Hi both. You might have guessed my interest is more in the fishing stuff than the film props but glad it was helpful.
Those extra photos show clearly that isn't a Varmac reel seat and the foregrip isn't off a Fenwick rod so the gear in that shot from the Universal studio 'cage' certainly isn't the Jaws original tackle. Thanks for the enlarged photos.
These rods are now quite old as they were built in the 1970s or earlier to the best of my recollection. I got mine from a fishing pal who wanted to strip it down and re-use the blank, so I bought it off of him so he could go and buy a new blank instead of destroying a 'classic'. This has happened a lot to older rods as those blanks were good and any flawed ones would have broken long ago! With new guides, grip and a bent butt reel seat, they are as good as new.
I think it would be a bit of luck to find one today, but who knows what turns up in 'antique' (i.e. junk) shops, garage, car boot and yard sales etc.
I do keep an eye on ebay for big game rods and similar stuff but I haven't seen one of these turn up on the UK site in all the years I've been looking, but it is possible one might appear on the US site as these are American rods.
I can only suggest having a search there or in any tackle shops you know; perhaps they could be asked to let you know if they get a customer in wanting to part with an old rod.
These rods were made in two heavy 'strengths' for 80lb and for 130lb line. The 80lb rod is lighter of course and has a slightly smaller reel seat (an RS5H). I am not certain but it is possible this rod was also made in the '180-unlimited' class too but I can't remember ever seeing one. I bought a Harnell 'unlimited' for the collection some years a go too. What a beast - I can't bend it!
I have seen some 16/0 Senators but the UK ones were very expensive.
Whilst talking Jaws, when I first saw the film there was a scene on the boat where, having lost a shark that Quint dismissed as a blue shark, he baits his new hook with what I think was a small porpoise from a bucket and that is what gets eaten by the white. But, every time I've seen the film since, including the so-called uncut version on CD, that scene is missing. I didn't imagine it, did I?