B. James & Son Richard Walker MK IV.

This is a rod from the same superbly composed collection that has yielded a B. James & Son Walker-signed MK IV, three MK IVs with Built To Endure transfers, three superb MK IVs inscribed by James Bruce, Peter Thomas’s MK IV built for him by Richard Walker and the first ever B. James MK IV, which was present at the capture of Clarissa. How do you like those onions?

I have no idea what that expression means. I just thought I’d try it out. One may also ask the respondent if they like apples.

There are no transfers or decals. The rod was inscribed with Indian ink by James Bruce Snr, proprietor of B. James & Son. Richard Walker inscribed a small number of MK IVs that had the gold B James transfers applied. While Mr Bruce was waiting for the new transfers proposed by Richard Walker, he had almost certainly run out of the gold transfers and rather than going to the considerable trouble of delivering more rods to Walker for him to inscribe, he did the job himself. Such rods are exceedingly rare.

This is the third example we have offered for sale from one of the earliest stages in the evolution of this iconic rod. I personally vouch for its authenticity, quality and rarity.

The rod is built on a particularly clean, fine and straight hand-made Southwell blank. Its ferrules are sound and retain a nice fit.

The 29″ handle has a subtle trumpet shaped flare at its top, with the usual alloy reel bands and butt cap from W R Products of Shepherd’s Bush.

The butt and tip rings are agate lined nickel silver, with chrome plated bridge intermediates. The original hook keeper ring is whipped in above the handle.

Silk whippings are a delightful Burgundy red. They were sealed with cellulose, which has yellowed and crazed slightly over the course of seventy years. This is absolutely to be expected and inevitable. Later B James rod whippings were sealed with shellac, which is much longer lasting. These whippings are typical of the very early B James rods and the intermediates are relatively broad and openly spaced. The rod has had a single coat of the correct type of varnish applied over the original finish to seal in the goodness.

The rod comes in its B, James & Son tailored bag.