In the mid-1970s, Karsten produced a few hundred beryllium copper putters for Kawecki Berylco Industries. These putters were identical to the one in this lot except this putter is not marked KBI in the back cavity. The rest of the cavity stamp on this club matches that of the KBI putters, as does the BeCu stamped on the heel of the face. Ping made a few BeCu putters after the company completed the KBI order for their own custom order purposes.  

KBI putters were the first Beryllium Copper clubs to enter the game.  BeCu putters would later become very popular, as would BeCu irons.  Ninety-eight percent pure beryllium is quite expensive.  Today it sells for $600 to $800 per pound.

The mold Karsten used to make the KBI putters was originally made by two counterfeiters in 1971.  ATPWP p 129-131

This putter, which shows little use, has a sightline.  KBI putter heads were cast without a sight line. The line on this putter, however, was installed by PING as was the Neumann leather wrapped grip. This putter was custom made with those features for former PING tour pro John Adams and bears his name on the sole.