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Carp
Rods For
most anglers the description ‘carp rod’ is synonymous with Mk IV. Every
feeling angler wants a Mk.IV. It is an Icon, a magic wand, history made real,
a touchstone, and a link with Walker’s immortality. Mark IV type rods were
made by many manufacturers, many of them much better than the James’ version
that is so eagerly sought for the caché of its name. For
those wanting to understand the Mk IV business better, the following excerpt
from an article published in CarpWorld some years ago, may help. The Great Mk.IV Pecking Order As
everyone knows, Dick Walker always said that he designed the Mk.IV because he
felt at the time there were no rods on the market that were really suitable
for big carp. In truth, there were several excellent rods available in the
late 1940’s that would have performed the job very well. Dick however, knew
he wanted something special, and the rest is history. As designed by Dick
Walker this was a highly efficient rod that has since become a classic. It is
a rod that is still in great demand today despite the fact that a good new
one can now cost seventy times as much as the original. Apart from its
designed use, this versatile rod can, at a pinch, be happily employed to spin
for pike and salmon, or leger for chub and barbel. Whatever
the condition of an old Mk.IV it’s the provenance of each rod that governs
its place in the pecking order of desirability. The vast majority of them
were made by B.James of Ealing who cornered the lion’s share of the market
with the invaluable advantage of Walkers personal recommendation. Whether or
not they made the best Mk.IVs (and in the view of many cane experts they
certainly didn’t) B.James-made rods now, as then, have the greatest appeal to
the vast majority of would-be Mk.IV owners. Carp
rod collectors will know though, that there are several rods that are
infinitely more desirable than the bog-standard James Mk.IV. They’re all
wonderful, but to aficionados some are more wonderful than others. Leaving
aside the vexed matter of values: in order of covetability, the rods grade
approximately as follows: 1. Rods made by Walker’s own hands (about
eight in total). 2. Rods assembled by Walker from bought-in
Southwell blanks (possibly another ten rods). 3. Rods from the first batch made by B.James
and signed in Indian ink by Walker himself (one batch of rods – possibly 25,
although it’s possible that Walker signed other rods when asked to do so by
individuals). 4. Rods from whatever source, owned by famous
anglers, and with a Walker connection. 5. Rods from whatever source, owned by famous
anglers. 6. Very early rods made by B.James from Bob Southwell blanks.7. Very early |