Parker-Hawes Fly Rods
 

8ft 5wt

9ft 8wt

Both rods have red agate stripper guides, one has an agate tip top. Both three section with extra tip. Both have wood seats with friction bands. The maker's mark is on the seat cap. They come with aluminum tubes and black fabric bags.

Made 1926-1936.

The rods are owned by a friend. The reel is mine but an old Hardy or Dingley would be more commensurate in age. I'm looking for a rod.

Good to see you back Bruce!

Are those rods yours? They're beauties for sure!
I've seen a lot of old collectible-name rods but never a Parker-Hawes. They must be about as scarce as gills on a grouse.

I've looked for a long time and never found one. Very nice Bruce

Have owned a few Hawes Rods over the years and have seen several more but these photos of the Parker-Hawes are stunning and would love to own one myself especially that 8'. It is generally believed that all of the Parker-Hawes creations were by Hiram Hawes' son Merritt, thanks for sharing them.

The Master Waterfowler Returns!

Sante', thanks for refreshing my recollection about Merritt Hawes. I too have seen or been offered original Hiram Hawes rods, wonderful craftsmanship by the way, but the Parker-Hawes rods by Merritt Hawes seem to be even more uncommon, or at least I have yet to find one that is or might be available. But the enjoyment is often in the journey, so maybe some day. Do you see any difference in craftsmanship between the Hiram and Merritt Hawes rods?

Do I understand correctly that Hiram H. worked for Leonard? Did Merritt also?

Hiram Hawes, and his brother Loman worked for Hiram Leonard, Loman was the genius behind the Leonard beveler (and later as part of the team of Thomas, Edwards & Hawes after breaking from Leonard) and Hiram Hawes the genius behind the tapers, his influence was from the tournament style casting perspective. The Hawes boys were nephews of Leonard all very capable rod smiths.

Hiram married Cora Leonard (Hiram Leonard's daughter who held many tournament casting titles on her own) and after Leonard died Cora, Hiram and Mrs Leonard all moved to Canterbury CT, I don't believe young Merritt worked at Leonard but he obviously learned at the hands of a master in his father. The numbers kind of equal out, i.e. there were probably around the same amount of rods made by Hiram as there were by Merritt according to the writings of Martin J. Keane and not a lot realistically.

An interesting history. Obviously when Parker had the opportunity to partner with Merritt Hawes for marketing and distribution of a bamboo fly rod, they chose one of the best.

Nice rods indeed
 

[QUOTE=Bruce Day;5850]An interesting history. Obviously when Parker had the opportunity to partner with Merritt Hawes for marketing and distribution of a bamboo fly rod, they chose one of the best. And the Stan Bogdan "Trout" model reel is a fine choice as well. My favorite rods were the pre-fire Leonard 3 pc. series- the 49 7 & 1/2 ft 3/2 5 wt and the popular 50DF or even the Richard Hunt series of tapers. Very interesting about the relationships between the Leonard, Hawes, Thomas and others of the long-ago now era of craftsmanship. I believe Winchester also marketed cane rods in the 1920-1930 era, have only seen one- not sure of the manufacturer. Michigan where I live gave birth to the lates Lyle Dickerson and Paul Young, I have a Paul Young 7 & 1/2 foot 2/2 "Perfectionist" made in the 1950's in Detroit when they sold at retail with bag and Champion tube for $60.00. It is a "Steinway" indeed, I use a Hardy LRH on it with a Wulff TT 4/5 line-:bowdown:

You have fine taste in bamboo sir! I owned an original Model 50 DF Hunt 8' 3 pc CA 1928 it is now making another smile. Many of the Winchester rods were made by Eustis Edwards then later by lesser makers. I too enjoy the works of your Michigander's and have owned, or own still, rods by Dickerson (7613, 8014, 8014 Guide, 8015 Guide Special, 8615, 9015, 9015 Special, 901812, 962013 and a bait caster) Young (Para 15 Deluxe KT Keller Model, Midge owned by Dody Ford (Edsel's daughter and Henry's grand daughter) a Martha Marie and Martha Marie Young's personal Perfectionist made for a 4 wt dt silk line marked in Paul Young's hand) Bob Summers model 856 and Morris Kushner's Formula B....... Love Bogdan and Hardy reels too!

http://www1.zoto.com/fishnbanjo/img/...412c9b29df.jpg

[QUOTE=Francis Morin;5925]

Bruce Day pointed out on this BBS awhile back that although the American gun craftsman is largely a thing of the past, the American rod and reel craftsman is alive and well. Here's a Bellinger reel that I bought from Al Bellinger himself at his shop last spring. Its as fine a reel as was ever made.

