Lt. Colonel Oborn had been a staff officer in Berlin immediately following the occupation. After retiring from the British Army he made rods in a small white shed at the family home which was Old Footfalls, Bat Alley, Marnhull, Dorset (UK). The shed still stands today. The Lt. Colonel was self taught in rod making and it proved to be a lucrative hobby for him. He made rods for Ian Hay (Rodbox, Winchester) and Harrods. These must have been fine rods as apparently he could never meet demands. They were sold at approximately £60 - £70. Lt. Colonel Oborn died in 1984.

(with very special thanks to mr. Robert Oborn, son of the late Lt. Colonel)



A very distinctive feature - one could say the maker's signature - is a fly, drawn in black and red ink, right between the stripping guide wraps. Tiptop and stripper guide are red agate. The few Oborn rods I've seen were longer 6/7wt rods that didn't have a full cork grip or the full intermediate wraps. My rod is inscribed in black ink. From the winding check up it reads: "Built by Lt. Col. Oborn - Marnhull. Dorset. Tenacity (handbuilt) cane". No further information about the length or recommended line weight. Mine's 7 foot for a DT4 line and it happily "married" a 1950-60s 3 inch LHW Hardy St. George.