Hogan Apex mystery to solve

[Beverlyxyz]

What year are these Apex? I am familiar with all versions but these seem to be a variant. Maybe UK, Canada, Australia, Japan?

What throws me is the # stamps are a different font, and in black. 

They have AMF Apex steel (3) shafts and original Hogan exclusive design grips. 

They seem to have subtle similarities to Director, Redline and Radial. 

Thanks

 

[elwhippy]

What a stunning set of irons. The script on the PW looks more akin to Wilson Staffs. A prototype set perhaps?

[Beverlyxyz]

Thanks elwhippy. Not sure, that’s the mystery :)

I got them in town from a retired fellow who won them in a golf tournament in 1985. Rarely and barely used.

We are in Canada which points me to maybe it’s a odd mode that had limited distribution, maybe pro or proshop only.

But every other Apex set I’ve seen here or the dozens I have sport the red and/or Italicized numbers on the sole. So certainly hard to determine.

I hate to say what I bought them for ☺️.

$20 including a mint Apex PC 1- iron.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Oh, you shouldn't have said how much you paid for them. Now I feel sick!

Amazing price for irons in that condition, and the 1-iron alone would probably go for at least double that here in Japan.

Talking of odd Apex irons, there was a set listed as Apex II up for sale on the Japanese Yahoo! auction site a few months ago that I couldn't find anything about. The listing said it was designed by a well-known Japanese club craftsman, (whose name I think is Kutsuma Yukio), and it had the Hogan and Apex stampings but not much else. The listing has ended, but here's a link. Another mystery set of Apexes?https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c803121115

[gmarchese]

never seen a set of Apex's with PITCHING WEDGE instead of EQUALIZER. Weird.

[BIG STU]

Exactly what I was thinking and I am not a full fledged Hogan guru

[Beverlyxyz]

True, true. I have seen some that have PW or E or Equalizer or Pitching Wedge. But distributed by Slazenger with the Pitching Wedge. And if they were Slazenger they would have some marking on them. The 75 Apex Producer had PW.

[RobotDoctor]

Could these be on the lines of Greg Norman's MacCobras? MacGregor forged Cobra stamped irons because of Norman's Cobra contract. I wonder if these were Wilson forgings stamped with Ben Hogan Apex markings due to endorsement contracts.

[elwhippy]

Aha. Like Seve using Slazenger when paid by Sounder or Faldo, and others, using Mizuno despite having a different logo on the bag. No matter they are a great looking set of clubs.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Those must a JDM only release, I've seen them pop up on yahoo auctions japan all from time to time. Occasionally the even cooler Apex III shows up. https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m401452233 I wish Hogan had some information on their old JDM offerings, but when I emailed them, they don't actually have information on .any. club pre 2015. Apparently it stayed with Callaway, but Callaway didn't know either.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Ah, I've seen those before as well! I didn't know Hogan were releasing completely different clubs for the Japanese market at some point. The first set of Hogans I bought was about 4 years ago; they were 35th Anniversary irons IIRC, which were a Japan-only release in, I assume, 1988, but they were just rebadged Medallions, so not specially made for the Japan market.

Would it be a good idea to take a punt on the irons in your link...?

[twidener]

I've played Hogan irons since the mid-60's until the '88's and I've never seen a set like these. The numerals on the sole are different than any other Hogan irons and as others have written, a wedge instead of an Equalizer. But I like them. Very clean looking. I would have definitely played these if they had been offered. Looking at the lines of the club and the black ferrules only and comparing that with the photo of the PC's they have a lot of similarity. That could be a clue to when these were produced.

[James the Hogan Fan]

I honestly don't know anything about them. Nor do I know how yahoo auctions work, nor do I know how much yen is in dollars.

I won't tell another man how to spend his money but I would be extremely interested to hear about how those irons play. They are a great unknown to me (as are the OP's mystery clubs)

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

They're pretty cheap, but I'm actually eyeing a different set of irons at the moment that I'm probably going to take a punt on.