Grazie Senor- You are also a "cane adict"
 

I had a Morris Kushner 7' 9" 2/2 "Excelereme"- but like the Young Parabolic series, I was more atuned to the crisper casting characteristics of the pre-fire 3 pc. Leonards. My DF50 was made in about 1958, I have never yet cast a Hunt Model 50- the flamed cane and blued hardware and reel seats were so pleasing to both the eye and in hand. Morris Kushner apparently was a friend of the late MI trout/legal/flyfishing/OldCabinStill consuming UP curmudgeon extraordinaire-- John Voelker! He was mentioned in Trout Madness I believe.

I have my reels set for LH winding (from the spin casting era I guess) and I was a good friend of the late Bill Hunter, he got me both the LH Trout and the LH Steelhead Bogdan reels many years ago. Stan's son Steve, who I believe is in charge of the Company up in Nashua NH- was a USN machinists' mate and had duty in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam Era- Strange isn't it, how the very Tonkin reeds that may have later become the Garrisons and Gillums and other fine "sticks" grew stronger in the Monsoons of the Gulf area.

I also have owned a few of the Captain Mac MacChristian SeaMasters and the early Gar Wood Fin-Nors (aka- the "wedding cake" design) and have used them salmon and steelheads--also salt water work, along with the no longer made Penn reels (Senators and M stainless spool models). Now 90% of the fly reels sold by catalogue houses are made in Korea, even Abel had to move in that direction to stay profitable.

I find it interesting to compare the graphite fly rods to the cane rods as comparing a Binelli 12 gauge with black synthetic stock to a Parker DHE- both variations will peform (if set up properly) but dry fly fishing for trout with a good cane rod (and balanced reel) is like bird hunting with a good dog and a fine double (side-by-side for me)- as the late Gene Hill once wrote: "A sense of doing it right". I met Gene years ago on a Orvis book signing tour out here, we chatted about trout and salmon fishing and he told me his definition of a "Hardy" fly reel, to wit: A reel that when dropped onto large rocks in Alaska will keep on working"_ :bigbye:

I have a very few quality reels and even fewer bamboo rods, and I am in awe of Sante's fine and significant collection of bamboo fly rods. I am also in awe of Francis's knowledge and experience in these works of fine craftsmanship. Sometimes people do not realize that some of these rods and some reels are comparable in value and scarcity to the lower end of Parker shotguns.

Dave, the Bellingers are outstanding works of craftsmanship by all accounts. I'd like to handle one some day. Fine reels turn like Swiss watches. We live in interesting times with a few Bogdans still being made, the Bellingers, high end Abels, the Hardy Perfect being made again, and several more. And for rods, we have great individual makers who have taken the place of the multi person shops of the past. It only takes money ( like $2000 or so) and time ( like 1 to 2 years). Simroe is still making rods and that is a direct line to the Leonards and Hawes of the past.

I don't own a Parker-Hawes rod, maybe someday, but I can surely admire them.

I think auction results of the past decade or so will show that some of the rarest and finest cane rods have commanded prices considerably higher than the lower end of Parker shotguns . . . unless one considers grades up to B or even A to be included in the "lower end". Of course, such cane rods are as rare or rarer than a fine graded Parker.

Since my father's unexpected death in 2007, leaving us with an unsettled estate and funeral expenses for which a few rods got sold to keep us above water, I've seen prices all over the map for quality cane and quality condition Parker guns.

I also had the misfortune of having to sell off more of my rod collection, several reels and a 98% 16 VHE to defray medical expenses for kidney failure and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

I'm currently holding my own and thankful for that and for having once owned some fine specimens of rods and shotguns which paid me back when I needed it most. Both bird hunting and fly fishing have meant so much to me they both played a key role in rehabilitation just wish I felt stable enough to try the woods of October for myself and Levi my Weimaraner.........

