2564
A nice HL Leonard Model 50L bamboo fly rod, 8', 3-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #4 or #5 line. Serial #3709 which puts the date of manufacture at approximately 1976. The rod weighs 4 ounces. Midland Park NJ label on the tube. Mint unused condition. The rod action is slow and I think more suited to a #3 or at most a #4 line rather than the #5 listed on the label. Medium wheatstraw color cane done in a three up node pattern congiruation. Very nice varnish for this Leonard period. The wraps are dark brown with edges of light brown and dark brown at the keeper and ferrules, and light brown main wraps with darker brown edges. Ceramic stripper and chrome snakes and tip tops. The step ferrules are polished bright. The grip is 6" and shaped to a blunt cigar profile. The reel seat is a downlocking aluminum screwlock with a cork spacer. The nickel silver pocket cap is stamped "The Leonard Rod / HL Leonard Rod Co / Makers" in a cartouche. The rod packs into a brown poplin bag (no stiffener) with a leather pull tab. The tube is brushed aluminum with a brass top, collar, and bottom and the Leonard Midland Park data sticker.