Mr. Rainshadow himself (the late Bob Batson) once told me that his preferred summer steelhead rod was made from the 1263 blank but for the winter natives on the penninsula his favorite was the 1264.

Both are 10' 6" long and well suited for either float or drift fishing but the latter has a bit more backbone for landing the large winter nates in a condition that is compatible with releasing them relatively unstressed.