The Apexes I linked to earlier and the ones you linked to really puzzle me. Like you, I suspect they're a JDM release, but I have been unable to find out much about them, even when searching in Japanese.

[Shallowface]

Hogan was owned by Cosmo World, a Japanese entity, from 1988 through 1992, so if there were "Japan only" issues that is the likely time frame.

The Apex III looks like it could be a cast iron.

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

That would explain a lot.

[Beverlyxyz]

No one in the Hogan world can identify them. I have written Jeff Sheets and Mike Taylor whom both surmise somewhere around 1981. Potentially protos or a tour issue, because of the unpinned hosel, different stampings on the sole, the unique Ben Hogan stamp, and original 79-83 era shaft. They are wrapped in bubble wrap and in a box already. Never to be hit or seen again. A bittersweet find. 40 yrs old. A treasure found for $20, but potentially so rare and original condition, that I never even got to hit one shot. Part of me wishes that I find out they were a limited 1980’s Kmart Canada release just so I could whack them around. I’ve given up any hope of knowing their origins :)

[Swingingk]

So you sold them then? It's a shame you didn't take them out for a round at least. It certainly was an interesting read!

[Beverlyxyz]

No no, I’d never sell them :)

In a box to avoid getting wrecked until the day I find out what they are and can either play them or display them!

 

[Bigarch]

Never seen a Hogan Wedge like that but stunningly similar to the sole stamp on my set of Palmer Standard Originals. These are from 1985-86 so they are the same era as it would appear your Apex's came from. Not sure if this info helps or not. Good luck in your quest.

[gmarchese]

I played those Standards in the mid '80's. Such great, but unforgiving blades. Softest forgings ever - wore out the grooves on all the short clubs. Would really be kismet if they were somehow related to those weird Apex irons given that I was an Apex player both prior and after the Standards. Keep us updated!

[GSDriver]

Those are nice looking, agree never saw a Hogan set with a PW, not an E

[BeCu_Ping]

I know OP has reached out to several people. Would this be a good source possibly? https://www.benhoganvintage.com/shop/profile.html

there is a customer inquiry email contact listed

 

[teevons]

Living in Palm springs area I have played with many Canadians here in the winter months, I have seen 3 different sets of Hogan irons similar to these with weird script and Hogan Putters also

They all said they purchased them in Canada

So there had to be a company authorized by Hogan in Canada , similar to Slazenger to make Hogan clubs

[Boney]

I have a set of these as well (5-PW only), I got them mail-order from a shop in Toronto, Canada. This thread has added to my meager information about them, thanks! I can say they feel good to hit, very sweet, but maybe a bit "thinner" feeling than some blades.

 

[Beverlyxyz]

Wow!  Mystery solved. Thx Boney, look like we’re on the right track. I didn’t know if another set even existed.  

[Nobigdeal009]

I have a set of these. Couldnt find any information on these. I thought it was knock off at first. But didnt think it made sense for the counterfeiters to be making super old irons. 

 

Unfortunately i dont have the 6 iron.  

[Boney]

7 hours ago, Nobigdeal009 said:

I have a set of these. Couldnt find any information on these. I thought it was knock off at first. But didnt think it made sense for the counterfeiters to be making super old irons. 

 

Unfortunately i dont have the 6 iron.

 

Thanks! Where did you find yours?

[Nobigdeal009]

Canada. my dad's old stuff, but he didn't know where he got it from. 

Edited March 24, 2021 by Nobigdeal009

[Beverlyxyz]

Awesome!  I’ve seen 4 sets now. The one I started the thread with, the 2 partials that you fellows posted, and another full set I found and bought.  I sold the first mint set and luckily found another about 6 months later.  Still super rare. 

The set I got is perfect to project, so I’ve had it stripped and just waiting to start prepping and assembling.  Can’t wait till it’s done!  
 

I stripped a few 2 irons too while I was at it.