In 1904 James Winton, a well-respected clubmaker in Montrose, Scotland, offered an array of perforated-face water and rake irons designed and patented by James Brown, a blacksmith in Montrose. Deemed the "Heros of the Hazards," Brown irons were designed primarily to help golfers hit shots from water, sand, and high grass. Despite being the most visual of clubs created during the early 20th century, they never really caught on.  Some golfers tried them but soon learned the clubs did not work very well.  It's in the failed attempts of the most creative clubmaking ideas that some of the greatest golf collectibles are born, which is why all of Brown's perforated face irons are outstanding collectibles. 

The James Brown perforated driving mashie offered here is among the rarest clubs from Brown's family of water/rake irons. The face scoring consists of a flower pattern inside a circle and is strong. The head has a 37" reshaft.  The hosel has been pinched at the top ever so slightly, to help tighten the shaft, but it does not impact the club visually.  "Made in Britain" is stamped on the sole. Brown's cleekmark is on the back of the head.

Brown's driving mashie is his only perforated face iron that has three open slots in the heel.  All the others have two, as can be seen in the accompanying 1904 Golf Illustrated advertisement of Brown's array of water/rake irons.