Edwards, E.W. - Touradif, 7' 4/2 3wt Bamboo Rod - Made for A&F (Sale Pending)
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For sale here is an incredibly rare E.W. Edwards 7' 4-piece "Touradif" valise rod. Made for Abercrombie & Fitch, probably around 1917-1919, this rod has the hallmarks of a Brewer-era Eustis Edwards rod. Very good condition, the cane has a dark honey colored tone with 3x3 nodes. Gold windings with red tipping that has faded to a pale reddish orange. A rare 4-piece rod with 2 tips and 2 small mids, and all the cane appears to be original to the rod. The rod appears mostly original, although the whole rod has been overcoated. The top intermediate wrap on the butt section is rewrapped, and the snake guides closest to the ferrules on the tips are replacements. The rest of the snake guides are original early Edwards English twist. The large mid has a fine orange agate stripping guide. All the male ferrules have soldered moisture plugs, except on the small mids. These two male ferrules also use a different type of pinning wire (brass vs NS, probably), and I believe they are likely replacements. A wonderfully delicate rod with full intermediates throughout, and full overwraps from the tip tops down to the first guide. Ferrules are 7/64, 10/64 and 14/64. Both tip ferrules have faint clicks against both small-mid females, but they shore up acceptably with a bit of pure paraffin wax. The butt has a gentle swell leading into the NS winding check, and the rod bears the classic Edwards signature wraps of perfect proportion. Diminutive 4" grip is clean with light ridging, and the rod is fitted with an all-nickel silver slide band reel seat with black Bakelite cap. Below the grip the reel seat is inscribed "Touradif - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. - New York". Weight is 2.65oz. The action is delightfully medium fast; I find it best with a WF3 and capable of effortless casts out to about 45'. It's truly amazing that delicate dry fly rods of this caliber were being produced over 100 years ago. An extraordinarily rare find, possibly singular in the 4pc format. Sold in the original brass tube and a custom (non-original) 6-compartment bag.
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