I made this one for my mother, who loves to fish. You're right in guessing that this rod would not be cheap if I were to sell it - I doubt many fishermen would be willing to pay what I would charge for this rod. I spent seven months on the handle, started on it in December. Just in wood alone, counting the birch bark and three different colors of stabilized box elder burl, there's over $200; the blank cost $100 wholesale, the guides were $20...Maybe I'll get discovered by rich anglers overseas who want ultra-fancy rods, who knows.