Okay, success at removing the reel seat! I left the butt end in the boiling water for about 6 minutes, took it out, nada. So, I'm sitting here and I gently poked around the base of the seat, nearest the cork, with a needle. A little twist and boom! One removed reel seat. I now have a rod that is inserted into the cork. A friend of mine has some reel seats I will ask to try to see for looks etc. Now, how best to clean, polish generally make the blank look better? Then, on to new guides and wraps!
YAHOOOO! First steps are the hardest! Thanks for the support.
Mike