I love old carp rods, and have just acquired a very nice pair of rods with Ritchie McDonalds name on them.
They are custom built by Vic Gibson - brown / olive green blanks,12' 2 ¼ test curve, Fuji SIC's - 25mm butt, 8 rings in total. Black 18mm Fuji DPS reel seats (upside down, the way Ritchie liked to have them). Full duplon handles, and chevrons. You can see pictures of them here when they were briefly on ebay.
LINKY POO™ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127842558375?_trksid=p4375194.c102726.m162918
The handles had a few minor dents in the duplon, but I've got rid of them using the old 'kettle of boiling water trick', and the overall condition for their age is really good.
They both have 19489 on them which indicates to me they were made in April 1989.
The guy I got them from said he had asked around and been told they are Harrison rods, and that they were Ritchies own rods - he got them recently from a job lot of tackle in the Feltham area near where Ritchie lived.
Now, I knew they were definitely not Harrisons as soon as I saw them. From memory the first Harrison rods were Ballistas in 1993, so that rules them out.
I found an old Arnolds add for a range with Ritchies name from 1986 which states ''kevlar reinforced spigots'' (which these have) and ''made exclusively by Tricast'' - so I'm thinking this is likely what they are.
LINKY POO™ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1669465899886335&id=358746720958266&set=a.358750487624556
I know he also had a range of rods by Normark in the early 90's, and they definitely ain't them.
So does anyone have any info on this range of rods?
And does anyone know if all the rods had chevrons with 'Ritchie McDonald' hand written on them by Vic Gibson, or is it likely that these are in fact Ritchies own personal rods?
They are custom built by Vic Gibson - brown / olive green blanks,12' 2 ¼ test curve, Fuji SIC's - 25mm butt, 8 rings in total. Black 18mm Fuji DPS reel seats (upside down, the way Ritchie liked to have them). Full duplon handles, and chevrons. You can see pictures of them here when they were briefly on ebay.
LINKY POO™ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127842558375?_trksid=p4375194.c102726.m162918
The handles had a few minor dents in the duplon, but I've got rid of them using the old 'kettle of boiling water trick', and the overall condition for their age is really good.
They both have 19489 on them which indicates to me they were made in April 1989.
The guy I got them from said he had asked around and been told they are Harrison rods, and that they were Ritchies own rods - he got them recently from a job lot of tackle in the Feltham area near where Ritchie lived.
Now, I knew they were definitely not Harrisons as soon as I saw them. From memory the first Harrison rods were Ballistas in 1993, so that rules them out.
I found an old Arnolds add for a range with Ritchies name from 1986 which states ''kevlar reinforced spigots'' (which these have) and ''made exclusively by Tricast'' - so I'm thinking this is likely what they are.
LINKY POO™ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1669465899886335&id=358746720958266&set=a.358750487624556
I know he also had a range of rods by Normark in the early 90's, and they definitely ain't them.
So does anyone have any info on this range of rods?
And does anyone know if all the rods had chevrons with 'Ritchie McDonald' hand written on them by Vic Gibson, or is it likely that these are in fact Ritchies own personal rods?
In reply to Post #1
Can't help you with any info I'm afraid but they're awesome
Can't help you with any info I'm afraid but they're awesome
In reply to Post #1
Definitely Tri cast blanks. Believe Vic Gibson made rods for a few shops. Penge Angling being one of them. I believe his rods were sold through there. A mate of mine had a set of 2.5lb test Tri cast built to that spec..Aspirational rods at the time. They were the reason Terry hearn as full duplon on his Rods. And the reason I love full duplon to this day. What the reasoning behind the upside down reel seat was. I'm not sure? Maybe to be diffrent?
As for them actually being Ritchie Macs rods. Only he would know? Might be worth contacting him. I know he's on insta. But don't think he's very Active. Julian Cundiff is very pally with him. Often popping up to Norton Disney where Ritchie lives. He might be able to help you out.
Definitely Tri cast blanks. Believe Vic Gibson made rods for a few shops. Penge Angling being one of them. I believe his rods were sold through there. A mate of mine had a set of 2.5lb test Tri cast built to that spec..Aspirational rods at the time. They were the reason Terry hearn as full duplon on his Rods. And the reason I love full duplon to this day. What the reasoning behind the upside down reel seat was. I'm not sure? Maybe to be diffrent?
As for them actually being Ritchie Macs rods. Only he would know? Might be worth contacting him. I know he's on insta. But don't think he's very Active. Julian Cundiff is very pally with him. Often popping up to Norton Disney where Ritchie lives. He might be able to help you out.
