>>2511326Nah, they're definitely JDM made, I read DRT's blogspot like a hawk lol and the DRT CEO gave a big rundown on where they're made and wanting a 100% Japanese produced rod. As for why the NFC X-Ray and Artex blanks look similar, they just skipped a step in the blank making process, which is the last step: sanding the blank.
When they roll the graphite onto the mandrels, they cover them up in cellophane before baking them in ovens. After baked, the cellophane wrapping creates those ridges on the blank. Most manufacturers sand them off, some don't. For whatever reason, they don't shave it off on the X-ray, but the HM, IM, and SM they do, then the Delta they don't again.
Sage Fly Rods don't shave off the ridges either, pic related.
