B.James of Ealing What rod is this?

[MrCrabtree]

Just purchased a bundle of rods and other items including a 2 piece split cane 10' 2" rod which weighs approximately 14oz.
It has dark green whippings with lots of intermediates. The ring whippings looking nearly black but definitely dark green. The tip and butt rings being lined with a clearish material, cannot remember what the lining is called but not red agate.
It has what I call a spigot ferrule joint. The inscription reads B James & Son Ealing London.
However there is no other label. Any ideas as to what rod this is?

Apologies if the photos don't appear I have had a bit of a nightmare downloading them.
Any thoughts as to what the rod is are most welcome
Regards
Mike

[NiceRoach]

Early B.James Mark IV

[Black Prince]

Very early b James mk 4 carp rod ,clear agate but ring ,very nice find ,mike

[Black Prince]

Forgot to say trumpet shaped cork handle is the earliest shape ,mike

[PershoreHarrier]

A very fine rod indeed - well done.

[MrCrabtree]

Interesting but I am a bit surprised as the dimensions of the cane are a little larger than my more recent B James MK IV and it is also two or three ounces heavier . Does that seem correct as I thought all dimensions of MK IV s would be similar unless we would be talking of a stepped Up (SU) rod?

[Liphook]

Send it to me, I'll give it a thorough testing over the next three decades and then give you my opinion It looks a beauty

[Black Prince]

Yes stepped up,mike

[Ambrosia]

Just stumbled upon this thread...
Is this perchance the same rod that's in the current Angling Auctions catalogue for the April 21 sale? Also listed in the previous catalogue, so presumably it didn't sell first time around, which is understandable given the COVID situation.

Listed as an early protoype for the mkiv SU

[James]

That will be the right weight for a mkiv carp rod. Stepped up would be a lot more. Richard Walker weighed his mk iv carp blank at 10 oz .He then had the whole cane under the handle spliced in ,the ferrules,guides alloy fittings and a button.
B james did make the same rod for game fishing .I have seen them without the inscription and also some with nickel silver ferrules.