Sante, I'm sorry to learn of your health problems. I sincerely hope you are well on the road to full recovery and will always be able to enjoy your favorite pastimes.

Best Wishes, Dean

Sante, you are recognized as a thoughtful and considerate sportsman and I wish you a successful recovery. Best wishes and fishes.

Counterfeited Parkers and Cane rods- a parallel
 

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;5949]I think auction results of the past decade or so will show that some of the rarest and finest cane rods have commanded prices considerably higher than the lower end of Parker shotguns . . . unless one considers grades up to B or even A to be included in the "lower end". Of course, such cane rods are as rare or rarer than a fine graded Parker. I concur Dean. Just as some VHE Parkers have been "counterfeited" and sold to folks (and I don't include the Pachmayr upgrades in that lot) many cane rods were also "counterfeited" and sold to the uninformed as to the 'insider info"..Case in point- the fine Jim Payne 201- a nice 8 ft. 3 pc. 2 tip rod in either 5 or 6 wt. tapers- nice dark cane, swelled butt with keeper, various styles of reel seats offered, blued Payne (not Super-Z) pinned ferrules- and in many ways similar (except for market value) to the middle to higher Heddon rods made in Dowagiac MI- A friend brought me his "Payne" 201- one tip blued ferrules, wraps intact, die straight- but not in original bag and tube- so the lack of the second full length tip, original labelled bag and tube made the rod "affordable" to him, and he had always wanted a Payne- BUT- it was a Heddon 20 with changed wraps and reel seat (Heddon like the molded screw Bakelite style, sometimes in black (like the San Francisco R.L. Winstons) sometimes in a blend of colors like a marble0- and the node spacing on the Heddons was the same as Jim Payne used- BUT the nodes had been altered (Payne nodes were always flush with the surface) and the ferrules were NOT pinned- Payne didn't glue his ferrules, he heated the cane to swell it to a tight fin and a 1/64" dia. GS through pin was inserted in the through drilled finished ferrule--You'll have the Devil's own time removing a Payne ferrule without causing damage--Must be something akin to what others have said about the always in demand for a top quality double (Parker) and a fine cane rod (Parker-Hawes, Leonard and Leonard Mills, Everett Garrison, Harold Steele Gillum, Loman Hawes) and amazing also how many of these rodsmiths had an engineering background- The great Super-Z ferrules developed and patented in 1948 by Louis Fierrabend also speaks to this, as Z is the modulus of elasticity--

Also, as Sante means "health" in French I believe, my respects to our brother PGCA member Sante and hopes for an upturn in the health situation. We are all, in some way, merely custodians of the fine shotguns, rifles, fly rods and reels, etc. that speak of the higher echelons of the sporting life.. Some day they will pass into other hands- Fate I guess!!:shock:

Dean and Francis are quite correct. I see where there is a Gillum for sale for $6700, a Dickerson for $5300 and a Paul Young Midge for $4700. Rarified levels for sure. I wasn't aware asking prices had climbed so high.

Wow- I have only seen and cast one Gillum--
 

I will share a reported story about the late Harold Steele Gillum, who was a friend of the late Jim Payne apparently. He lived in CT (Ridgefield perhaps) and like Jim Payne, was known for his meticulous finish varnish work. Someone had tipped "Pinky" Gillum off that another un-named rod maker was going to drop in for a surprise visit, hoping that "Winnie" Gillum would allow him into their home, where he had his rod shop in the basement- So "Pinky" was waiting for him. had a three inch wide painters' siding brush in his hand, dripping with varnish, and told the "visitor" that he was too busy finishing a rod to talk, to come back another day. Don't know if that is 100% true or not, but from what I have heard about Mr. Gillum, sounds about right.

The really, IMO anyway, sad thing about the great gunmakers, also the great cane rod makers and fine (Vom Hofe, MacChristian, Walker, etc.) marque reel makers is- their works of superior design and craftsmanship become of greatest value only after they pass on and are no longer making them. :shock:

I certainly like this thread.......
 

