Simply stamped "Spalding" on the back of the blade, this niblick dates to the initial year that Spalding began to sell golf clubs—1893.  The original 38 1/2" shaft is also stamped "Spalding.”

In his book Early United States Golf Clubs by A.G. Spalding & Bros., Wright & Ditson and Bridgeport Gun Implement Co. Jim “The Spalding Man” Cooper writes that the “Spalding" (only) mark was first used in 1893 and is one of the first two marks Spalding used to mark their clubs. 

The knurled hosel was typically used when the inside of the hosel was threaded to receive a corresponding left-hand threaded shaft. The thread was made left-handed so striking the ball would only serve to tighten the head.

Screw-in shafts produced by Spalding as well as Wright & Ditson are great collectibles. The 37" shaft on this club is firmly connected to the head and is most likely a screw-in shaft.  However, the auctioneer is unable to guarantee that this shaft will unscrew from the hosel, as some were pinned and the pin hard to see. The 38 1/2" shaft is original and it would have also been glued in place. Most of the original sheepskin grip is gone, but the cloth underlisting is still there and tells its own story of golf club construction 130 years ago.