Francis & Archibald Carrick were first listed as "edge tool manufactures" in the Musselburgh Directory for 1848-1849. Sometime in the late 1850s or 1860s, following the deaths of Francis and Archibald, Alex and Archibald Jr. took over the business and continued to operate as F&A Carrick.  For the Carricks, forging irons was more a sideline to their primary business of making tools. They were one of the first cleekmakers to mark their irons. 

This particular cleek dates to 1880.   It is marked with Carrick's "X" cleekmark with the Carrick name worn off. The head has a 4 1/4" long hosel. The blade is sleek and slender, with the topline nearly parallel to the leading edge as is the proper design of an early cleek. The 36 1/2" shaft appears to be original. The sheepskin grip is old and dates to the age of the club. Carrick irons were prized by golfers during the second half of the 19th century. They would use a cleek or lofter when they wanted to protect their long nose clubs from possible damage. 

For more information on Carrick clubs, see TCA2 v1 p125, 135-136, 139.