Thanks to all who have contributed and posted pictures! I have been a cane rod lover since I was 17 years old and I cast my first rod in about 1965 when I was about 12. I own a few dozen and that is not very many when you consider I have been collecting and fishing cane rods for almost 35 years. As you guys probably know there is nothing like a fine bamboo rod in the hand when you are on the water. It is a lot like carrying a fine Parker in the field, it just adds depth and a certain sweetness to an already fine day. I cannot think of a more beautiful rod than a Parker Hawes. I really like Hawes tapers and I too hope to add a Parker -Hawes to my collection. My memory tells me that the ad in sportsman magazine that I have saved introduced the Parker- Hawes partnership and rod in 1929 or so and that was just before the crash because as we know the Parker gun was sold to Remington in 1933-34. The Parker - Hawes rods were sold only for a short time and in small numbers. They are tough to find and tougher in good or better original condition. I must admit too I buy and sell vintage tackle, I try to make a living doing so. I get much satisfaction putting a fine rod or reel in someones hand knowing that the connection to hand craftmanship and history is being continued. Thanks & Best,Paul

EW Edwards made Winchester ......
 

"Wandrod" 7ft 2pc 2tip rod circa 1923-24 Unbelievably light in the hand. I have had many, many rods in hand some as fine but none finer than this. Yes I choose to leave this rod in unrestored condition. It is stamped on the nickel silver buttcap "Winchester made in USA 6173 " The rod sold 60.00 in 1924. The price of a model 21 a few years later
The red wraps and maroon tipping and very dark cane suggest this rod to be among the earliest of this model it is not signed by EW Edwards but to me clearly shows his hand. I am lucky to have it come into my posession. Oh I hope the picture shows up as I am a rookie on our newer site!

Paul, is that an agate tip guide? That must really slow the action when using that tip.

Dean

Yes Dean, an agate it is, It was customary at the time to offer agate tip tops as an option and sometimes standard to have one agate and one wire or nickel silver tip top on quality rods. Agate was the smoothest and hardest (though fragile) available at the time. I am sure it did effect the action on this featherweight. The lower end rods had untempered wire of brass, plated or not, nickel silver, or untempered steel. the constant movement of line through the tip top ring often wore grooves that chewed up the silk lines and ruined them. The Perfection tip company Denver, Colorado, came out with a smooth tempered steel tip top that reduced this significantly and by the late
1920's their tip tops were used by many many companies on their rods. Winchester had a "roto tip" that was under their patent, came out in 1931 or so very nice on heavier rods but still heavy on a delicate rod such as this. Best,Paul

Agate- tip tops and first guides
 

Very astute observation Mr. Romig- I have an early Paul Young 8 & 1/2 foot 2/2- one tip is about 1/64" thicker than the other and it originally had a red agate tip guide. Mr. N is 110% right about wire guides and tip tops chewing up lines, especially the older braided silk ones-- I had Bob Sommers up in the TC area (near our cottage at Boyne) replace that with a Perfection tip top, and he also replaced the heavier agate first or stripper guide on that rod with a later style compatible with the new lines. I use Wulff TT lines on all my cane rods. Some Hardy Perfects also had agate ring line guards- they would often break while contained inside the ring--one way, amongst many known to the cognoscenti here, to date a cane rod is by the guides, including the first and tip guide, also the wraps and the ferrules. I believe Paul Young and Everett Garrison were the first premiere rod builders of that era to adopt the Fierrabend Super-Z ferrules in the late 1940's-- Young rods are "Steinways" IMO- only one mistake, again IMO- on a few super light sticks he built- and son Jack later re-offered, he tried aluminum ferrules- Bob Sommers has replaced several sets of those for clients with the far superior Super-Z's, again, IMO.. I'm down to about 10 good cane rods in the 7 to 8 &1/2 ft. lengths in both two and three piece- some pre-fire Leonards, a few Grangers (both Goodwin and later W&M) several Merrick R.L. Winstons and a Gary Howells (who was to R.L. Winsto9n as Bob Sommers was to Paul Young), but the very last rod I would ever part with is the Paul Young Perfectionist 7 7& 1/2 ft. 2/2 5 wt.- Like a Marttin HD-45 guitar or a Parker AAHE 20 bore- a true "Classic" that also performs to "Perfection"--:cool:

My first fly fishing in 1957 was with a 9.5' cane rod with an old Pflueger saltrout reel(which is on my dresser upstairs) that had two tips, one with and agate tip, an ancient silk line and old stiff gut leaders and absolutely ancient flies that quickly disintegrated. I will never forget the first time I trundled down Hummer Lake Rd to Rattlesnake Creek that ran through Kowalski's pasture and into Beckmans Lake with my rod and wicker creel. Not ever. I had my other grandfathers Southbend cane flyrod for years also but have neither now. I know where the first one is, but haven't access to it just yet....not forgetting about it though. I think I'll get it someday. Too bad I broke one tip in the tailgate of our 1959 Ford stationwagon in about 1963 while using it for, of all things, night time bullhead fishing on a lake at the intersection of Seymour Lk and Sashabaw Rds.... funny how you don't forget some things, eh?

