c.1950s Pair of South Bend No. 829 Fishing Rods
Viridian Eclection
The Set
A pair of South Bend No. 829 fishing rods, dating to about the 1950s and made in the United States.
The shafts are painted olive green with striped wraps. The grips are warm cork, the reel seats chrome tone, the handles turned wood, and the butt caps rubber. The markings South Bend and 829 are visible on the shaft.
Long, lean and graphic, they carry the unmistakable mid century American sporting character of a period when function and finish still carried equal weight.
History & Provenance
South Bend was an American maker of sporting tackle, and the No. 829 is one of its rod models. These two examples are marked to the shaft with both the maker name and the model number, so the identification is direct rather than inferred.
The dating rests on the model, the construction and the finish rather than a dated mark, and places them at approximately the 1950s. The painted shafts with striped wraps, cork grips, chrome tone hardware and turned wood handles are all of that period, when American sporting goods were still finished to a standard that assumed long use.
Finding two together matters. Rods were bought, used and separated, so a surviving pair in matching model is a less common outcome than a single rod.
Product Details
| Era | c. 1950s |
| Maker | South Bend |
| Model | No. 829 |
| Origin | United States |
| Form | Pair of fishing rods, mid century American sporting and decorative Americana |
| Materials | Painted rod shafts, cork grips, chrome tone metal hardware, wood handles, rubber butt caps |
| Color | Olive green shafts with striped wraps |
| Marks | South Bend and 829 visible on the shaft |
| Condition | Good vintage condition with age appropriate wear consistent with use and storage. Original visual character retained, with expected surface wear, scattered finish loss, rubbing to the painted shafts, handling wear and dryness to the cork grips, and light oxidation to the metal components. Markings remain visible though softened with age |
| Dimensions | To be confirmed |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Vintage sporting goods work in an interior because of their line, and these have it. Sold as a pair they carry far more presence than a single rod could.
Mounted on a wall or leaned with intention, they read less like tackle and more like sculptural sporting objects. That is the source of their decorative strength.
They sit comfortably among antique decoys, vintage books, early sporting prints and dark wood, adding line, texture and patina without feeling forced. A study, a lodge inspired interior, a lake house or a layered traditional room all suit them.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Visit the Eclection on Tuesdays, 10 am to 4 pm.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
