When I was a kid most of my dads casting rods sported pistol grips and I thought it was cool on TV the way Jimmy and Hank also had sweet looing pistol grip rods..................so what happened? It seems like they have mostly gone the way of the dinosaur, especially on high end rods. I kinda like them for short spinnerbait rods and such. Why did they die out?

Don't get me wrong, I love the longer handles and split grips on my 6'+ rods, but on short rods (very useful for spinnerbait sniping and docks) the old style pistol grip was pretty copmfortable and easier (IMHO) to cast one handed.

maybe I will have to get someone to build me one on a St. Croix LTB blank...........

matt

I love the longer handles and split grips on my 6'+ rods...

Most people agree with you which is why you don't see many...  and longer rods are "in" so that plays a role as well.

But any excuse to get a custom, is a good excuse!!  

Why did they die out?

Cuz all the wear and tear of hooking and fighting a fish ends up in the absolute worst anatomical place possible ---> the wrist.

Wear and tear on the wrist.  With long handled rods the stress is taken off the wrist and put on the forearm where the handle rest.  It took me a while, long while, to use a long handled rod, but I replaced all my pistol grips with long handled ones.  

I still use them and anyone who has any they wanta get rid of send um to me ill pay shipping

I still have one. Now that I've got a really bad case of carpal, the amount of stress those rods place on your wrists is very evident when I try and use it now. Using them as long as I did is probably one of the contributing factors to the problems I have now.

I still use them for spinnerbaits/buzzbaits/Chatterbaits mostly and have 5 spares. I'm over 65 years old and they still work for me. I prefer the ones with the old Lew's handles before the blank thru mfg process took over, they have more of a offset and are more confortable for all day use.

I'd like to see them make a comeback.

I usually cut 3"-4" off the handle.

Keeps it from poking me in the gut so much. :

They are still made. Here's a low end on as an example: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_44303_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6

they're still around on...even on some of the high end rods...it all depends on the model the you are getting...you usually see them on the shorter rods (6' or less)

The next custom I have made is going to have a "fightin' pistol" grip.  I bought a pistol grip rod from Reel Mech that he built on a St Croix SCIII 56MF blank with alconites that is beyond beautiful.  They are the king of short distance accuracy.

Cool question, we were just having this discussion locally!

My take; with low profile reels and rods over 6 foot, the fighting angle and hooking leverage is plain easier with the trigger handles.

i have 5 ,  5'-6"  st croix  avid rods med action fast tip pistol grip and looking for more  they have quit making them st croix that is i think all star still are making some i dont think you can buy a avid blank  kb

I have 2 that are my favorites that I built (used strickly for soft top water baits and a sometime spinnerbait). I still build them, but the high end blanks aren't made in 5'6" anymore.

You can still get production builds in the lower end St.Croix rods, (I.E. St Croix Premier's, and Triumph Travel Series)..

Tight Lines!!!