Amazing work. I would cry like a baby if I lost one!
I am currently talking to a nice man in China about mass production of four piece bamboo shafts. These would be from Tonkin, from four rather than six pieces and with a hollow centre. This would give strength but not too much weight.
Problem at the moment is that minimum order quantity is 100,000 shafts!
Early days yet but it may happen one day.
Mark in England