After a phone call to Sage a while back, they did confirm that the last digit
is the year of manufacture on these early 4 numbered fiberglass rods.
This is a factory model Sage Fiberglass SFL 789 - made in 1982.
Here is another fiberglass rod serial number : C2151 means rod # 215 of the year 1981
,
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This special 8ft 3in 6wt 4pc was never made - or was it ? note:no serial number
It was made by an employee who was bored... hey, thanks for making it.
(I choose to use a flashlight so to not scare that rod. It knows it's a secret.
Once this rod realizes it is out of the tube.. ugh.. if it see's daylight it wants to go so bad!)
I also own the 686 blank rod that was mentioned above bought for a buck and a half.
The rod is a little wonky to one side and has a name on it - but it is Sage glass.
That gold seat shows the signs of the times... whoops.
And another blank rod - first one I ever bought from that house turned shop in CoSp,Colorado.
This is the small mouth bass rod of all Sage glass rods.