A HL Leonard model 39-5 "Hunt" bamboo fly rod, 7'6", 2-piece, 2-tips, and built for a #5 line. 4.6 ounces. Serial #580 which dates it to approximately 1978-9. This is an early Maxwell-period Hunt with the all nickel silver metal seat that's milled out to reveal a flatted cork base. The later versions of this seat were unoxidized. This seat retains 80% of the original oxidation and in addition "Hunt" is engraved on the reverse of the butt cap. Crisp, fast DF action. The rod shows signs of light use. No ferrule wraps cracks yet, though there is some slight brassing to the inner part of the guides. The varnish is in perfect condition. The cane is flamed and done in a three up node pattern configuration. The main wraps are a plum color with a band of purple, and red and three plum windaways at the keeper wrap and the male ferrules and tip tops. The stripper is an oxidized german agate and the snake guides are black. The step ferrules are oxidized pewter with a tiny bit of brassing to the lip of the welt. The ferrule fits are perfect and the rod is as straight as the day it left the shop. The grip is 5 1/2" long and shaped to a slim cigar profile (it has been cleaned leaving it slightly ridged). The all metal seat was one of the most challenging jobs in the shop as the cutout was done with an endmill in a drill press and had to be hand cranked with smoking hot shavings landing all over the place! The butt cap has the standard Leonard late model die stamp with "HL Leonard Rod Co / The Rodmaker / Since 1869" in a cartouche. The rod packs into a tan cloth bag with the rod tube black anodized aluminum with polished brass fittings.

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