We have the extreme pleasure of bringing to market for the very first time this early Heavy Iron or Sand Iron. Our consignor purchased this club in approximately 1967, where it has remained ever since. The world of antique golf clubs is a small one, but we'd venture to say that few have seen this club before today. 

Thirty years ago, in 1988, our consignor did contact the USGA to show them this club (and the track iron offered in the next lot). Included with this club is a 1988 letter from the USGA Museum Committee (from well-known golf historian Bob Hansen) thanking him for the opportunity to see the clubs. We showed photos to Bob Hansen again recently, who fondly recalled these historic golf relics. 

Early golf irons are among the most cherished pieces of golf memorabilia, and the offered club is one of the finest we’ve ever had the privilege to offer.

According to Bob Hansen, this exquisite sand iron may date to the late 1700s, but certainly at least into the very early 1800s. A scant few authentic irons from this era still exist, and almost all are in museums, historic golf clubs/societies, or tucked away in the world's top collections.

This early Sand Iron is 40.5" long. 4.4" hosel. Head is 4" from toe to heel. The height of the head is 2.25". Ash shaft. The rivet is perpendicular to the line of play instead of parallel which would be soon be commonplace on all clubs (it doesn't make sense to create a perpendicular rivet, as exists on this club, as it you're just asking for a loose head-shaft connection). 

Full specs:

Length: 40.5"
Hosel: 4.4"
Head: 4" from toe to heel
Diameter at top of hosel where it joins the shaft: .946"
Diameter of hosel just below the pin: .973"
Diameter of top of shaft where it joins the hosel: .891"
Diameter of shaft just below the listing: .988" and top of listing: .988"
Thickness of top of blade at midpoint of blade: .171"
Thickness at bottom (leading edge) of the blade at midpoint: .614"
Width of hosel pin: 1.059"