I have this Walton Powell Fly rod model DF73 5-6-7wt. I was looking to get some more info on this rod as I am looking to sell it. Heard the model that I have is very valuable and rare. Thanks.

Nick

you want to get in touch with the expert, Rich Morrison
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/3209-12028. .. rrison.htm

Nick, Welcome to the Forum!

I have a DF73 Powell. It is a nice, two piece rod with a stainless steel ferrule, ala Garcia Conolon (they made the blank for Powell). The feel is different than the typical Conolon. My recollection is a comfortable casting rod, but it has been quite a while since I used it. Try it with a 5 weight and 6 weight line - the one you like the best is the correct line.

Value? probably not more than $200. I paid less for mine. Similar Powells have been offered on eBay , but often the seller wanted $300+. At that price they sat there. Your rod will return the most value if you take it to the water and fish it. Really. For the money you will get, it will be hard to buy a rod that casts as well. Keep the ferrule clean and it should last a long time.

Tom

I could not agree more about the loss of knowledge of the pre-corporate Powell. That is one of my big motivators in maintaining the website Rockthief posted a link to. I think you may have sold this rod on ebay? The one that sold recently on eBay was not a Conolon blank. 99% or Walt's glass rods were. But I have seen a few over the years that are on Phillipson blanks. If you still have this rod it would be great to see some photos. Send me a PM and I'll pass along my email address if you need it - it is also on my website.
Rich

Yes - Walt and Bill greatly admired each others work. I wish I knew what sort of numbers we were talking about. I've seen a total of two of Walt's rods on the Phillipspn blanks. I bought this one here on this forum. It's the only Walton glass I've ever seen with a glass spigot ferrule. It's a wonderful rod.

That must ABSOLUTELY be a wonderful rod. I am jealous. Well, a little - mostly I am very happy for you. It is the hands of someone who can truly appreciate this collaboration of two unquestionable [align=]master[/align] rod builders of the 20th century.

Sincerely,
cy

My early Orvis Fullflex (7'6") rolled by Phillipson to Orvis specifications is just as good as the 2 pre-Johnson and 2 Johnson era (a 400 & an 800) Phillipson glass rods I have. It is slightly deeper flex - a bit more of a boo feel, I love all 5 as much as I love my Phillipson cane, Kosmic, my Leonard Catskill, Granger cane and my Winston, Sage, Scott, Powell, Leonard (Texas era) and 2 Hal Bacon graph rods - one which was built on a Winston blank. My favorite 15 rods of the 29 I own.

And the remainder are no slouches: including an original Wright and McGill Trailmaster glass, a Dave Lewis glass, a Cortland 444LTD cane, 2 Edwards cane, Thomas and Thomas cane, Payne graphite, and Leonard Golden Shadow graphite. Those are my 2nd favorites of the lot.

The remaining rods are the close 3rd, including a Red Wing cane, Redington graph, a Gen II S-Curve Wright and McGill graph composite, Hardy Greys graph, and Orvis graph.

Conolon is where most of Walt's components came from ... as you would expect. I don't know exactly when or how many Phillipson blanks he built. I'm sure the steel spigot ferrules were all over the shop as were the hook keepers. It stands to reason that he would build the blank with what was at hand. Jim at Raptor Rod seemed to think my Phillipson with the glass ferrule was probably a bit of an experiment to see if he liked it. The rod on eBay matches mine in cosmetics and finishing exactly ... including the hook keeper ... with the exception of the ferrule. And the one on eBay and mine are the only Walton glass I've seen with the silver decal vs the white. They decals were also placed on the rods in a slightly different location (vs the Conolon rods) on both of these rods.

Bill's own rods found in his catalogs do not always match the description. There are Eponites marked Eponite and some not marked from the same 50's era - maybe same year. Some rods have an extra number or letter, perhaps a quirk left from his Granger Victory days - and this letter or number may have a meaning only known to Bill. There is even more variability found in his OEM rods.

My Orvis Fullflex, well documented to have been built on a Phillipson blank to Orvis specs, uses a glass over glass spigot ferrule - possibly installed by Orvis or, possibly, Bill. I think that the detective work required to unravel this Winston ferrule anomaly will catch many Red Herring before a Rainbow leaps high across the sky and we maybe find the pot of gold where it ends.

You are correct. The ferrule is a glass sleeve ferrule not a spigot. I used a mixed description in saying "a glass over glass spigot ferrule". It is one of the finest casting tools I own.

Thanks for bringing that forward. I would not wish for anyone to be confused by my incorrect wording.

My google search lead me here.. but the 'no photos in this post' needed to be improved upon.
Here is one example I have :

Both these rods will be seeing plenty of action this year. More to come.

This gold tube definitely has a sticker at the top that says DF76.
A keen eye will catch every detail - bulldog taught us all that.
One sock is MIA at this time.
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