Vtg. Hardy"The Houghton" 11'4-Pc. Bamboo Salmon Fly Rod

 Offered today is this Hardy Palakona "The Houghton Rod" 4 Piece, 11 Foot Bamboo Salmon Rod. This is one beautiful early rod. It comes with the original Bamboo case with a very nice brass screw cap to hold the two tips. The tips alone are worth what I will be asking for a starting bid. I wish the person who buys this rod could see it in person before he bought it. But I guess he will be very happy when he opens the package and sees it, that I guarantee.  The problem with this rod is at one time it either cracked or broke in two. Back then they had very smart people as far as saving items and making them still work like before it broke. This is in the center section and it appears that they took a ferrule that had a female part on both ends that was just the right size. They slid it over both broken or cracked pieces and glued it together. On second thought the rod was never refinished and the ferrule and two guides have never been touched so that would mean that unless they cut the two female ferrule in half and then put it back together the rod must have been in two pieces. In any case they did a great job. I have put it through every test I could think of to try and have it brake there. I bent the section as hard as I could. I put the rod together and held the but and whipped the rod back and forth as hard as it could until the tip was almost hitting the ceiling  and floor,but it seems to be as strong as when it was made. Of course I guarantee it, not for 7 days but in this case at least a year from braking in that spot. If it does I will even pay the shipping back to me. Please save this listing if you buy the rod, even if I am gone by then, you can send a copy to my wife and I have instructed her to for fill  my wishes and she agreed. So as others say, "Buy with confidence".What most people don`t realize is this is like going to an advertised estate auction where a person  has collected fishing items over a 40-year period and most of the time would only settle for the best of conditions unless I felt it was a collector`s item even if it had a few problems. I am not just another eBayer with a couple of rods that I picked up at a yard sale. This is a lifetime collection & I would never sell it if I were not terminally ill. I feel that I am starting them at a very fair price due to the present economic situation.  I have over 40 Fly Rods left, and about 50 good Fly, Spinning and Casting Reels and over 1000 antique lures that I have never tried to sell until now.  It will be in the condition I said or your money back & freight both ways. I never put a reserve on my items, just a low starting bid.  I want to keep my 100% feedback so if there are any questions, please e-mail me and I will take care of it. If I don`t get back to you right away its because I am disabled and in bed 24/7. At least this gives me something to do. Thank you for looking.