An F.E. Thomas Special bamboo fly rod, 8', 3-piece, 2-tip, and built for what feels to me like a #5 line. Serial "E.F. 159". The rod weighs 4.4 ounces on my scale. Medium fast action. Good condition, with some grip soiling and a bit of fraying to the last signature wraps. The ferrule fits are good and the rod is straight. Dark brown main wraps with 3/3/3/1 signature wraps. The snake guides are american twist, not the usual reverse twist, so the rod may have been re-finished. Minor casting cracks at the ferrule wraps. 5 1/2" blunt cigar grip is well soiled. The seat is a downlocking screw lock with what looks like a butternut spacer. The pocket cap is nickel silver and stamped “F.E. Thomas, Special, Bangor, ME,” and on the end cap “EF 159", as noted earlier. The aluminum screwlock features large “light bulb” threads. The rod travels in a dark green poplin bag with the hang tag still attached and an aluminum tube with F.E. Thomas brass hardware.