For sale here is a Walt Carpenter 'Stream Grade" 7'6" 3/2 4-5wt bamboo rod, made for Catskill fly-fishing legend, Frank Kuttner. The rod is in excellent+ original condition. All sections are full length and straight. The second tip section was made at a later date by Walt.

The rod features a handsome matte finish with bronze wraps and red, gold, and dark green tipping at the winding check. The tip sections are differentiated by different wraps at the tip-tops. Agate stripping guide. Blued hardware. Petite swelled butt. The cigar grip measures 5 3/8" in length with light soiling. Nickel silver cap and ring reel seat over a dark burl wood spacer. "W.E. Carpenter" "Maker" is stamped into the butt cap. The ferrules are size 9/64 and 15/64 with an excellent fit. The rod weighs 3.55 oz. The rod has a medium-fast dry fly action. Original bag and labeled tube.

Mr. Carpenter's description of his "Stream Grade" rods follows:

The creation of one-of-a-kind and specialty rods has always been my specialty and it is by nature an experimental endeavor. By working this technique for over 30 years, I have produced many prototype or working examples that were cast and tested and then the customers' rods were made from these patterns. Never made from inferior cane, but utilizing cosmetically faulted pieces of bamboo, these blanks make into fishing rods of great variety and value. I call the rods made from these, "try sticks" my "Stream" grade. As has always been the case, all steps in the making of these rods is done in house by me, except for a few rudimentary chores left to my daughter-in-law.