This mint condition Walt Carpenter rod still has the tissue paper on the handle. Included is a handwritten letter signed by Walt Carpenter, relaying this 2/2 rod: "is made to J. Payne's Mod 97 taper using Payne cane from the old shop, original new Payne hardware, guides, ferrules, reel seat hardware, ferrule plug, etc. Payne silk, Spanish cedar also. This is #11 in the LIKE A series I've made over the last 45 yrs". With brown wraps tipped yellow, bronze colored snake guides, white agate stripper, blued ferrules, 5 1/2" cigar grip, and Spanish cedar reel seat with blued cap and sliding band. The varnish is perfect, all sections are full and straight, and it has the original bag, tag, and double labeled tube. Inked near the butt ferrule is: "W.E. Carpenter, Maker, 'Special Project', Payne Mod. 97 Taper". The same inscription is inked on the tissue paper and the bag tag. It was built in 2011 and is rated for #4 lines. Also included is a Walt Carpenter brochure.