Hoping to eliminate shanking from the golfer's repertoire, Francis Archibald Fairlie devised and patented an anti-shank iron. In his British patent dated April 18, 1891, Fairlie states "To obviate this difficulty [shanking]...I propose to set the socket or shank of the lofting iron or other metal headed club entirely behind the face of the driving portion or blade."

Although patented by Fairlie, this particular iron was made by Tom Stewart of St. Andrews, as indicated by his pipe cleekmark, and sold by W. J. Rush of Cromer as stamped on the back of the head. Original hickory shaft measures 36," with original grip. Stamp on shaft is similar to the stamp on back of iron head: oval with "W.J. Rush Cromer / Special."

TCA2 V1: p190