WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:10 am

I know this is a reel collectors site but I figured there might be someone with an older big game rod in bad or unrepairable shape kicking around that might just have one of these butts on it that they would like to sell ? I have an old Harnell # 580 with a straight Aftco aluminum butt with the Varmac RS-6-H reel seat on it. Some one re did it with Aftco big foot guides and a bunch of ugly colored threads on it !! I had a good friend that runs Turner's Custom Rods
" http://turnerscustomrods.com " Re do the rod using those same Aftco big foot guides so it would handle Giant Bluefin Tuna but he made it look like an original Harnell. It came out beautiful and I know those guides aren't correct for the rod but I would like to use it Tuna fishing next season and would like a bent butt to attach to it so I can fight a fish from the rod holder. Please let me know if you or some one you know might have one. You can PM me or just leave a reply and I will get back to you. Thanks for looking !!! John P.S. you can see my rod under "restorations" on Turner's website.

Midway Tommy D · Post by **Midway Tommy D** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:54 pm

The rod turned out really NICE!

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 2:16 pm

Midway Tommy D wrote:The rod turned out really NICE! :cool

Thanks I really liked it and as I said guides aren't correct but the older Mildrum guides seem a little bit lighter duty especially when fighting a fish out of the rod holder !! It will be nice to use a rod that's a bit "old time" !!! Hope some one has an old bent butt laying around. John

Sharkpro789 · Post by **Sharkpro789** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 3:43 pm

Rod looks sweet! Have to love those old harnells i collect them!

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:29 pm

Sharkpro789 wrote:Rod looks sweet! Have to love those old harnells i collect them!

Thanks !!! I want to catch a Giant on this one ! I also collect them I have around 10 of them 4 are big game the rest smaller boat rods and one really neat old surf rod bait casting type with about a 2 foot wood butt. My buddy from Turner's custom rods also rebuilt an old surf rod into a neat little bait rod for Haddock and another that's mounted to a Nep-Tuna cradle with a Penn 500 Jigmaster in it. PM me your email if you want some pictures. John

Tightlines666 · Post by **Tightlines666** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:36 pm

I'don't love to see some pictures. I am just getting into rid wrapping.. and have my shop just about set up. I also bought a rod restoration book, and have 3 saltwater rod's (a HI leper colony 1920/30s era Calcutta 80 unlimited class, a 1950s era Harrell fiberglass boat rod, and a 195 0s era Monty bamboo w/double agate guides) I am considering restoring. I may start with the Monty. There is alot of good info out there, but it would be nice to have some of it here on Reel Talk.

Best of luck on your vintage rod restoration work.

John

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:54 pm

Tightlines666 wrote:I'don't love to see some pictures. I am just getting into rid wrapping.. and have my shop just about set up. I also bought a rod restoration book, and have 3 saltwater rod's (a HI leper colony 1920/30s era Calcutta 80 unlimited class, a 1950s era Harrell fiberglass boat rod, and a 195 0s era Monty bamboo w/double agate guides) I am considering restoring. I may start with the Monty. There is alot of good info out there, but it would be nice to have some of it here on Reel Talk.

Best of luck on your vintage rod restoration work.

John

PM me your email address as I don't know how to post pic's here. I will take a few pictures in the morning and send them to you. John

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:32 am

This is the rig that I want the Aftco bent butt with the Varmac RS-6-H reel seat on it for. It's an old retied Harnell # 580 rod with an early Penn international 130 reel on it and the same Aftco butt on it as I am looking for only straight version we up graded to Aftco big foot guides instead of using the Mildrums for more strength. I am going to spool reel with 200 lb Dacron line toped wit 100 yds of 200 lb mono. Can't wait to see it bent !! John T.

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 7:13 pm

Well I didn't find a Varmac RS-6-H reel seat with an aluminum bent butt in it I found two of them !!!!! $300 for two old Harnell Royal Vl rods that have been retied but they are a matching set. I guess my rod tying guy is gonna get busy soon. here are a few pics.
I will have them wrapped in the green like the Royal series were.

Tightlines666 · Post by **Tightlines666** » Sat Mar 05, 2016 10:25 pm

Score!

Those should be great builds. Love to see the results.

BTW...
The magic mailman paid me a visit today...

Can't wait to try my first restoration.

54bullseye · Post by **54bullseye** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 6:23 am

What's going to be first restoration a big game rod or smaller bamboo ? Good luck! John T.

WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat

Re: WTB= Old style Aftco aluminum bent butt with Varmac RS-6-H reel seat