Sashabaw Road- sounds like "Up in Michigan"--
 

I had a older Montague "Rapidan" 9 foot 3 pc two tipped rod and a Pflueger Medalist reel with the old silk DT line- that was my first fly rod when I was a teenager. I left the reel with the line spooled tightly on the dash of my 1951 Chevy coupe, we were "Up in Michigan" fishing the main branch of the storied AuSable River-went into Grayling to eat and buy more flies- the summer sun welded the silk line tight, I had over-dressed it with flotant wax apparently-so I borrowed a friend's Pflueger green SalTrout reel and used it- back then I didn't know line weight or WF versus DT from beans. It took the trips with the man who left me the Paul Young rod I treasure to really get into the full Mantra of dry fly fshing- just as there is a right way and a wrong way to walk into a gun dog rock solid on point, there are right and wrong ways to fly fish, and strangly enough, you can still kill your bird(s) over points with the wrong approach to the dog, as you can also catch trout with the wrong approach to the water (sometimes)--

I recall a hunting trip about 28 years ago this coming early November-the station wagon you mentioned with the "electric chopper window" which has shortened many a fine fly rod indeed- My old now long gone but never forgotten Setter "Molly" was in her prime as a grouse dog (and not too shabby on pheasants either) and then my steady bird hunting partner, Lea Rogers and I were up near Rodney hunting a favorite cover. He drove that day, his wife let him take the big Ford deluxe station wagon with the plastic fake wood trim, and we had the travel crate for Molly in the back- Lea was in the advertising racket and had a real blinger of a week I guess, hoped a Saturday after birds would unwind him- I was in good form, it was almost my birthday and my work week welding at the ConPowCampbell plant went very well- he picked me up after early breakfast, we pack lunch and water for Molly and headed up to our "hotspot"- He drove the station wagon down an old two track, we left her out and uncased the guns (we both shot doubles, a 20 for him and a 12 for yours truly- both grouse, woodcock and pheasant were legal--

Long story made a bit shorter, I shot two grouse, missed two woodcock and took a big Rooster pheasant, although he needed the second barrel- Lea had "fanned" on seven solid points on grouse in a row- we took a long lunch break- sandwiches, coffe, apples, Purina and water for Molly and a nap in the shade of some oaks- refreshed, we went back to the hunt- I finally connected on a woodcock (I'm NOT a good shot on timberdoodles, or snipes either) and again, Lea went like the Detroit Lions last season- one goose-egg after another. It's often best to remain silent when your partner is wound up like a top, when he blows easy shots over points, or every backcast puts his Royal Coachman into the trees--

On the way back to the car, right in the center of the two track in front of us, Molly locked up on a point- solid as a fireplug- heavy brush on both sides, almost like a gutter ball in bowling, and I told my partner to take the shot- he walked in and kicked up the biggest grouse I have ever seen, also the dumbest apparently- a right or left banking turn would have put him inescape cover faster than a heartbeat- he flew right straight towards the car, Lea was so intent on making the shot he didn't see it, he hammered the bird from behind with both loads, the bird crashed into the back of the station wagon, and in slow-motion, all the glass in the rear window shattered like ice crystals and fell to the ground, making a Libby-Owens-Ford style "string of pearls" for the trophy grouse- it was a long, cold and quiet trip back home that afternoon.:duck:

For those who would like to know a bit more about bamboo fly rods I have a book that came out and began shipping on Monday it can be seen at http://www.whitefishpress.com/bookdetail.asp?book=108
I also have a website called Fishnbanjo's Place where the entire Cracker Barrel series can be read it is at http://fishnbanjosplace.yuku.com/directory there are more segments on the website than in the book. Regards.........

