An excellent Walt Carpenter Browntone fly rod, 7'6" 2-piece, 2-tip built for a #5 line. Serial #80276. 100% Mint unused. This was the first rod Walt made after leaving Leonard in 1980 when he started the W. E. Carpenter Rod Co in Chester, N.Y. The rod was made for Dr. "Skip" Ellis of West Hartford, Ct. In a letter accompanying this rod Walt talks of designing a grip and seat for this one that he calls the "Ellis" grip. It consists of a half wells grip with a varnished walnut divider between the grip and the flatted cork seat. The oxidized nickel silver butt cap is mounted on about 1 1/2" of varnished walnut. No die stamp on the butt cap. Skip Ellis later had a die stamp made for Walt and gave it to him.

The rod has a nice moderately fast progressive action with fine tips. Flamed cane, agate stripper, brown wraps with black edges. Super varnish. Straight as a pin and as fresh as the day it left Walt's hands. Original bag and tube, and letter. Heck of a rod.