Hardy Jock Scot Taper - paul.blakley

The search is over ............
After several begging e-mails , visits to the Hardy factory and numerous
pleading letters/e-mails and telephone calls to various parties 'we'
have at last that most elusive of casting rod tapers.
The Hardy Jock Scot rod was  produced with two tips and a
casting handle(pistol grip type) with a detachable trigger (if one
should wish to cast without one ) and with a spanner/wrench for locking
in the reel,a Hardy Jock Scot Multiplier if you could afford one !My
1938 Hardy Catalogue lists the price for the rod when new at circa £7 UK
sterling(say $10 US at todays rate and the reel was about the same
money).One such rod
complete with the matching Jock Scot reel was sold as
recently as last year by Mr Codella for about $2500 US if my memory
serves me correct to a collector from Singapore.I know this because I
tried to get Mr Codella to measure the taper( after having spotted the
rod in his most excellent catalogue ) ,but alas at the time I had
written he had already shipped the rod to Singapore!
The two tips supplied with the rod were made of 'Palakona'cane ( heat
treated bamboo , most Brit rods around and before this time were never
heat treated )and they were marked as 'heavy' for casting weights upto
1/2oz and 'light' for casting weights of 1/4 oz.The rod was first
produced ( to the best of my knowledge and with the assistance of a
Hardy catalogue )in 1938 with the last rod being made circa 1950.......I
think ?
The tapers herein are reproduced courtesy of a Mr Masyuki ( Jerry )Iwata
of Tokyo ( a hobbyist bamboo rod restorer and bamboo rod fisher )from a
1948 example . 'Jerry' recently 'pipped' me on e-bay and bought the rod
from a fellow Brit at a very very low price ( why didn't I bid more ?
).Anyhow ,that said and with a big thankyou to 'Jerry' and his
micrometer ,  here are the dimensions he has sent 'us'.

All dimensions being measured over varnish are presented in thousanths
of an inch. 

The first measurement being at 2"(50mm) from the tip ring/guide (i.e
after the ring/guide , ring/guide tube and tip wrap ).
Subsequent measurements then being made at 6"(150mm) increments .
The final measurement being at a 4"(100mm) increment from it's
predecessor.
This is best explained by reviewing the following tapers dimensions
after which all should be clear ?

Hardy Jock Scot Heavy 	(1/2 Oz)		Hardy Jock Scot Light	(1/4 Oz)

2" from Tip Guide 	134				104
8"			153				123
14"			189				158
20"			204				180
26"			237				199
32"			255				220
38"			261				240
44"			288				259
50"			300				286
54"			326				296

 Total Rod length being 56"for each Tip ( i.e Heavy and Light )

After 54" each section is fitted with the ferrule wraps and male ferrule
to give the extra 2"(50mm) and a total tip/section length of
56"(1400mm).


The Guide/Ring Spacings(all full framed agates ) have been measured on
the original rod(s) as
follows;

Heavy Tip
132mm	178mm	210mm	245mm	280mm ( 5 Guides plus Tip )

Light Tip
135mm	175mm	215mm	245mm	285mm ( 5 Guides plus Tip ) 

If anyone should build and cast this rod please let me know what you
think?

I'll be building the rod(s)this winter for casting in the spring.

Tight lines............Paul ( we don't only make fly rods ) Blakeley .









Total rod lengths being 56"