A very nice Gary Howells bamboo fly rod, 8', 2-pieces, 2-tips, built for a #6 line. Serial #4650 with a build date of December 1980. 4.4 ounces. Mint unused condition, with the plastic still on the grip. Medium fast action, and it has always felt to me like many of the Howells 6-weight rods are quicker than the #4's and #5's. Oven tempered cane that is dark wheat straw in color and done in a three up node pattern configuration. Carbide stripper and chrome snake guides. The main wraps are brown with gold-yellow edges and one purple-red band at the keeper. Superb varnish. The grip is 6" long and shaped to a western style grip. As mentioned, both paper and plastic are still on the grip. Nicely varnished Zebra wood spacer and an aluminum uplocking screwlock. Comes in the original red cloth bag and the aluminum tube, which are in perfect condition. The Howells data sticker is on the tube and intact. This rod is 41 years old but looks as though it was shipped from the shop yesterday!