Hiram Hawes 8 ft. 3pc/1 tip 3oz
Hiram Hawes 8 ft. 3pc/1 tip 3oz. The butt cap on this rod is marked "Hawes & Co. Makers / Abercrombie & Fitch / Sole Agents New York." My old Leonard-Hawes catalog puts the weight of Hawes 8 ft rods at 3¼ to 3¾ oz and the weight of this rod is decidedly lighter. The tube has a modern plastic label added that says 'Featherweight' but my catalog puts the Hawes rods of this designation only up to 7'9". This is possibly a particularly light version of his standard 8 ft. trout rod and it feels to me like it will want a #3 line. Condition of the bamboo is excellent and full length and straight; the tip is a lighter shade but I have seen this on Hawes rods before. Judging by this lighter bamboo color and also a lighter shade of red to the silk wraps on the tip, my guess is the tip is a well done replacement, possibly by George Guba. A snake guide is used as the stripper as seen on Leonard 'Fairy Catskill' rods and snakes are left hand twist throughout. All sections look to have an old over-coat of varnish over original wraps and finish. Hawes rods of this length and action are impossibly scarce and this one is affordable enough that I would not worry fishing it. In replacement bag and what I believe is the original tube. SOLD
