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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | With so many new muskie rods on the market it got me wandering...How many rods are made here in the USA? |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | <p>My Sage and St. Croix rods (Legend Tournements; not all St. Croix, as I understand the Mojos are made in Mexico, but I'm not 100% sure) are. As are Loomis. (Sage and Loomis are made back in my old stompin grounds of Western WA. Been to the Sage factory several times....very cool place.) I've never owned a Loomis, and not really a Loomis guy so they may have some offshore-made rods.</p><p> </p><p>BTW Vince, I replied to your muskie thread at WFF the other night...</p> |
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Location: South-Central PA | I believe Lamiglas rods are USA made.
jeremy |
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Posts: 200
Location: Minnesota | Pretty sure Thorne Bros are made right here in tropical, sunny Minnesota. |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | I know the Grandt rods I have been using lately are 100% made including the blanks here in the US (Arlington Heights, IL). |
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Posts: 494
Location: midwest | Who is manufacturing the blanks? It sounds like you are saying the blanks are manufactured in Arlington Heights Illinois. |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | Slime King - 3/31/2011 11:48 AM
Who is manufacturing the blanks? It sounds like you are saying the blanks are manufactured in Arlington Heights Illinois.
Yes, they are manufactured by Jim Grandt of Grandt Rods in Arlington Heights and one other location in the USA. He has a patent on his high modulus XLH70 blanks. Top of the line St. Croix and G Loomis have 58M modulus while Grandt's top of the line have 78M modulus. Some of the blanks they produce even have a kevlar wrap on them over the top of the blank for a reserve power. He has quite an impressive show set up with 2000-2500 rods on display...all of which have an unconditional lifetime warranty.
They have a set up in Minneapolis this weekend at the Minneapolis convention center for the 79th Northwest Sportshow. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | I don't doubt that Grandt makes fine rods, but anyone who knows anything about blank construction knows modulus means little to nothing in the design. Browning makes a rod they claim is 80 million modulus. Retails for about $90.00. |
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Location: midwest | Have you visted this manufacturing plant in Arlington Heights? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Unless Grandt is buying their blanks from St. Croix or NFC (Gary Loomis's new company) they are imported. Designed in IL and assembled in U.S.A. |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | He has been building rods for 30 years. He also makes rods for 70 other rod retailers. With that being said...you are unable to view manufacturing plant because of confidentiality of those other names. Trust me as they are not anyone else's blanks. |
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Posts: 469
Location: MN | Flambeauski - 4/1/2011 11:57 AM Unless Grandt is buying their blanks from St. Croix or NFC (Gary Loomis's new company) they are imported. Designed in IL and assembled in U.S.A. There is another US based blanks manufacture from Woodland, Washington: Talon-Graphite. http://www.talon-graphite.com/Blank%20section/blanks.htm
This guys make custom work and their products are really good quality.
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | "The blanks are designed by a former Heddon Rod Company designer Jim Grandt to the exact specifications."
From Grandt's website. Yes there are a few other Blank manufacturers in the U.S., mainly fly rods. Talon took over Loomis's factory a few years ago after GL sold out.
It's entirely possible Talon or NFC builds blanks for Grandt, but they (the blanks) are not built in IL, just like Thorne's Predator blanks aren't built in Blaine.
And I totally understand they aren't anyone else's blanks, he designed them, they belong to him. Just like Thorne's owns the Predator line. |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | flambeauski...do you have a beef with Grandt rods? What is your knowledge base to say that I am lying and Jim Grandt is lying? I guess we will agree to disagree but I know the facts.
I put the information out there for people to look at and decide. I have worked directly with Jim Grandt and he is a very stand up guy. He makes (builds them right here in the US including the blank) rods for every type of fishing out there. He can also customize your rod just about any way you would ever imagine.
For anyone else that has not tried a Grandt rod...please give them a try sometime you will definitely be impressed! Go to one of their shows and get one in your hands and you will immediately notice a difference in quality. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | I've heard nothing but good things about you as an induvidual and your guide service speaks for itself. I apologize if it sounds from my posts I think Grandt rods aren't of the finest quality... I'm sure they are. Customizing a rod to your own preferences is ideal for any fisherman. But I don't believe Santa makes toys at the North Pole and I don't believe Jim Grandt builds anything other than sample blanks in IL. Heck even his website doesn't make the claim that his blanks are built there. |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | Flambeauski...thanks for the words about myself and guide service.
As far as the rods go...are you associated with another company? Grandt rods website says 100% made in the USA...to me that means made and not assembled.
I am actually working with Jim directly in making another muskie rod which he will have to have more tooling made...again here in the USA.
What other rod manufacturer has an Unconditional lifetime warranty? |
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Made in USA #2