The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

This is a 1955 B James Mark 1V Avon that is missing a couple of rings. It has never been close whipped and is finished with red and green. I am having trouble matching the green as I want to get it right. Does anyone in TFFLand know what colour green B James used on their early Mk 1V Avons? Many thanks Fredline.


I used number 3 a mid green varnished with no sealant. A very good match.

The green I've seen on a few original James rods is a dark olive shade that tends to go very dark with age – quite different to the bottle green of your restored rod. It may be a Clive Young restoration, my Harvey Torbett Avon is whipped in the same colours when it should really be red.

Beresford wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:10 pm The green I've seen on a few original James rods is a dark olive shade that tends to go very dark with age – quite different to the bottle green of your restored rod. It may be a Clive Young restoration, my Harvey Torbett Avon is whipped in the same colours when it should really be red.

I have been around rods long enough to know that this is all original and not a restoration, just no close whipping. Hardy produced a few with no close whipping and whipped in red and green. I remember Ashbycut bought one a few years ago. I believe in the adage "He who pays, says" and this rod is a classic case of that.It is not unique, just not very common.