I have one and it's been good to me. I picked it up at Sportsco a few years back. All I know is that it is a rod built by Lamiglass only for Sportsco or at least it was at the time I bought it. Just like Norwest was built for Fred Meyers. They maybe the same blank. I have always had the same question as you but have never found an answer. I would like to know too.