FE Thomas Special Fly Rod 8' 2/2 #5

A very nice F.E. Thomas “Special” bamboo fly rod, 8’, 2-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #5 line. DF action. The rod weighs 4.3 ounces on my scale. The serial number #33 is stamped on the bottom of the pocket cap. The condition is one of light use, with a faint hint of soiling on the grip and casting cracks at the ferrule wraps. The varnish is firm though it may have had a very tiny bit of microscopic alligatoring that was largely eliminated by careful hand polishing at some point. The main wraps are brown, with 3, 7, 3, 1 signature wraps and three windaways at the male ferrule. The stripper is an agate, and the snakes are heavy-wire reverse twist. The step ferrules fit well. The front cork check is the typical Thomas with the keeper ring situated one flat right and pinned into the check. The grip is 6" long and shaped to a medium cigar profile. The down-lock screw lock is aluminum, and the soldered pocket cap is nickel silver. The die stamp reads “F.E. Thomas, Special, Bangor, Me.” in a cartouche. The wood spacer is varnished and looks like Spanish cedar. The original bag is green poplin (there is no hang tag). The aluminum tube has brass fixtures and the remnants of the Thomas Shield decal, and the brass top has five ventilation holes drilled in it. A fine example of this model!