Thomas, F.E. – Wet Fly Taper

For your consideration is a FE Thomas Special, Wet Fly taper bamboo fly rod. This is an 8' 6" 3-piece for a 6-weight (some might like a 5-weight) weighing 5.00 ounces. All sections are full-length and straight.

This rod consists of medium tempered cane with dark brown silks tipped with green at the base of each section. The 5 1/2 inch grip displays very minor ridging. Hardy-style aluminum downlinking hardware over the wood spacer. The stamp FE Thomas Special, Bangor ME is clean and boldly preserved on the nickel silver butt cap. The bottom of the butt cap is stamped HG313 making this the 313th rod made in 1949. It was completed on 12/21/1949 and sold to David L. Abercrombie on 12/27/1949. The Swiss-style ferrules are sizes 11 and 16. In my hand, the action is medium. This rods appears to be in original condition. A few of the wraps on one tip are slightly darker. The wraps at the ferrules on all sections match. Upon close inspection the guide wraps appear to all be wrapped the same and have the same aging to the varnish. I'm not sure if a few wraps were rewrapped possibly by FE Thomas early in this rods life or just aged darker. Original bag, tag, and tube.