I center bored the wood handle yesterday getting it ready for the dowel, I'm using a 7/16" Birch dowel to connect the blank to the butt handle, then I will install a reel seat over the connection making it doubly strong. I have also removed the cork fore grip and I am replacing it with a EVA tapered fore grip. I'm not staying true to the period of the rod because I want to see if I can make a nicer inshore rod out of it. Also I want to make it my own custom rod, this is a good rod to experiment with.