This is the #8 rod I built under my own name after leaving the Paul H Young Co. were I worked for 17 years building bamboo fly rods. At that time I played with the idea of making Blond colored rods like the Dickerson rods I even built a electric heat treat oven. And made 8 blond rods this way This is one of them. After more though & talking to Fisherman i met durning my time at the Young Co. I used the open flame as i had done for 17 years. this rod is in excellent condition I made the rod for a lady In New Jersey She mainley used It on the Raritan River near Far Hills N. J.