Willie Wilson was a highly respected cleekmaker based in St Andrews who began making clubs in the 1860s.  In 1903 Harold Hilton wrote that he could "remember the time when an iron made by Wilson, of St. Andrews, was considered a 'pearl beyond price.' "  (see TCA2 V1 p138)

This club is a great example of a Wilson Track iron.  The head is extremely small and slightly dished.  The blade is thick and meaty.  The hosel is 5" long and .76" thick.  Measuring 41" long, this iron was reshafted back in the day. The sheepskin grip is original to the shaft.The reshaft on this club is stamped "Braddell" with a shamrock mark. Joseph Braddell & son of Belfast, Ireland, began selling golf clubs in the 1890s.  The tiny, thick head with a 5" hoisel are traits that date the club prior to 1880, not after 1890. 

Willie Wilson's original cleekmark consisted of "W.Wilson, St. Andrews" all in small letters. On the back of this head, "Wilson' is reasonably clear but the other letters are quite worn to non-existent (what looks like "HOPE" was originally "NDRE" of "Andrews)". Wilson's stamp found on his 1890s irons included the word "maker" as a middle line and the spacing between the lines was tight, unlike the spacing on this iron. 

If you are looking for a track iron with a tiny head and long hosel, that packs a generous bit of heft especially with a 41" shaft, this one fits the bill.  Still in its original patina and looking good!

The ball in the image is shown for perspective, and is not part of this lot.