HL Leonard Model 50-5 Bamboo Fly Rod 8' 3/2 #5

A nice H.L. Leonard model 50-5 bamboo fly rod, 8', 3-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #5 line. Serial #8194 which dates this rod to 1981 during the Tom Maxwell period. The rod weighs 4.2 ounces on my scale. This is the Leonard Standard model with blonde cane. Lawn cast or very light use, with just a tiny touch of brassing to the inner part of the snake guides. Otherwise the rod is pristine and still has the original shrink wrap on the grip. Wheatstraw oven tempered cane and nodes organized in a 3-up pattern. The varnish is exceptional, as with all of the Maxwell period rods. The main wraps are apricot with a red edge at the keeper, ferrules, and tip tops, as well as a yellow band at the keeper, male ferrules, and tip tops. The ferrules are done in a dark maroon. The stripper is an SRMC carbide and the guides are black snakes. The step ferrules are polished. The ferrule fits are excellent, and the rod is factory straight. This is the classic Leonard 50, a terrific 8 foot rod. The action is on the fast side of medium. The 6" slim cigar grip is covered with shrink plastic. The cap and ring seat features a mortised, varnished, and stained piece of curly maple. The seat hardware is polished and the cap is stamped: "H.L. Leonard Rod Co., the rod maker, since 1869." The rod comes in an original tan cloth bag and original aluminum tube with brass hardware. A brass eye has been attached to the tube top for hanging.

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