What is the difference between English pattern & American Pattern snake Guides?
In terms of raw materials and hard chroming of the guides there is no difference, the difference is all down to the shape or form of the guide. An American pattern is coiled left to right, it has straight legs and stands off higher. The English pattern is coiled right to left and is round in profile with sweeping legs, it is also a lot lower set. In years of practice we have found that an English pattern is better suited to a softer, slower action blank than an American pattern which is by far better on a fast action blank. We proved this theory by putting American pattern snakes onto a soft slow action blank in a relatively short time of use the inside legs were showing sign of ware and in fact the Epoxy on the whippings were actually grooved, We changed the guides back to English pattern and tested again, over the same test period no ware was detected.
