B. James & Son Richard Walker MK IV Avon c1953

This is a very tidy and sound early example built on a Bob Southwell blank. Increasingly hard to find and not made in great numbers, these Avons are elegant, lissom yet sturdy rods, superb to fish with. The action comes all the way down to the handle but the rod doesn’t lack power. It loads under its own weight, making free-lining practical. For small stream chub, barbel and perch, not to mention wild carp fishing, MK IV Avons of this vintage are a joy to own and use.

In the mid-1990s we re-corked (using significantly better corks) the handle on this rod and supplied new alloy sliding reel bands and a butt cap. No damage had been done to the blank or its finish but mice had taken a liking to the handle. We determined that the rod was otherwise exceptional and in the process of restoring it to its correct condition, we replaced the intermediate bridge rings with hard chromed stainless steel ones of the same size and pattern. The original clear Amberfin butt ring and agate tip ring were retained, along with the hook keeper ring.

The rod has been lightly used only a handful of times since we carried out the above work. It is in superb condition and ready to fish with.

Specification.

10’ 2-piece hand-planed split cane blank made by Bob Southwell

Flor grade cork handle turned to the original size with a trumpet shaped top

Alloy sliding reel bands and butt cap made by the Barder Rod Co. The original red rubber button is in place

The generously sized reinforced ferrule is a firm fit.

The butt ring is the original clear Amberfin, the intermediate rings are hard chromed stainless steel and the tip ring is agate and nickel silver.

All whippings are classic and correct Burgundy silk, very closely whipped (by the fabled Mrs Murgett) at the tip, and the rod was over-varnished when we last worked on it so it is completely waterproof.

The Ealing era transfers are complete.

The rod retains its original labelled bag.