Rod handle design, olden days

[3crows]

All of my current rods, collected over the last ten years or so, are of the type that have the exposed blank at the grip and are all Fuji brand I think. This is fine for modern low profile reels but I have several hotrodded Abu reels and they sit annoyingly high on these rods. It seems to me that before the exposed blank and extra long grips that rods had a seat area that dipped below the centerline of the rod blank and handle so that round reels (and those funky spincast jobs) could nestle down lower to that axis for easier thumbing (and button pushing for spincasts  ). So, I guess my question, does anybody make a modern, quality rod with a lowered seat for a round reel?

[r83srock]

I believe Edge rods use a copy of the old wiebe style seat G. Loomis used to use. I would check those out.

[crypt]

I use old style Lews pistol grips or older Team Daiwa casting rods that are 20 plus years old.those handles are almost flat. reel sits low on the handle with both designs. all of my Ambassadeurs are mounted on these rods.

[Finnz922]

I wish all handles were like the old Cielo, L&T, and Greens. Best handles other than the locking cork which had a tendency to crack in their older age.

[3crows]

3 hours ago, crypt said:

I use old style Lews pistol grips or older Team Daiwa casting rods that are 20 plus years old.those handles are almost flat. reel sits low on the handle with both designs. all of my Ambassadeurs are mounted on these rods.

I have two Lew's original Speed Sticks but while those pistol grips were cool in the day when I bought them, circa 73, my hands and wrists cannot deal with the pistol format now. The dropped seats work great, the pistol design, not so much. 

 

But yes, they do have dropped seats which sets the ABU round reels correctly for thumbing.

[Kidflex]

DAIWA steez rods have the same handle shape as their older rods but made of foam instead of cork. The xt model will be a little cheaper. The black widow rods has the old weibe style seat but they won't recess the round reel as well as the DAIWA.