B.James Stepped up MKIV - Advice needed please on this one

[Julian]

I would like to buy a vintage stepped-up MKIV cane rod to fish with from next spring.
I would like to buy one that is 'ready to go' - ie no work on it required.
Minor cosmetic 'faults' that obviously have no effect on its performance are of no concern to me, I just need to be in very good condition and ready to take out on the bank.

I have never bought any vintage tackle from Ebay or any other secondhand item from Ebay , so I would really appreciate the advice from those far more knowledgeable than me on whether you think the following rod would be a good buy for me or not.
So please have a look at this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-b-jam ... 4179873236

Maybe some of you even know the seller.
Should I make an offer?
Should I go for the 'buy now' option
( I note there is no 'bid' option to choose ?)

The seller lists five 'bad points' about the rod.
However he has already fixed points 1 and 2.
Point 3 is completely irrelevant to me.
Points 4 and 5 are purely cosmetic and I have no concerns about them.

Is this a god buy or not ?

[Beresford]

Well it's straight and the ferrule is good. As the seller states it's a bit of a muddle aesthetically and I've seen better but if that doesn't bother you then make an offer. I wouldn't pay £250 for it but you may not have to. You are allowed to make three offers. If they fail and you still want it use the buy it now but I'd think hard about spending what I think is a bit over the odds given the condition.

[Julian]

Well it's straight and the ferrule is good. As the seller states it's a bit of a muddle aesthetically and I've seen better but if that doesn't bother you then make an offer. I wouldn't pay £250 for it but you may not have to. You are allowed to make three offers. If they fail and you still want it use the buy it now but I'd think hard about spending what I think is a bit over the odds given the condition.

Thanks Beresford
What do you think is actually wrong with the condition ( a bit of a muddle ?) - ie why is it not really worth £250?

[Hovis]

For a fairly rare rod it looks ok. Its not in A1 condition but needs a little work to make it fishable. £150ish would me a more accurate price for me but they dont come up often so if you want one you dont have much choice. Remember a mint one from a dealer will be £300+ but will offer more piece of mind that ebay if I was looking for a mimt rod I would wait for one to be avalible from a dealer.

[NiceRoach]

Decide on the maximum price you want to pay and offer lower because he has the option to make a counter offer straight back at you, and invariably sellers do.

[TemeLAD]

The rod in question was previously listed at £350 - the new BIN price is perhaps reflective of earlier offers - good luck if you decide to bid

[Beresford]

Alarm bells ringing here. I think two different rods have been photographed. Check out the butt rings – they are different. One with nice dark ruby silks shows the correct pattern but the other photos, including the one of the whole rod, show a different non original style of ring whipped in a brighter red. I think pictures three and five are of a different rod.

I'd look into that first but personally having seen that I'd walk away to a safe distance and look for another one.

[Loop Erimder]

Two of the pictures wern't taken on the glass table so what he ^ said

[The Bishop]

Looks dodgy to me
Ask him to explain the difference in pictures also the transfer looks bad to me.

[AshbyCut]

As Robbi says ... the details clearly state :-

"2, solder had broken off on one side of butt guide ( but has now been changed and re-whipped and re-varnished )"