I have a vintage blade problem...

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @SpaldingBear2PW said:

> > @Nard_S said:

> > 1> @No_Catchy_Nickname said:

> > > > @"Ironmaster Oddities" said:

> > > > We are all addicts on this page. But there is no 12-step program here. We are really enablers as well as addicts

> > > >

> > >

> > > Ain't that the truth!

> >

> > 12 steps starts with 12 sets.

>

> I think 14 steps?

> Step 1. Driver

> Step 2. 3w

> .

> .

> .

> Step 14. Putter

 

"Repeat as desired"

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

> @tlhorsh said:

> One thing that i have found guys is to have a wife that is terrified of spiders and cobwebs and therefore detests going to the basement

 

That would work perfectly for me, except I've no basement (something to do with earthquake-proofing, I think).

[Hatchmanss76]

I don’t see a problem nor do I have on either.

 

 

 

[Jiggered]

 

You do have a problem, there are far too many spaces on that racking.

[SpaldingBear2PW]

Couple recent scoops. Its been hard hitting my bucket list, I have to rely on what shows up at goodwill or craigslist being sold by people who don't value them like we do:

the Mac's haven't gotten the TLC treatment yet, but the Haigs cleaned up very nicely. These are WH390's; I've only been able to find WH385s online. Anyone with info?

 

Also, I would love it if someone had any intel on an archive of factory specs for classic clubs. I have a set or two that are not listed on ironfinder.com and or anywhere else. Even the USGA database, which is primarily intended to check for compliance with 2010 groove rules, is not comprehensive.

...and one shiny putter:

 

[jkinger89]

Those are seriously gorgeous.

[jkinger89]

The locker room at the golf course. Worth every penny.

[SpaldingBear2PW]

Cleaned up the FC4000 PT2s:

Not bad for 61 year olds.

[deejaid]

Very nice. I believe you have the 1959’s with the yellow accents and I have the 1960’s with the red accents. Like yours, mine are in great shape with the ceramic face still intact not worn away like many sets. Great clubs!

[ALIF]

I wish everyone still played blades, persimmon, and balata. I loved those days when I was growing up! The lowest score I ever shot was with a set of circa 1948 Tommy Armor 985 McGregor’s shafted with modern S300’s . They were the quintessential butter knives. But it didn’t matter cause I knew exactly where the sweet spot was and how to put the ball on it.

[BIG STU]

Yep I think you nailed it-- 59s I think that is the first year for the Ceramic Faces. My Diamondbacks are 57s and have the "copper faces" and the 2 iron in that set is an absolute pocket rocket

[BIG STU]

Most of the classics we play do not appear on the "conforming" list simply because they have not been submitted and approved.If they are not on the list they are deemed non-conforming. This has been my bone of contention from day one that on the day of manufacture they were conforming to the regulations at the time. Old Macs and Hogans etc do not have "funky grooves" especially the ones made from the 40s to the late 70s. The only thing I can recall being outlawed back in the day were the punched face Spalding and Wilson wedges. All this rule BS is one of the reasons I do not play comp anymore. None of the groups I play in give two hoots what anyone plays not even the couple that play small money matches. Basically I play golf for fun now and I play what I want to. I can see if some folks want to play like club championships etc about the conformity etc. But technically unless it is an elite event you can still play this equipment until 2025. And from what I see around here most locals play what they darn well please and could give 2 hoots less about the USGA , PGA or R&A for that matter

[deejaid]

Which do you prefer Stu, the ceramic faces or the copper faces? The FC 4000’s with the black face frames the ball really nice and I like the feel of the ceramic face over the copper. I have a set of the 57 or 58 “Recessed Weights” with the copper face and don’t really care for them. Same with my 925 Tommy Armour Colokrom’s, don’t love the feel of those either.

[stixman]

These arrived recently, the chrome wasn't brilliant but responded to 'coke' treatment. Ferrules are perfect as are the burgundy and leather grips. Shafts and labels are good too.

[justasgood]

Been looking for a set of these. 1963, my birth year.

[stixman]

And I thought it was only me that liked them.

btw they play as well as they look. I particularly like the wedge, and that came as a surprise. Normally I'm a Wilson man. Echo the thought that I like the set better than the M2 Diamond Backs and the P2 Coppers which I had and moved on.

another btw. I found these in the UK which is also pretty unusual.

