An exquisite EF Payne Model 101H fly rod, 7'6", 2-piece, 2-tips, built for a #5 line. Crisp, DF action. Wow, if I could keep this one I would! Mint, unused condition. This is absolutely pristine! A rod from the 1960's, witnessed by the change in the die stamp from "Sold by Abercrombie and Fitch" to "Made for Abercrombie and Fitch, Co". Possibly one of the last few rods handled by Jim Payne himself. Glass smooth varnish, and the cane a light chestnut from flame and oven tempering. Brown wraps with yellow edges with a band of purple at the keeper and male ferrules. Perfection stripper, bronze snake guides. Oxidation on the ferrules is 100% original and they have Finial style ferrule plugs. The grip is 6" long and styled in a "Western" profile with a hidden pocket cap for the uplocking screw lock. The wood spacer is varnished spanish cedar. The screw lock is an uplocking design and has "Payne" stamped in a cartouche and underneath that "Reg Us Pate Off" and on the reverse "Made for Abercrombie and Fitch Co". The rod is straight as the day it left the shop and the ferrule fits are perfect, as you would expect from Payne. The bag is a light tan popline and has no hang tag but there is no hole where one would have been and I am sure that it is original and proper for the date. The owner wrote his name down the length of the grip but it has faded somewhat and is much fainter. Original tube in mind condition with the Payne sticker on it. Grey felt in the brass tube top cap. The 101 taper was introduced in 1950 as one of Jim's faster dry fly tapers and the "H" designation was for "heavy" generally indicating that it would throw slightly heavier lines. You rarely see this model out there - very hard to find!

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