@mmayo - I was wondering if anyone has ever requested hardwood rod butts? Some of us might remember seeing hickory and other wooden butts on boat rods, paired with chrome reel seats (Lakeland, Varmac, etc). They've got out of fashion now thanks to the advent of aluminium (Unibutts) and "slick" plastic butts, but I can't help thinking a set of light billfish rods with hardwood butts would look very handsome indeed.