Thomas and Thomas Paradigm Bamboo Fly Rod 8' 2/2 #6

A very nice Thomas and Thomas “Paradigm” bamboo fly rod, 8', 2-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #6 line. Serial # 623. The rod weighs 4.6 ounces. Lightly used, with very light hand-oil tanning to the grip. No casting cracks at the ferrules wraps and there is a little bit of brassing to the inner snake guides mostly on one tip. The ferrules are tight and the rod is straight. The tan wraps at the keeper (and keeper only) are coming apart and while it doesn't affect the rod's function at all, it should be an easy fix by T&T. The action is on the faster side of medium. The owner's name is inscribed on the rod. This is a varnished model and has some unusual features, some I associate with the period when Tom Maxwell was with the company. The tip tops have had the bottom of the tube ground back leaving a “finger” of full length tube backing the casting plane. This reduces weight a tiny bit but in the most critical place. The male ferrules have two trim marks at the front and a scallop similar to “pot belly” ferrules. The handwriting also reminds me of Maxwell’s. The rod has the usual superb T&T varnish finish. The main wraps are light tan with a darker brown and black edge at the keeper, male ferrules, and tip tops. The darker brown is double wrapped at the ferrules making it darker still. The stripping guide is a carbide and the snakes are black. The ferrules are oxidized with a bit of brassing to the female welt. The grip is 6 1/2" long and styled to a western with an hidden pocket for the uplocking screwlock. The mortised varnished seat is walnut. The screwlock barrel and nut are aluminum while the slide is German silver. The slide is stamped “Thomas & Thomas, Makers.” The rod comes with a tan cloth bag with stiffener and an aluminum tube with brass fixtures and a knit green overbag.