[NRJyzr]

 

Everything, or virtually everything, from prior to 1985 is going to have V grooves. And, therefore, almost certainly conforming. You can probably go forward another year or so in non Ping irons, or non-CB irons; 1984 was the first of the U groove Eye2s.

I would find it very surprising if anything with v grooves would have the groove volume to make them non-conforming under the 2010 groove rule.

So, those sets like my 78 Staff Tour Blades, 1980 GoldenRams, my Vibration Matched Golden Rams, are almost certainly OK. As would be my Muirfields, and several other sets I've got lying around.

Admittedly, if they aren't, I don't give an excrement, LOL. I'm going to play my various older sets, regardless of what the USGA says. Just as you've stated, Stu.

[BIG STU]

Believe it or not it is sorta funny with me--- For the 6I to the PW I like the CF faces on the long irons I like the copper faces. For some reason I have trouble spinning the scoring irons with the copper faces but love the long irons distance wise. On my 57s I hit the 2 iron further than any of my 1 irons In fact for a while I had a pristine set of Colorkrom M-85 remakes and carried a "Stu Combo set" with VIP PW thru 7 iron and the rest copper faces. My 57s I do like but those Pro Pel shafts are getting a bit too much for my back these days

[Les Strokes]

what's the loft on that 10 iron?

[tannyhoban]

I loved the Colokrom remakes. Had a set for years. Keep reading your posts and might put together a vintage set of Macs again.

Macgregors in woods and irons were always king to me.

Be fun to get back into restoring a set of TA, TP or M series. Nothing like them.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I've got it bad for classic irons. No particular company, just like limited offset, clean lines, clean faces. This year I took it really easy on buying iron sets. Just Macgregor Pro82s. A set came up on Yahoo auction for next to nothing and I bought them up without a second thought. Before that I think the last set were Mizuno MS 203. Near new, Faldo design... Just absolutely gorgeous. I haven't taken either set out as I couldn't kick my Tourstage MR23 Cb out of the bag. Might take one of the sets of blades to Hawaii in February which ought to be my next time out. I've got a few days off work for new year's and I am having a hard time not snapping up a couple other sets. If I do, I had better sell a few sets to make the wife happy.

Also, thinking of taking a set of Daiwa blade heads down to the local custom shop and see if they can arrange to have them stripped, shafted with a spare set of DGS200, and have the lofts weakened a touch to reduce some offset. Then I can take the file to the soles a little and slap on a little lead tape and have the ugliest goddamned beautiful set of irons in Japan.

[Jiggered]

Great find!

And very rare to see in the UK, leather grips and complete ferrules too, your lucky day when you found those.

[BIG STU]

Nothing says character like file marks, lead tape and rust----

[Fellaheen51]

Very nice Mr. Stix. You're not the only one that has a shine towards them. Found a dusty, rusty set (2 - 9 only) at a resale shop for a $1.00 per in BFE a couple of years back. But recognizing what they were (old Macs), grabbed them as a resto project. Gussied up quite nicely. Even had the same grips. Rex235 commented that the "crown" ferrules were in homage to Brunswick, the owner of MacGregor at the time. They were pretty cool looking implements. Tried hitting some balls with the 7 iron once, dam(n) near broke my wrists when the head dug into the turf and stopped. Considered them dangerous in my hands and sold them off. All that remains are the pics.

They come and they go. So many clubs over time, to little storage space to keep everything. What's the point of hanging to stuff if it's never going to get played?

 

[russad]

@Fellaheen51 I like the way you photographed the heads, I think it is a great way to display them.

[SpaldingBear2PW]

Point of historical education for me as well- apparently way back in the day, the PUTTER wore the #10 jersey as it was the next club in the bag after #9. I found it quite curious myself until someone set me right. Regardless, its got a nice feel on the strike and looks sharp as hell.

[Foozle]

I have it bad...Started with a list of about 10 sets I lusted over but couldn't dream of affording back in the 70's / 80's. Justified it to myself and my wife by saying I was spending less than a new set of irons. Still saying that but not telling the wife that I am in PXG territory now! Could comfortably play a different set of blades every Saturday for a year - probably sneak a few Sunday rounds too! Still don't see it as a problem though....maybe I'm in denial!

[REJ]

I like the '65 W/S

[BIG STU]

I can also play a different set of blades every Saturday for a year and different persimmon drivers and fairways too for that matter and also throw in wedges and putters too. So much great stuff and little time!!!

[REJ]

Nice vintage grips too. They're becoming more and more of a rarity as people continue switching them out.