Early 1800s Blacksmith Iron

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.

This is a thick blade iron dates to the early 1800s. These early cleeks did not function as “irons” like we all know and use today; they were actually more akin to approach putters. It has been stated that as few as 6 or 7 examples are known to exist.

The offered club has been directly compared to two known similar examples, the cleek in the R&A clubhouse in St. Andrews which they have dated to 1780, and the cleek in the Bruntsfield collection which they have dated to 1800.  Though the subject of dating can be very difficult with ancient clubs, what cannot be debated is the striking similarities between the offered club and those two famous examples.

This club also has many similar characteristics with the very early cleek that once resided in the legendary Jeff Ellis collection which is depicted on page 120 of The Clubmaker’s Art (Second Edition). That club was offered during the 2007 Sotheby’s Auction of the Jeff Ellis collection with an auction estimate of $20,000-$30,000 and resulted in a sale just north of $20,000.

In the 1980s, this cleek was discovered in a loft near Edinburgh, Scotland, close to the legendary (but now extinct) Leith Links. It has resided in a private overseas collection since 1986.

Club Specs:

Rivet through hosel is at an angle of 20-30 degrees (as opposed to parallel to target as soon an all later clubs).

Length of hosel: 5 3/8” (even though this club does not have typical saw tooth nicking, which would make hosel even longer).

Head length = 3 7/8 inches

Head width or depth = 1 1/2

Thickness of sole = 3/8

Thickness of blade at top = 5/16

Overall length of club = 37.3/4

Weight 550 grams or 19.40 ounces.

Approx. 37 degrees of loft.

Lie is very upright.