For centuries wood shafts were joined to wood heads by splicing the shaft onto the head.  Only one iron during the wood-shaft era, however, was made with a splice neck: Frank Murray's Splice Neck iron covered under his April 19, 1910 British Patent dated No. 9439.

This Murray splice neck cleek still has most of its original whipping in place over its spliced neck. The top of the iron's neck is even visible above the top of the whipping. The tip of the shaft is visible below the whipping.  The shaft and grip are original.  The back of the head, made by Wm Gibson of Kinghorn, is stamped "The F Murray, Patent No. 9439" and more.  TCA2 V1 P180