TACKLE 

 FERRULES 



EARLY American rods were " spliced " and 

 many British rods are now made that way. 

 That is, the end of the joints or pieces are 

 fashioned to fit snugly together and the joining is done 

 by lashing with a piece of thong, wire or adhesive tape. 

 The British have some strange, and to us almost primi- 

 tive, ideas on ferrules. The best makers have some 

 locking device such as a hook on the male ferrule to 

 engage with a corresponding projection on the female 

 or when they do use a suction or friction ferrule they 

 add a dowel or pin which American rod makers dis- 

 carded several generations ago. 



The best American ferrules are serrated or split. 

 The serrated ferrule is crown-shaped so that each point 

 rests on the flat face or angle of a bamboo rod. 

 Theoretically, at least, this makes the change between 

 resilient wood and unyielding metal less abrupt and 

 eases the strain at the joints the vulnerable part of 

 a rod. The split ferrule works on the same principle. 



Good American ferrules are made of German silver, 

 tempered and retempered until they have almost the 

 hardness of steel. They are shouldered to avoid un- 

 necessary cutting away of wood and the female ferrule 



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