I'm looking for some info on a Browning Silaflex for a rod repair
Model 832955 Silaflex II 5'6" ultra light spinning
The tip top is grooved and requires replacement
Guides are silver frame double foot without ceramic ring and thread wraps appear dark grey
It's an older rod and has served it's owner for many years.
The owner requests it be brought back into fishable condition within a reasonable budget.

Main required info is component mfg and type and thread color.

All help is appreciated.

Gene Moore

Gene,



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2015 10:47AM by roger wilson.

At one time the Silaflex rods were fairly expensive models. Not sure what year model yours might be but through the late 60's and into the early 1970's, wraps were brown with burnt orange trim. I believe their first graphite models were appointed differently.

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SilaFlex was a high end blank and rod manufacturer. They had a patent on the fiberglass and resin materials they used. I built an 8 ft spinning rod on one of their blanks. Their blanks were honey colored. Over time they darkened. They were purchased by Browning Arms who wanted to use their fiberglass patent to make other things such as Pole Vaulting poles and I remembered reading that they wanted to make shotgun barrels out of fiberglass. Once they were sold Silaflex blanks were no longer available to rod builders. I think that the Browning rods were not as good as the original Silaflex rods.

Mike Blomme

Michael,
You are correct in that the Browning pieces were no where near as good as the originals. The originals were before my time, however; those whom I've know that fished with them cherished them dearly.

For a while, the SilaFlex rods continued being built in the same place, the same way, even though owned by Browning. After a few more years, like so many other companies, they began buying rods made in the orient and having them labeled as Silaflex. Obviously those weren't the same rods.

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I just got one of these rods it for repair also. It's a Browning Silaflex trolling rod. I thought it was a high end rod. Six Aftco roller guides and a roller tip. It has a 9" foregrip and a 7.5" handle with a black walnut grip stop and a 3" chrome plated brass ball gimble. The reel seat had the Silaflex logo stamped in it. And just by flexing it on the floor, it can't be more than a 20# class rod. Maybe it's a tournament trolling rod. My buddy bought it at a yard sale for $5. Someone had turned the seat nuts with a large pliers and got the reel seat spinning. Can't make out any numbers on the small label. All I see is Made in USA. Definitely a nice rod, though. Now I'll repair it.

Mac