1897 John Dunn One-Piece Driver

         Presented here is a rare one-piece driver attributed to John Dunn, the nephew of famed golfer Willie Dunn, Jr. John Dunn received a British patent on this one-piece design in 1895 and a U.S. patent in 1897. Interestingly, in addition to being entirely made out of one piece of wood, the face of the driver consists of a waterproof compressed leather. leather.

        The one-piece design means that each golf club was truly a handcrafted work of art. In fact, early advertisements for this club highlighted the fact that each club was handmade. While the club is certainly beautiful to look at even to this day, the merits of its design and practical inferiority doomed this club almost from the outset.

        The initial review of Dunn's one-piece club was in the May 1895 issue of Golf magazine, and was very favorable. However, only 7 months later, in the December issue of Golf magazine the one-piece Dunn club was panned. Nonetheless, the golf club continued to be produced for a few more years. The one-piece woods were not for everyone, however. They were handcrafted golf clubs meant for only the wealthiest clientele. According to Jeffrey Ellis' book, The Clubmaker's Art, in the 1898 BGI Catalog (BGI had signed a deal with Dunn at this point), the one-piece clubs were by-far the most expensive golf clubs offered. Other woods topped out at $2 apiece, while the one-piece woods sold for an astonishing $3.50. Even after the one-piece woods were discontinued, it would take several years before BGI offered any other golf club for as high as the one-piece woods were priced in 1898.

        The negative December 1895 review by Golf magazine was eventually proved correct. After only a few years, the production of one-piece woods completely stopped. As stated by Golfer's Magazine in 1899, the one-piece wood "ha[d] its demerits, chiefly of which is, that once broken, it is practically useless." That is to say, the one-piece design made the golf clubs both susceptible to breaking, and did not allow the ability to re-shaft the club.

        Because of the aforementioned reasons, very few intact, original one-piece drivers exist. This particular example is in excellent condition, including its original leather face. This club was produced in the late 1890's - approximately 1897.