Vintage Restorations

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At Goose Creek Rods, vintage fishing rods and reels aren’t just items — they’re living pieces of history. When you bring us your treasured antique gear, you’re trusting us with more than hardware; you’re entrusting us with memories and family heirlooms that deserve to be preserved with care and respect.

We believe in old-world craftsmanship, where every restoration is treated as a labor of love rather than a rushed repair job. Our approach is guided by patience, respect for tradition, and a deep appreciation for the artistry that went into these rods and reels the first time around.

Restoring With Precision and Heart

When we restore a reel, our process is thorough and meticulous:

• Every reel is completely disassembled by hand, down to the tiniest washer.

• Old grease and oils are gently removed through soaking and ultrasonic cleaning.

• Metal components are hand-buffed to a mirror-like shine and re-lubricated using premium reel grease and oils.

• Non-metal parts are carefully cleaned and scrubbed by hand.

• Rust is thoughtfully removed using the right tools and techniques, or, when necessary, replaced with parts that match the original as closely as possible.

When you send us a reel, we don’t rush it — we give it the time and diligence it deserves so that the finished result looks and performs as if it were just born off the factory floor.

Bringing Rods Back to Life

Our rod restorations are built on the same philosophy:

• Guides and wrappings are removed to give the blank a fresh start.

• The old varnish is taken off and the rod blank is wet-sanded, restoring its smooth surface.

• We repaint or stain the blank to match the original look — or to your preference — using quality materials chosen for both beauty and durability.

• Cork and wooden handles are cleaned, repaired, or replaced with new, premium cork, and then finished with marine-grade protection.

• Metal components and reel seats are polished to a gleaming finish.

We choose materials and finishes with the same care that went into the original rod, honoring both form and function.

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Attention to Detail You Can Trust

Before we ever touch a tool, we spend time researching your specific model, studying how it originally looked and performed. Whether restoring it to its factory state or fulfilling your request for a customized look, we work with intention and integrity.

This thoughtful approach isn’t fast — it’s right. Some projects can take months or even longer, because true craftsmanship isn’t rushed. And while you wait, you can trust that your piece is being cared for just as you would want it cared for — with patience, pride, and genuine expertise.

Heirlooms to Hand Down

When restoration is complete, what you receive isn’t just a fishing tool — it’s a renewed heirloom, restored with reverence so that it can continue making memories for generations to come. Whether it’s a reel your grandfather used or a rod from days gone by, your piece comes back to you with history honored and functionality restored.

The Process (Updated):

1. Once your restoration has arrived, we will carefully inspect it and contact you with an action plan on what needs to be done and get your approval for the costs.
2. Your job will then be entered into the current workflow. Once your job comes up, we will send an electronic invoice to your email address to be paid in full before any work begins.  Once we have started the restoration process on your restoration, this payment is non-refundable.
3. Understand that restorations can be in-house sometimes even up to a year or more, depending on the number of projects we have in-house at the time and the complexity of the project.
4. We will contact you the minute we get your project on our bench to begin restoration. Please do not call or contact us regarding status. If you have not heard from us, your restoration has not begun. We promise to get to it as soon as we possibly can. Fielding status calls only delays on-going projects.

NOTE: Please DO NOT send original boxes, manuals, cloth rod protectors or anything you wish to get back. Send JUST the rod and/or reel to be restored and KEEP the original boxes, paperwork. These items become separated during the process of restoration and with the large number of restorations in-house, they are nearly impossible to keep track of. The best bet is just to leave them at home.

Time Frame

(Please read “Vintage Restoration Turnaround Time” here. )

“How long will it take to restore my vintage rod or reel”. If you are in a big rush and are looking for a quick turnaround, we are not going to be that guy. Because we spend a great deal of time researching and due to the fact that we like to take our time and do it right – even if it means re-doing over and over again to get it right. Up to a year or more is not out of the norm. You don’t want anyone to rush through a restoration project. We like to advise our customers to just send us the rod and/or reel and try to forget about it. Trust that we are doing the very best job we can do and when you do receive it back, it is something you can take pride in and hand it down for generations to come. Please do not call asking status. We will let you know the minute the job reaches the table.

Restoration Pricing

Different approaches are required for rod and reel restoration depending on the blank material, availability of parts, and the degree of difficulty. We cannot possibly quote a price without having the rod and/or reel in hand. What we can promise is that we will quote a fair and reasonable price for the job. What you will receive is a rod and/or reel, beautifully restored that you can be proud to pass down to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Disclaimer:

The very name, “vintage” or “antique” means old. With age comes corrosion, deterioration, brittleness, and weakness. While undergoing restoration, should your rod or reel break according to any of those factors, and not due to our negligence, GCR is not responsible. With the customer’s permission, we will try to fix, replace or repair, but we will do so at the customer’s expense. If the fault happens to be our own, we will certainly take responsibility and make it right.

Spincast Reels

We do not currently service or restore spincast (Zebco-type) reels at this time.

For quality vintage restoration of your antique fishing rods and reels, contact Goose Creek Rod & Reel today. Your family heirloom will be safe in our hands and the results will be spectacular.

DIRECTIONS: GOOSE CREEK RODS is located in Indian Trail, North Carolina near the intersection of Brief Road West and Hwy 601, just a few short miles from Midland, Locust, Mint Hill, and Monroe, NC. We are very convenient to Matthews, Pineville, and Charlotte, NC. Take I-485 to Exit 44, Highway 218 (Fairview Road). Take a left on Brief Road and follow that over the Union County line. We are approximately one-half mile on the right before you get to Black Road.

Shipping Address:

GOOSE CREEK RODS
815 Brief Road West
Indian Trail, NC 28079
P: 704.236.0897