I have 3 rods from decades past with pistol grip handles that are in good condition. I still think they are fun to fish with and comfortable to my hand. I put the handle but against my abdomen when cranking. Do you still use the pistol grip handle?

you can still buy pistol-grip handles,

Two I know of are Eagle Claw Featherweight UL, and Smith Super Strike for round reels. 

No, I tried picking up one for S&Gs, and it just felt wrong. I have 3 or 4 hanging on the garage overhead, and that's where they will stay. 

38 minutes ago, N.Y. Yankee said:

I have 3 rods from decades past with pistol grip handles that are in good condition. I still think they are fun to fish with and comfortable to my hand. I put the handle but against my abdomen when cranking. Do you still use the pistol grip handle?

bps used to have a much larger selection but now they are hard to find any brand with decent components, I loved them for cqb fishing with lots of overhead cover, stream fishing, Ive even got a few pistol grip spinning rods (minus the trigger). its very similar to fencing, a bent hilt allows for tighter swings, and different angles that become useful in small creeks where not alot of room is present. ,expecially for bfs or spinning. They are making a comeback in japan big time, but not here in the U.S because we listen to  "ThE PrOS"

3 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

Ive even got a few pistol grip spinning rods (minus the trigger). its very similar to fencing, a bent hilt allows for tighter swings, and different angles...

Touché!...

 

I have a few old Lews Speed Sticks from way back in the day-5'6"-5'8" with Fuji guides. I use them for light cranks and smaller square bills. 

 

I love using them, but it's not something I would use for more than a few hours. Eventually my wrist takes a beating.

At one time, a 6 foot Lew's pistol grip fishing rod with an Ambassador 5500C was the outfit to have for any serious bass fisherman.  I must have had at least a dozen of them over the years.  I have one pistol grip rod left.   These rods are useful when working lures that require a lot of action like jerk baits and top water baits.  The shorter length and lack of a long handle make working the lure easier. They also make casting more accurate in tight quarters. I use mine when fishing top water lures like the Devil's Horse.   

I like them for working topwater and just general, rapid fire, precision casting.  You have to combine them with a short rod though.  But from the bank or my kayak, they make working a top water or jerk bait a lot easier that the longer rods where you have to fight to keep the tip out of the water or the position it to keep the butt from hitting your body.  That's less of an issue from the high ground of a boat deck.  And if you're just cruising the bank and roll casting to cover with something like a square bill, it makes it a lot easier on your body to make those medium distance and accurate casts.  You can get a pretty quiet entry with them too.

 

Like most things, they have their time and place.  It's hard to beat the shear distance these split grip 7'+ rods can provide.  

Ultra light (per rod label) Shimano graphite pistol grip casting rod with aluminum reel seat.  The line and lure weight range suggests that this rod would be considered BFS these days.  Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG reel with 6-lb test mono.  Still catching bass as well as ever!

Don't care for them. Too hard on the wrist after a while.

I have a pistol grip that I bought from BPS about 20 years ago, and a 6'0" Daiwa pistol grip from around 1978 or so.  Neither one see much action these days.

5 hours ago, QED said:

Ultra light (per rod label) Shimano graphite pistol grip casting rod with aluminum reel seat.  The line and lure weight range suggests that this rod would be considered BFS these days.  Shimano Aldebaran BFS XG reel with 6-lb test mono.  Still catching bass as well as ever!

I’m not so sure that’s a fishing rod. It looks more like a light saber hilt, lol. ??

 

That said, it looks bad a$$. ??

Ive actually been wanting to get into pistol grip rods for a while now....been looking for the one that QED posted above (he posted it a while back as well) in all the local antique stores but so far no luck. 

Talk about slick looking though ? 

Berkley Lightnin' Rod has a 6' pistol grip rod, rated 1/4-5/8oz. I have one and used a few times for light setup.

With a 5'6" pistol grip rod and light monofilament line, I felt like I needed to run to the back deck before I could set the hook.

 

I still have several wrist wreckers stashed in the rafters, but it's highly unlikely I'll use them again. Even when they were popular, I would be fishing with them and thinking . . . I wish they had a straight handle and were at least a foot longer. 

1st 30 years of bass was with pistol grip bait casting rods.

The 2nd 30 years was with trigger grip straight handle rods, don’t own a pistol grip anymore and no plan to ever pick one up again.

Tom 

I still I have a few . Havent used one in awhile . I still prefer the   short rod for twitching or walking the dog but   just not versatile enough to warrant taking one . 

11 hours ago, ghost said:

Berkley Lightnin' Rod has a 6' pistol grip rod, rated 1/4-5/8oz. I have one and used a few times for light setup.

That's the one I tried a year or so ago. Picked it up after seeing Hank Parker talking about liking it for small spinnerbaits around trees.

 

Remembered my Dad having an old one that he used to use, so tried it for a bit and hated the balance and feel in your hand. Then after feeling the wrist fatigue after using it for a bit, I gave it to a friend who wanted to try it.

I remember those Hank Parker episodes  

i have several pistol grip rods. Some of them were used this past week. I will take them over these rods with super long handles any day.

I don’t miss a pistol grip at all.  I also don’t miss the kneel and reel , bronze hooks and trucker hats.

Only pistol grip rod I have is a 1980's Browning Boron rod.

 

They served a purpose, but the newer split grip rods are just SO much better balanced that the old pistol grip style just feels odd.

 

Plus, they wear your wrist out fishing with em all day.

 

BUT...you can't beat em for accuracy.

Back on Labor Day Weekend,  I fished three days with a 5-1/2' St. Croix Pro Glass.  My hand and wrist were done by the end of the three days.  It'll be a white perch rod now,  much easier on the ole' hand and wrist.