Barder Rod Co 8′ #3/4-weight 2-piece 1-tip fly rod.
Built in 1997, this is a very rare and fine #3/4-weight fly rod in mint condition.
£800.00
Unusually, it will handle #3 & #4-weight lines beautifully. A close range wristy flick on a calm day with send a #3-weight floater, leader and fly to their destination with great accuracy and precision. When it’s breezy -normal for the UK, use a #4 floater and the rod will load fully for longer casts with larger flies.
The dead straight blank is darkly flame tempered vintage Tonkin bamboo, hand-split and straightened, with tiny pressed nodes in the 3 x 3 pattern. The swelled butt is very nicely formed and elegant.
It has a very good looking internally threaded up-locking screw reel fitting with a highly figured Olive wood spacer. The handle is a cigar shape (sensational quality cork in those days) with very subtle flare over the concealed nickel sliver hood. There’s a matching nickel sliver shoulder collar at the top of the handle.
The ferrule is a nickel sliver Super-Z with oxidised and lacquered surfaces and an Olive wood and cork stopper. It’s fit is as new.
The guides are pewter coloured hard chrome plated stainless steel snakes, with a Mildrum nickel sliver and carbide butt ring.
The silk whippings are transparent varnish impregnated mid-tan tipped black.
The finish is flawless hand-applied marine grade yacht varnish- recently refreshed with a single overcoat when I removed the original personalised Indian ink inscription for replacement.
The rod comes in a tailor made bag with a tip protector and an aluminium case.
The price reflects the single tip and aluminium case (it predates our leather cases). Back in 1997, it was still possible to order a fly rod from us with one tip. This is a super, uncommon and eminently fish-able fly rod. I like this rod very much indeed and I think you would too.