Walt Carpenter Mahogany Bamboo Fly Rod 7'6" 3/2 #4

A beautiful Walt Carpenter Mahogany model fly rod, 7'6", 3-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #4 line. This was a limited edition model that Walt built in 1983, of which this is serial #8 (of 12 made). This mahogany series of rods rarely comes to market and this one is absolutely pristine. I believe this rod was also made from cane from the old Halstead rod shop. 3.6 ounces. Mint original condition with paper and gum still on the slim cigar grip. There is a lot of swell showing and this rod's action is authoritative yet forgiving. Medium flamed cane with the nodes done in a three up pattern. Excellent varnish. The guide wraps are brown with black edges and three brown windaways at the male ferrules. Full intermediate wraps in brown. At the swell there is a complex series of brown and black signature wraps. "No 8. 1983" lettered on the wrap flat. The stripper is a white agate and the bronze snake guides are reverse twist. The ferrules are pot belly style step in design and oxidized (two tiny trim marks and a scallop at the base of the ferrules establish the ferrule as "pot belly" and lead to the wraps). The grip is 5 3/4" long and turned to a slim cigar. As mentioned, the grip is covered in paper and gummed strips and the paper is lettered "#8, [Owner's Name], Mahogany, 1983, 7 1/2', #4". The reel seat is a flatted slide band of varnished quarter-sawn mahogany and the rear cork check, delicate band, and cap are all oxidized. The butt cap has the roller die stamp "W.E. Carpenter, Maker" and on the bottom, in the center of several targets, the number "8" is stamped. The ferrules are supplied with small "top hat" style nickel silver ferrule plugs that have a knurled edge and target inscribed at the top. The rod packs into a tan cloth bag and the rod tube hardware is brass with a special knurl on the cap and a grey felt insert. Walt's data sticker is fixed to the tube and the tube is covered with a light brown overbag.