Snapper skin grip & Tuna weave

[Owen]

Unlike me this rod has been a long time coming.
I've had the blank for about 2 years.
A Hastings GUSA C704DHX
The foregrip is snapper skin purchased from Mermaid Leather. They also do Barra skins, Shark & Stingray etc.
Alps SS guides top it off.
Tuna chasing flying fish weave is 88 x 191 - 9 layers done in Madeira.
I tried something a little different by using two wrap threads. A green madeira beside the gudebrod white & silver tri-mar. I was trying to achieve a tiger like effect. On reflection a darker colour may have been better. It did of course lengthen the weave, so an "A" or even "C" design thread would have been better for the proportions of the tuna, but this blank wasn't big enough so I left it as is.

The fish is an Aussie snapper. Not the donor

[OSiDE FiSHER]

Freakin Sick Owen!

[BuonaForTuna]

Pretty cool!

[Capt. G]

Now that is original.
Could you pls. post a pic of the seam on the other side?

[Owen]

G
There is a noticeable seam on this one.
I realised too late I should have used CP on the raw edges.
I don't mind the seam but you live & learn.

[mb757]

Beautiful work Owen. The skin is original and the thread work is exceptional.

[DenisB]

really nice threadwork Owen

The Snapper skin leather is a neat concept too.

like you say, live & learn with the grip wrap.

You can't hide a damn thing from Greg...........he knows where all the difficult bits are
............. the old 'been there done that' caper.........just maybe not with snapper skin leather.

The current one might be camouflaged with another epoxy coat and a judicious seam of pigmented epoxy ( sort of like a narrow marble strip over the discoloration.)
It could be a light tan colour to minimise contrast or another colour as a highlight.
( just a thought ).

[DocSki]

Getting quite artsy these days Owen. excellent workmanship on all levels my friend. Next time you want that wavy effect on the wrap thread of a weave drop me a line. I got lots of Holland and willing to share with you.

[Capt. G]

Originally Posted by Owen

G
There is a noticeable seam on this one.
I realized too late I should have used CP on the raw edges.
I don't mind the seam but you live & learn.

I know there is a noticeable seam, as I have done similar applications.
Yours looks really straight, and sharp. The one I did did not look (the seam side) nearly as good as yours. Great job, IMO.

[Zombie]

Very nice Owen. Certainly, very unique and original. The entire "theme" fits well together, you've got some time in that baby. Randy.

[Jan from Humbol]

Nice!

[FAT CAT]

That's cool Owen. I like they way the scales wrap matches the grip. Good job!