I purchased an Orvis Battenkill split tonkin bamboo rod in the mid 60s. It has a broken tip and would like to have it"repaired" I believe that would involve having a new tip made. Whom would y'all suggest ask to do that??
David

Orvis, and I understand they are reasonable in cost. We'll see if Sante and Paul have the same recommendation.

I think the reasonable prices for Orvis sections kind of dried up with Ron White retiring from the head rodmaker position. What Battenkill is it? Perhaps I may be able to find you a tip......

Your Orvis rod....
 

Hello Sir,I agree with Bruce, Orvis has a great customer service and repair department probably the Oldest fine Bamboo rod company in the country in continuous service, in both building rods and repairing and refurbishing bamboo rods. They will fix it right and for a reasonable price. Best,Paul

If Orvis can't do it, try Bob Summers in Traverse City, MI. He apprenticed with Paul young many years ago. One of the great american craftsmen, and a generous supporter of conservation and the NRA.
http://rwsummers.com/index.html

All this talk of fly fishing and fine tackle has made me think of all the wonderfull times I had as a kid on the North East river in Maryland with my fly rod and hand tied flies.I still collect rods and reels but just cannot bring myself to cause discomfort to a fish anymore.Same thing with hunting and I know it is a little strange but I just cannot bring myself to take a life anymore,even the spiders and bugs in my house get a pass.I don't object to eating game collected by someone else though.I miss hunting and fishing but I guess I have had my limit of killing.I still like to read about others doing these things though.

Robert, you should "hunt" with me.

I hunt but seldom kill. This year, all I did was take a gun for a walk; but to tell the truth, I wasn't all that interested in harvesting, just hunting. I was in the woods deer hunting just to be there IF my brother's grand-daughter shot her first deer (she is 16). I even joked that I wasn't going to load the gun.

I bird hunted a week, bear hunted a week and deer hunted part of a week, all on the same trip to PA....... nothing. Rained (actually it more than rained) for bird hunting, bear season... only 3 were shot within walking distance of camp but I never saw them and deer (I saw three..... shhhhhh) didn't get shot either.

I still like getting in the woods and talking to other hunters. This year was unusual in that I came across seven youth hunters in the woods. They were not together, just happened to be on the same mountain. It has been a long time since I have seen that many young hunters in the woods or fields! The sights and especially the Fall aromas are wonderful. And, I get some much needed exercise too.

Some of my tree hugging friends give me grief about hunting but I explain to them that hunting isn't killing. I am almost to the point of hunting with a camera but there is something about walking with a fine old gun that makes the "walk" even more enjoyable.

When I was young, I guess I was a meat hunter but now its more about the experience and the memories of days gone by. I can't help but remember all the good times I had with friends and family that are no longer around. In a few years when I am not around, maybe my grand-niece will think back fondly to the times she hunted with me, I can only hope.

re: Parker-Hawes Fly Rods

Bruce Day please contact me regarding these rods.

www.niemieraflyrods.com
john@niemieraflyrods.com

For those who are interested, John is a younger rodmaker of growing reputation and is doing some fine work. He has a relationship with Eric Clapton, who is a sportsman of some renown and sometimes plays a little guitar. Besides, John is an Eagle Scout and a Parker shooter.

Like the Parker Reproduction and the Parker made by Connecticut shotguns, we may not have seen the last of the Hawes or Parker-Hawes rods.

The cane rods on Johns website look very nice and seem very reasonably priced. Good to see more people making fine cane rods.

UP for all this fly rod discussion.

I just came across this post. I am a collector of fine vintage split bamboo fly rods and a fanatical fly fisherman. Forgive me for saying this Bruce, but the Parker Hawes rods do not command a high price on the market. They are generally considered somewhat below a good Granger or Wright and McGill which were production rods and semi-hand built. Those that I have seen for sale usually sell for between $300 and $400, far below collectible fly rods by Leonard, Dickerson, Howells and others.

I have never owned or cast one so I can't personally say one way or the other, but the market hasn't been kind to them. I consider the Leonard the Parker of the split bamboo fly rods and have a fine collection of them. I fish them almost exclusively.

I don't know how the marriage of Parker and Hawes came about, but Parker did not choose a top maker in my opinion. The only claim to fame is the association with Parker. A fact that the vintage fly fishing market cares nothing about.