VFT4162
For sale here is a Sam Carlson "Thomas Four" bamboo rod. Considered the holy grail by many cane rod enthusiasts, this rod feels best with a DT4 in my opinion. Medium fast action. Cork slide band reel seat. Burgundy silks tipped black. The rod weighs 4.05 oz. and the ferrules are 12/64.
Sam only made approximately 300 rods in his lifetime, very few of which bear the inscription "Thomas Four". This is a very rare and early Sam Carlson four sided rod made in 1964 shortly after he acquired the rights of the F.E. Thomas Rod Co. As heir to the Edwards Rod Co, his construction of a four sided Edwards Quadrate style rod and the use of the newly acquired F.E. Thomas name resulted in the "Thomas Four" rods. Only a handful of these unique rods were ever built and they remain elusive to today's collectors. The shorter ones are virtually impossible to find. This one is the lighter, more desirable of the two 7 1/2 foot models he produced. They are listed in detail in the very scarce 1966 Norm Thompson catalog, which is the only place they were ever offered for sale to the public. This historically important rod shows light fishing use and remains in well cared for, excellent condition with only a few touched up blemishes in the otherwise nearly perfect varnish. It is original and correct throughout including the original cloth bag and F.E. Thomas style brass-capped aluminum tube.
Inked on the cane flats is the following:
641-4752 (the serial number)
Thomas "Four"
641 is inked onto each tip as well.