Edwards bamboo "De Luxe Tournament " fly rod. 1 of 3 known to exist.

Description

E.W. Edwards “
De Luxe
Tournament ”. 1 of 3 known to exist. Rare and beautiful.
In the early 1900s, there were weekly Sunday casting contests in Central Park in New York city. Rod makers marketed their rods by putting them in the hands of the best casters who could then demonstrate the rod’s casting capabilities. Most
high-end rod builders did this. E.W. Edwards did not. So, when a rod marked as an E.W. Edwards “De Luxe Tournament ” surfaced about 10 years ago it was a surprise. None of the surviving sales ledgers, shop notes, shipping records, or catalogs show any mention of any tournament rods, so this was certainly a special order.
This rod is 1 of 3 known to exist; 2 in MA and 1 in CA.
This rod is built 9’, 3/2 for #6 with a plug-in fighting butt. Caramel cane, raised stripper, brown wraps tipped black, a simple stirrup hook keeper,
an all metal pocket and sliding ring reel seat,
holding the reel foot between 2 rails.
The classic black endcap on the reel seat is removeable. The butt is 6 ½” long and when inserted into the rod adds 5” to the total length. The fighting butt is built on a metal core with cork rings on the grip area.
All sections of this rod are original, full length, straight and sound.
On the bottom flat is written, in very fine script, in white ink, “Edwards De Luxe Tournament”. Patrick Garner, the author of the definitive biography of E.W. Edwards,
Playing with Fire
, has authenticated this rod.
Overall, the rod is in excellent condition. The 7 ¼” nicely shaped cork grip is soiled, there a few small shallow dents in the reel seat and there a few small dents on the shafts. The capped ends on the male ferrules are replacements. So, the rod shows small signs of careful use. Original rod tube with a new bag that holds all sections and the fighting butt.
Delivered for ,500.
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