Hardy Coarse Rods

[slaphead]

Now that they've stopped making coarse rods, would it be worth buying a Hardy rod as an investment and which one would you buy?

 

[binka]

Now that they've stopped making coarse rods, would it be worth buying a Hardy rod as an investment and which one would you buy?

It's difficult to say, if I were buying one I would buy it for wanting it to fish with.

Problem with buying for an investment is just how much, in all reality, it will realise when you want to cash it in even if it's more than what they are fetching now I can't see it being astronomically more.

The Avons are always popular and the Ultralite Avons are like hens teeth as they weren't included in the second generation Supero range.

These Specimen Float rods rarely come up and are a beautiful rod to use for barbel, chub, tench etc...

Hardy marksman 13ft Specimen Float. | eBay

 

[S-Kippy]

Now that they've stopped making coarse rods, would it be worth buying a Hardy rod as an investment and which one would you buy?

Nope....not in my opinion. Rods rarely appreciate in value. Best you might do is get your money back.

That said....if I wanted one simply because it was a Hardy and it wasn't likely they'd ever make any more then it would be one of the original Marksmans. Either the Specialist Avon or Specialist float.

 

[robtherake]

Nope....not in my opinion. Rods rarely appreciate in value. Best you might do is get your money back.

That said....if I wanted one simply because it was a Hardy and it wasn't likely they'd ever make any more then it would be one of the original Marksmans. Either the Specialist Avon or Specialist float.

My Fox Kevlar Barbel did; it's now worth double what I paid for it On balance , though, I have to admit you're right.

Edit: If anyone's looking for a Marksman 12ft Feeder (original, not the Supero, I believe) then I can probably point you in the right direction. Price (again, I'm not exactly sure) is around £175, but may be negotiable. I'll check it out next time I'm in the shop and post the model number and exact price on here.

 

[Keith M]

I have one of the 4 piece 15ft Hardy Marksman Specimen Float rods (not the supero) that they bought me when I retired but I wouldn't mind one of their Original Specialist Avon rods to go with it too.

Keith

 

[tigger]

I have one of the 4 piece 15ft Hardy Marksman Specimen Float rods (not the supero) that they bought me when I retired but I wouldn't mind one of their Original Specialist Avon rods to go with it too.

Keith

They'd be great for that small you fish Keith, although saying that i've done ok trotting with mine on a large river. The ones I have are only 11ft and surprisingly they were still good for mending the line etc. I know Steve has the slightly longer and more powerfull version which I wish i'd got also when I had the chance to!

 

[S-Kippy]

My Fox Kevlar Barbel did; it's now worth double what I paid for it On balance , though, I have to admit you're right. e.

Yes...the odd rod which gets a bit of a reputation can appreciate but we are not talking about retiring on the proceeds. The Hardy Marksmans are ( or were) terrific rods but they never really caught on so I can't see them being much of an investment. Beautiful rods to own and use though....I have a couple and there's one more in the original range I wish I'd had too.

 

[no-one in particular]

I sold a Hardy Perfection Roach a while back. It was badly damaged but I had a lot of interest in it and eventually sold it for a fair profit. In pristine restored condition these can sell for hundreds of pounds.
I took some very old cane rods into a auction last week. The first thing the auctioneer/valuer asked me, " any Hardy or Alcocks in that lot". When I told him no, he was reluctant to take them on. He did in the end as a job lot but, he was not confident of a sale. Had there been any Hardys' , he would have been onto it like a shot.
The point I am making; its all in the name and Hardy is immediately recognized and sort after by all.
I realize this might not be relevant as your probably talking about more modern stuff but in some years time who knows. I would think anything Hardy would be an investment, there's always a risk, you cannot predict what future markets will like but, with a Hardy name, less a risk than most I would think..Of course, we are talking something different here but I would have a punt on them, at worse you will get your money back one day I would think and who knows what collectors will consider a gem one day in the future.
Dunno if that helps any but it registered with me re my latest activities.

 

[trotter2]

Cant say about the coarse rods but I know the fly reels once they were made in Korea have not held there money. A lot of the late made in England stuff was purchased by the yanks, the Korea stuff there not interested.

 

[binka]

I have to admit to having a certain amount of sympathy for Hardy.

The way I see it the original Marksman rods came out at the wrong time, namely just after the banking crash and given that they were two or three years in development prior to that when money seemed to flow from every tap it resulted in a very high end product hitting the market at completely the wrong time, hence the more competitive Supero range which followed on.

It's a pity that they are leaving the Coarse market again, I fear that under the Pure Fishing banner Hardy will be unable to make an independent decision to dip back in and in all likelihood we won't be seeing another return.

From what I've seen of Pure Fishing so far that's probably a good thing because I wouldn't want to support them if they did.

 

[slaphead]

Thanks for the replies, may just have a punt on one.

 

[theoriginalpikeflyco]

Cant say about the coarse rods but I know the fly reels once they were made in Korea have not held there money. A lot of the late made in England stuff was purchased by the yanks, the Korea stuff there not interested.

About 11 years ago I went crazy one day and starting buying old fly and centrepin reels on ebay. I had decided I wanted to become a collector.

A few hardy's but actually a lot of old Allocks etc. I bought lots of these for anything from 2-10 quid with the exception of the Hardy reels which I paid around £100.

Anyway, stuff began arriving, I started stowing into bags, cupboards etc. A few months later the whole 'collector' thing was not working out as hoped. I realised that all I was doing was cluttering up the house with admittedly lovely objects but objects that I didn't just didn't cherish like I do the bits that hold memories for me, even if not deemed anything special.

Anyway, I decided to clear out. 10 day auctions on ebay. Cant remember exactly how many reels but I sold every one. Many making 5-6 times what I had paid. I ended up with over £1200 profit after ebay fees.

But guess what...

EVERY SINGLE reel was bought by 3 different and (unbelievably) unconnected buyers in the state of Texas USA!!!

 

[tigger]

I've recently aquired a supero barbel rod, I bought it without having ever really seen one and so took a gamble. The rod arrived and imo it's up there with any of my favourite rods, and that's without even using it! I tested it's strength (rated to 1.5lb test) by setting it up and tying the braid to a placcy bag with 2 1/2 lb of kitchen weights in it, it lifted them easily and took on a faultless curve. I did the same test with the quiver section of the rod but only used a 2lb weight and again it was superb. Normally I dislike duel topped/purpose rods but I have to hold my hands up and addmitt that Hardys got this rod spot on. The solid top section is so slim (as is the whole rod) it actually feels like a "slim" float rod and is designed to use for float or ledger fishing...what a rod...i'm smitten with it, and i'm very much looking forward to using it in the summer months.

 

[theoriginalpikeflyco]

Love em or hate them, Hardy make some nice rods. I've limited experience with their coarse rods and but had opportunity to fish with one for a weekend last year and it was very nice. My pockets just don't stretch to them anymore!