This particular Smith-neck anti-shank iron is stamped with a dashed line pattern on the face and the words "Made in Scotland / Warranted / Hand Forged / Smith's Model / Mashie / Special" on the back. It was made by William Gibson of Kinghorn, Scotland, and bears his star stamp.

Original 35 9/16" shaft with original sheepskin grip.  Condition is as shown in photographs.

According to the auctioneer's research, George Francis Smith never actually received a patent for a golf club.  He only applied for one patent during his life, on Oct. 27, 1897, and it is not known what that patent application covered.  Smith, however, was not the only clubmaker to claim a patent for a club design when, in fact, the process was never completed. 

According to a review of his club in the April 1903 issue of Golf (ny), to create his anti-shank iron Smith bent back the lower half of the hosel and attached it to the top of the blade while keeping the top half of the hosel aligned with the leading edge. He placed weight behind both the heel and toe, to better balance the club and to "counteract any inaccuracy in striking with either of these portions of the club." This heel and toe weighting is obvious when one views the back of the head.

In Golf's long history, George Smith was one of the first people—if not the first—to explore heel and toe weighting.  The auctioneer does not know of anybody who did so before him.

For more info, see TCA2 V1 p 191.