In reply to Post #1
Stu Arnold ran a tackle shop in Waltham Cross around that time.
He tried to take on Simpson's of Turnford (located 5 miles up the road) and their Kevin Maddocks carbon rods.
Initially he used some cheap imported blanks that weren't good (I bought some as I couldn't afford KM1's !). After that I have no idea who he bought blanks from.....I think Ritchie worked there for a while.
Tricast sold excellent blanks around that time - I had some carbon Kevlar 'Ultralights' a couple of years later (built by Bruce Ashby). Great rods.'
Stu Arnold ran a tackle shop in Waltham Cross around that time.
He tried to take on Simpson's of Turnford (located 5 miles up the road) and their Kevin Maddocks carbon rods.
Initially he used some cheap imported blanks that weren't good (I bought some as I couldn't afford KM1's !). After that I have no idea who he bought blanks from.....I think Ritchie worked there for a while.
Tricast sold excellent blanks around that time - I had some carbon Kevlar 'Ultralights' a couple of years later (built by Bruce Ashby). Great rods.'
In reply to Post #4
Yeah, I think they are definitely Tri-Casts - I've got some Ultralights, and they just have the same weight, feel, and look to them (except with the brown colour, and the reinforced spigots).
Just had a look in the book 'Ritchie on Carp - The Full story' - there is a picture of him playing a fish from March 1991 at Yateley when he infamously caught Heather & Jumbo in the same week, and they do look familiar.
The timeline matches, so I wonder if these could be the actual rods he used?
Yeah, I think they are definitely Tri-Casts - I've got some Ultralights, and they just have the same weight, feel, and look to them (except with the brown colour, and the reinforced spigots).
Just had a look in the book 'Ritchie on Carp - The Full story' - there is a picture of him playing a fish from March 1991 at Yateley when he infamously caught Heather & Jumbo in the same week, and they do look familiar.
The timeline matches, so I wonder if these could be the actual rods he used?
In reply to Post #5
He certainly was the Man, as they say in the 80s. Used to pop into Penge angling when he worked there just to be in his presence.I know he had his struggles with addiction. But he seems to be back doing what he loves.
As for the rods you've got.. only Ritchie will be able to tell you if there his or not.. but be careful. He might want them back..
If you use Facebook. Try the old school Carp society page. Some knowledgble lads on there that might be able to help..
He certainly was the Man, as they say in the 80s. Used to pop into Penge angling when he worked there just to be in his presence.I know he had his struggles with addiction. But he seems to be back doing what he loves.
As for the rods you've got.. only Ritchie will be able to tell you if there his or not.. but be careful. He might want them back..
If you use Facebook. Try the old school Carp society page. Some knowledgble lads on there that might be able to help..
In reply to Post #6
I only met him once in 1985 I think (I was 15!) at a CAA meeting in Swanley, when he did a slide show shortly after catching Bazil - he was indeed 'the Man' back then. And he certainly loved being the centre of everyones attention too.
My other memory of that night, is that The Tackle Box had not been going that long, and they were wisely ingratiating themselves to all the local carp anglers, by flogging Rod Hutchinsons Pukka Salmon, Ultraspice, & Sense Appeal at bargain prices - and look where it's got them
. And I never did thank Gary Peet for rigging the raffle (which I know that he did) for making sure that I won a prize as the youngest person there.
Unfortunately, I can't do Facebook as for some reason when I tried to join it said I am banned - I've never used it, work that one out
I only met him once in 1985 I think (I was 15!) at a CAA meeting in Swanley, when he did a slide show shortly after catching Bazil - he was indeed 'the Man' back then. And he certainly loved being the centre of everyones attention too.
My other memory of that night, is that The Tackle Box had not been going that long, and they were wisely ingratiating themselves to all the local carp anglers, by flogging Rod Hutchinsons Pukka Salmon, Ultraspice, & Sense Appeal at bargain prices - and look where it's got them
. And I never did thank Gary Peet for rigging the raffle (which I know that he did) for making sure that I won a prize as the youngest person there. Unfortunately, I can't do Facebook as for some reason when I tried to join it said I am banned - I've never used it, work that one out
In reply to Post #7
Banned from Facebook. What you been up to.. 
Banned from Facebook. What you been up to..
In reply to Post #1
The key clue is in your own description: "upside down, the way **Ritchie liked to have them."
So likely to have been inspired by him
The key clue is in your own description: "upside down, the way **Ritchie liked to have them."
