STREAMSIDE - The Rifleman Viscount 150 Fly Reel

This past week an email showed up unexpectedly from Steamside Bespoke Engraving in New Zealand.  Nick Hensman introduced himself and explained that they had recently started a side business as passionate fly fisherman to compliment their jewelry company, The Rolling Mill, which is based in Wellington. 

This quickly had me checking out their website, following on Instagram, and sent a response with an invitation to share some of their recent and upcoming work on T.F.M.  We're going to start with their first fly reel project on a vintage Hardy Viscount 150 fly reel and hopefully there will be other stories to share in time.

Even after 17 years of writing T.F.M., I still get excited about these surprise emails from deep within the fly fishing industry.  Enjoy this story and images that Nick passed along...

Nick Hensman wrote...  "It was the first reel we decided to engrave as an example. We bought it second hand from a guy who was selling his friend's estate. His friend was a very keen fisherman so it worked out well that we put all the effort into this piece.

We wanted to mix traditional scroll engraving with a touch of New Zealand backcountry wildlife.  The 18ct Yellow Gold 'Rifleman/Tītitipounamu' are New Zealand's smallest bird and we always feel very lucky to actually see one.

The linework takes days of engraving and carving, done under magnification which certainly demands the need for a river walk at the end of the day!

The handle has been remade in 'Black Maire', a New Zealand hardwood which has come up beautifully.

The locking nut in the centre and drag tensioner have been replaced with handmade brass fittings.

All of this was completely hand engraved by Jan Bekker.

We are considering running an auction for the Viscount and donating a portion to a bird sanctuary here in New Zealand, though we are yet to decide.

We are very much a nature inspired company and have some exciting projects coming soon which we are happy to share in upcoming posts on The Fiberglass Manifesto."

Take a few minutes and visit the Streamside Bespoke Engraving website and follow on Instagram.