Lot # 10: K's Putter c1820 w/Hand Split Ash Shaft

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 12 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring 2023",
which ran from 4/5/2023 12:00 PM to
4/22/2023 8:00 PM



Consistent with many of the long nose clubs made during the early 1800s and before, there is no maker's name on this club.  Instead, all it has is an owner's initial "K" carved into the butt end of the grip.  Hence it's nicknamed here as "K's club. 

This putter, however, has many other elements that are consistent with an early 1800s long nose putter. The 35 1/2" shaft is made from ash. It's distinct, long ribbons of grain can be seen running the length of the shaft which has been hand splint and worked to shape. A person can feel the resulting asymmetry of the hand-made shaft when holding it loosely with one hand and turning the grip with the other.  The listing on the grip end of the club is not complete. Originally, it could have had been covered with another wrap of listing or a sheepskin grip, but the shaft does not have a nail hole below the listing or any evidence of a sheepskin grip on the remaining listing, so tough to say what exactly once covered this listing.

By 1820, hickory shafts were well on their way to overtaking ash as the shaft of choice.  The fact that this club has an ash shaft is a great early characteristic.  The head (measuring 2 5/32" wide,  5 5/8" long, 1 3/32" in face depth) is larger and the horn (measuring a full 1/4" thick) is thicker than it is on gutty ball clubs. Plus the general shape and nature of this club also speak to the great age of this feather-ball-era club. The bottom half of the whipping is replacment whipping. Top half of the whipping is old, just not sure how old.  It could be the original whipping.

During its storied and well-used life, this putter stayed in the game longer than most. It's face has the battle scars to prove it. There are cracks the extend up from the bottom of the face, and the toe has been worn down as has a significant portion of the top-line.  Still, the club is somewhere around 200 years old, if not a bit older, and tells quite a story. A prime example from this period would be a five figure club, so the wear on this putter does not make it any less old, just more affordable.  Plus there is still a lot that is right with this club which still has its original shaft, underlisting, horn, lead, and finish.

 

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