In 1969, Ping introduced the "Karsten l" iron with its cast, perimeter-weighted head. The Karsten l was Ping's first mass-produced iron set and it took the market by storm.

Two years earlier, to prep for his first mass-produced irons, Karsten made 300 sets of cavity back "Ping Anser" irons by hand.  These heads were forged, not cast, and his son Allan milled out the back of every one.  Each head has a number in the back cavity to assist in assembling the clubs to the correct weight. 

The set of forged 1967 Ping Anser irons offered here consists of a 2 through PW as well as a SW. The back cavities are unpainted, and appear like that might have been sent out the door that way.  The back cavities are all marked "58" except for the PW and SW, as those clubs were typically not stamped with numbers.  These numbers were not production numbers, but rather ID numbers used to match sets together according to weight. This would be considered a medium weight set. The 2 iron measures 39 13/16."

The shafts in the 2-PW are original True Temper Dynamic black chrome shafts.  The sand wedge was added to the set as it has a True Temper Dynamic standard chrome shaft and a different grip. The difference between the standard chrome shaft in SW and the black chrome shaft in the 2 through PW can be seen in the images. The colorful Golf Pride Eagle grips on the 2-PW appear to be original given the overall lack of wear on these clubs. if not original they certainly date to the day when these clubs have been used.

This is a wonderful set of historic PING forged Anser irons. These early PING forged hand-made irons will ever be revered in the history of the game. They represent ground zero for all the millions of perimeter weighted, cavity back clubs that would follow and will continue to follow their lead.