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2 Signed PUDDICOMBE Handmade Wood Canoe Paddles ~ RARE
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2 Signed PUDDICOMBE Handmade Wood Canoe Paddles ~ RARE
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We are offering a set of TWO (2) rare SIGNED Peter Puddicombe ofCanadahandmade bent shaft canoe paddles, a size 54" and a 52". The bend looks to be approx. 12 - 14 degrees which would have been typical for Peter's famed bent shaft sticks. The intricate and detailed grips are beyond comfortable in the hand. Those of you who know of Peter Puddicombe know how scarce these items are and how difficult they are to come by - they are rarely seen for sale. They excel in the water and although the lucky people who own them often display them on the wall as the art they are, they are meant and built to be used - rugged and strong. Puddicombe, who was a Canadian park ranger before devoting his full time to custom paddle making, does not make paddles anymore as apparently from what I could read he suffered some sort of a medical malady about 5 or so years ago that prevented his continuing his art - in fact, according to internet blogs of some years back, numerous customers waiting for custom paddles were disappointed as they learned they would not then nor ever be receiving a paddle from the esteemed artisan.
For those of you who do not know of Puddicombe, he was a near legendary paddle maker of some years back....his paddles were much sought after both for their beauty and supreme performance/feel/balance. These paddles are of red cedar and more specifically the "chocolate" variety which I am told by current custom paddle makers is extremely difficult to get hold of these days - thus for dark color they now use other less efficient and cheaper wood types by default. The paddles themselves are extremely lightweight and strong - a testament to the fine craftsman who fashioned them. I purchased these paddles over ten years ago when my good friend who was then owner of a Bell Canoe dealership here in Florida was able to get two (and only two) of them - Peter made a small number of signed paddles for the Bell company around ten years ago (the Bell bear paw print is on the paddles along with Puddicombe's hand signed signature and "Canada"). Puddicombe may have made the finest wood paddles ever - I have seen and used numerous fine custom wood paddles over the years and I have never seen or held one as beautiful or as well balanced as these. I would like to tell you that I knew what I was buying ten years ago but, I was relatively new to serious canoeing and uninitiated to the paddle maker's art - what I could recognize however, was the almost mesmerizing craftsmanship and beauty of these paddles and then.... to take them in your hands....well......you just knew you were holding something special. Later I would come to appreciate the finer nuances of these fine blades. These two paddles are being sold as a set and will not be broken up - they are matched to well for that and it would almost be criminal. Whether you are desirous of the finest custom wood canoe paddles to move your canoe or want to display beautiful rare piece(s) of canoe art history in your home....or both - you will not be dissapointed. They have been used sparingly and cared for lovingly over the time I have had them (wiped down after every usage) - they retain the same luster that they had when I purchased them - please see photos. When I did use them it was in deeper waters with the 54" being my paddle in the stern and the 52" being used by my wife in the bow of our tandem canoe. Do not confuse these with the other "custom" made wood paddles which regularly run here on Ebay - this is a different animal on a different level - one likely not to be seen again for some time if past year's are any indicator. These are being offered at an asking price of $698.00 - this equates to $349.00 per paddle which is about $150 dollars LESS per paddle than the average cost of today's finest elite/custom paddles which often run $500.00+ (Quimby etc.) for the best of the best - if they are even still making them - Quimby, perhaps the last of the "legend" caliber paddle artist/crafters, I believe also gave it up - I know that when he was still making them a few years back, the... 
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