Help determining rod wt

[Craig Ward]

I was gifted a very nice, vintage Alcocks Popular bamboo rod, but it does not show any where what weight it is.

[misfish]

Ray is your bamboo guy here.

[dave524]

Old enough to remember before the weight classification we used letters for fly line sizes.  Size A would be a thick heavy line and H was a light line. A 6 weight double taper would be called like a  HEH and a weight forward suitable for bass bugs would be like a GAF , probably close to an 8 wt. today, any letters like that on it ?  edit: quick search found this   

 

Edited July 28, 2022 by dave524

[Craig Ward]

63647L are the only numbers on it.

[dave524]

2 hours ago, Craig Ward said:

63647L are the only numbers on it.

any letters like HCH or HDH ? those are the line designation if it was built pre 1960 or so

could be a 4 or 5 wt looking at this as long as the " Popular " model was made in only 1 line class https://www.traditionalfisherman.com/viewtopic.php?t=5685

Edited August 2, 2022 by dave524

[Craig Ward]

Nope, those are the only numbers. 

I've been casting it with a vintage Battenkill 5/6 reel, and it seems to cast very nice, but I'm a rank beginner. I cast better with it than I do with my carbon fiber rod, but I do get the occasional wind knot forming. How do I stop that?

[dave524]

10 hours ago, Craig Ward said:

Nope, those are the only numbers. 

I've been casting it with a vintage Battenkill 5/6 reel, and it seems to cast very nice, but I'm a rank beginner. I cast better with it than I do with my carbon fiber rod, but I do get the occasional wind knot forming. How do I stop that?

Timing, wait for the tug when you backcast before bringing it forward.  The vintage Battenkill is a very appropriate matchup if it is the rod in the link I posted, they mentioned in that link it is a slow or moderate action which is easier to cast with than the fast action carbon rods