VERY SPECIAL PENN INTERNATIONAL 130 With CUSTOM TUNA ROD HISTORIC MUSEUM WORTHY

VERY SPECIAL PENN INTERNATIONAL 130 W/ CUSTOM TUNA ROD HISTORIC MUSEUM WORTHY. Settle in as I have a lot to say about this special opportunity to own what may be the most important Penn 130 ever offered for sale. From the estate of International Anglers Hall of Fame #50 Mr. Franks successes as a Woods Hole Scientist are surpassed only by his skills as a fisherman. Frank started the Bluefin tagging program that is still the reference today back in the late 50's. Frank educated the world on the migration and habits of the mighty Giant Bluefin Tuna. When the first Tuna's he tagged showed up off the coast of Spain and around the world an incredible amount was learned about this special fish. What we know about conservation and migration today is all a direct result of his programs and passion for the species.

Frank even invented the tagging stick still in use today. His knowledge of the Tuna's habits also contributed to his extraordinary success at catching them. This high speed version of the 130 was given to Frank by Penn and retired in 1981 when his lifelong friend and fishing partner Mr. Chuck Olinger documented on the backplate in old whaler style the catch tag and release of a fish Olinger says was over 12' while Frank said 11' plus.

This reel and custom rod made to match hung in Franks "Fish Room " until his death in 2004 when it was bequeathed in his will for Mr Olinger to take possession of it. Chuck died about 10 years later and left it to me with a note saying how I would recognize its importance and made me promise I would keep the history and the rod and reel together for the next curator. This first generation 130 is the biggest (about 14lb) baddest Penn ever made. These early ones had over 100 parts to them and if they tried making it today it would be more than double the price of the current model. The precision and tolerances in the manufacture were superb, much better than today.

What many don't grasp of these first generation Internationals is the oil they used back then didn't age well so the whole thing needs to be dismantled to clean the sludge which is in places not serviceable without disassembling. Not an easy task rebuilding one of these but sure worth it. I spent a few hundred dollars on internals and about a week of a couple hours a day after dinner to do it. I have taken apart 100's of reels and never seen anything like the build found here. The respect I garnered after understanding how beautifully made they are made the job a pleasure.

The weight of the handle is enough for gravity to move it to six o'clock.