So likely to have been inspired by him
In reply to Post #9
Jim Gibbinson liked his seats "upside down" also.
Apparently the thought was you were holding the reel pulled down into the fixed section of the reel seat as opposed to the tightening screw fitting end.
Jim Gibbinson liked his seats "upside down" also.
Apparently the thought was you were holding the reel pulled down into the fixed section of the reel seat as opposed to the tightening screw fitting end.
In reply to Post #1
Quote... They are custom built by Vic Gibson - brown / olive green blanks,12' 2 ¼ test curve, Fuji SIC's - 25mm butt, 8 rings in total. Black 18mm Fuji DPS reel seats (upside down, the way Ritchie liked to have them). Full duplon handles, and chevrons.
Without even looking at your photos they will most likely be Penge Angling rods. My first proper passed down carp rods were those distinctive olive blanks, also built by Vic but they had Penge Angling written on the blank. They did quite a few different variations on those same blanks in the early years. (Tri-Cast apparently). All built by Vic for Mike at Penge Angling.
Quote... They are custom built by Vic Gibson - brown / olive green blanks,12' 2 ¼ test curve, Fuji SIC's - 25mm butt, 8 rings in total. Black 18mm Fuji DPS reel seats (upside down, the way Ritchie liked to have them). Full duplon handles, and chevrons.
Without even looking at your photos they will most likely be Penge Angling rods. My first proper passed down carp rods were those distinctive olive blanks, also built by Vic but they had Penge Angling written on the blank. They did quite a few different variations on those same blanks in the early years. (Tri-Cast apparently). All built by Vic for Mike at Penge Angling.
I just looked at the eBay listing. They are identical to my Penge Angling rods mentioned in the last post. Absolutely identical apart from where yours say Richie McDonald... Mine had Penge Angling written. Same writing, same chevrons, same blank.
I'd put money on the fact they were the same rods looking at those photos.
See if you can find some photos of old Penge Angling Vic Gibson built rods online.
I'd put money on the fact they were the same rods looking at those photos.
See if you can find some photos of old Penge Angling Vic Gibson built rods online.
In reply to Post #12
Yeah, I know Vic Gibson did lots of rod building for Penge Angling, and I've seen plenty of his rods. He did the Geoff Kemp rods for them as an exclusive as well I think.
Like you say though, they nearly all had 'Penge Angling' on them. He also sold direct so you could have whatever you wanted written on them.
My original question was whether the rods from the Arnolds range had 'Ritchie McDonald' written on all them (which I think is doubtful)......and if they didn't, then it would mean that these rods are very likely to be Ritchies own rods that he got Vic to build for him.
Yeah, I know Vic Gibson did lots of rod building for Penge Angling, and I've seen plenty of his rods. He did the Geoff Kemp rods for them as an exclusive as well I think.
Like you say though, they nearly all had 'Penge Angling' on them. He also sold direct so you could have whatever you wanted written on them.
My original question was whether the rods from the Arnolds range had 'Ritchie McDonald' written on all them (which I think is doubtful)......and if they didn't, then it would mean that these rods are very likely to be Ritchies own rods that he got Vic to build for him.
In reply to Post #13
I would not know about any of that regarding Arnolds. I'm not in anyway doubting that they might be Richie's original rods either. I'm just letting you know, that bar the name Richie McDonald/Penge Angling being different on the blank... Those rods on that eBay listing are identical to the rods I had from Penge as described below.
Richie as said below worked for Penge Angling too. So there is a good chance that they could very well be his rods. If Vic built some specifically for him when he worked there, it stands to reason they would have his name on instead.
As a kid I perved over the rods in that shop constantly. My dads scaffold yard was just around the corner. I never saw any rods in there with Richie's name on.
I would not know about any of that regarding Arnolds. I'm not in anyway doubting that they might be Richie's original rods either. I'm just letting you know, that bar the name Richie McDonald/Penge Angling being different on the blank... Those rods on that eBay listing are identical to the rods I had from Penge as described below.
Richie as said below worked for Penge Angling too. So there is a good chance that they could very well be his rods. If Vic built some specifically for him when he worked there, it stands to reason they would have his name on instead.
As a kid I perved over the rods in that shop constantly. My dads scaffold yard was just around the corner. I never saw any rods in there with Richie's name on.
In reply to Post #10
New there was a reason. Makes sense. Must of for Jim Gibbinson doing it..
New there was a reason. Makes sense. Must of for Jim Gibbinson doing it..