Wilson Staff Wedge Mystery

[Stephen8802]

Another one that seems odd. I picked up this pitching wedge at a thrift and I can't completely figure it out. The back looks like the 1960 Triple Duty wedge, but it is stamped pitching wedge and doesn't have the right sole for a triple duty. I have both an original 1960 set and an 80s remake set, and it doesn't match those two pitching wedges, which both look like the standard iron design. So it looks like a one of the special wedges from that year, but doesn't match anything in the catalog. There is a pitching wedge in the special wedge section, but that matches the set wedge.

The shaft and band has the right design and patina for a 1960; my 80s reissues have Dynamic Gold shafts, not these. It was cut down an inch and regripped, so no idea on the original grip. Was there a remake later than the 80's that looked like this? Were there wedges made in 1960 not in the catalog? What exactly did I pick up?

[elwhippy]

Shaft labels hints at late 60s. My late father had a set of X31s with aluminium shafts and Stratabloc 4300 Staff woods and the labels match both sets. Great looking wedge.

[Stephen8802]

Its in nice shape. I'm going to extend the shaft back to standard length and put it in my bag. I look forward to hitting it.

[Ping Player]

I believe this is a pre 65 wedge. I want to say 61. Definitely 60s though. What's throwing me off is the black instead of red bore through. Good looking wedge!

[Swingingk]

There have been several posts over the years where folks have shown pictures of Wilson goodies that look a bit off and I don't think anyone has ever discovered a definitive reason why other than perhaps they were made in different factories or maybe even in different countries. It would not be too surprising to me to find that a similar model wedge forged in the UK or Canada was not exactly the same as those forged in the US. The dies for those were machined by hand back then and would likely have some personal touches to them. No CNC programs to email back and forth in the 60's. Just a theory...

[LeftyMac]

Definitely 1960 and 1961 Triple Duty back. Shaft bands match the photo from the 1961 catalog. None of those years seemed to have Fluid Feel on the sole and the Pitching Wedge had a different back. Perhaps different factories or did they do custom wedges?