passport logo. I went home and looked it up and it was from the 50's sold by Abercrombie and Fitch, made by Phillips. Looking further, the sites say there were only 100 made and complete sets go for $300-$700. Cool. I just stuck it in a drawer and forgot it.
Fast forward about 10 years, 2 years ago I found it again and decided to investigate. I created a logon to a fly fishing site and posted it. I got a couple of responses, like some collector was going to want it and put it on mebay. Didn't do it. Back into the drawer.
So, just last week, a guy emails me out of the blue and asks if I still have it. He had bought one at an antique store in Pennsylvania to use fishing the small streams in his area but found that the section with the Passport logo had been repaired and was questioning its stability. He went out looking for parts and found me ... because there aren't any anyplace else. All the known survivors are complete sets in someone's collection.
He asks how much I want for it and, me being weird and all, I said I didn't want money but asked if he wanted to barter. I asked if he was a woodworker and said I was interested in some bowl turning stock. He said he wasn't but he had done some. I said I was interested in some PA local wood maybe 12x12x5. He was totally down with finding some wood for me and has been scouting around his area amongst the multiple mills looking for something special. I am just so glad that I found someone that wants to actually use this rod instead of hanging it on a wall. I keep telling him not go overboard and spend too much because it's just a little fishing rod. Here's one chunk he got from a coworker's father.
Spalted maple maybe??
This guy is so excited to be visiting all these wood places and finding some nice wood that it has been a blast just communicating with him. I consider the rod his now and almost could care less what he sends me because of the relationship. He even wants to be my PA wood connection!
I love interfacing with people from other areas and becoming friends even though we've never laid eyes on each other, like George and Ed. It makes this hobby so much richer.
I'll keep you posted on whatever he sends. I can't wait!
12 years ago, I was on a Boy Scout campout with my middle son getting ready for out 12 day outing at Philmont ranch. We parked at the Santa Fe ski area and hiked in 7 miles to Spirit Lake which is at 10,300 ft. New Mexico was in the middle of a drought so the lake was receded about 25 feet. We were looking around, jumping from log to log, when I saw a fishing rod sticking out of the mud. I pulled it out and cleaned it up. It was about 5' long and did not have a handle. I figured some poor guy lost it while casting. As I looked at it, it seemed to have multiple joints in it so I pulled it apart and it broke up into 6" sections. Maybe it was a backpacking rod.
The only marking was the Passport logo. I went home and looked it up and it was from the 50's sold by Abercrombie and Fitch, made by Phillips. Looking further, the sites say there were only 100 made and complete sets go for $300-$700. Cool. I just stuck it in a drawer and forgot it.
Fast forward about 10 years, 2 years ago I found it again and decided to investigate. I created a logon to a fly fishing site and posted it. I got a couple of responses, like some collector was going to want it and put it on mebay. Didn't do it. Back into the drawer.
So, just last week, a guy emails me out of the blue and asks if I still have it. He had bought one at an antique store in Pennsylvania to use fishing the small streams in his area but found that the section with the Passport logo had been repaired and was questioning its stability. He went out looking for parts and found me ... because there aren't any anyplace else. All the known survivors are complete sets in someone's collection.
He asks how much I want for it and, me being weird and all, I said I didn't want money but asked if he wanted to barter. I asked if he was a woodworker and said I was interested in some bowl turning stock. He said he wasn't but he had done some. I said I was interested in some PA local wood maybe 12x12x5. He was totally down with finding some wood for me and has been scouting around his area amongst the multiple mills looking for something special. I am just so glad that I found someone that wants to actually use this rod instead of hanging it on a wall. I keep telling him not go overboard and spend too much because it's just a little fishing rod. Here's one chunk he got from a coworker's father.
Spalted maple maybe??
This guy is so excited to be visiting all these wood places and finding some nice wood that it has been a blast just communicating with him. I consider the rod his now and almost could care less what he sends me because of the relationship. He even wants to be my PA wood connection!
I love interfacing with people from other areas and becoming friends even though we've never laid eyes on each other, like George and Ed. It makes this hobby so much richer.
I'll keep you posted on whatever he sends. I can't wait!
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