Did Wilson reissue the 1955 Dyna Wright irons?

[Stevarino57]

Greetings everyone,  my first post! Does anyone know if Wilson ever reissued their 1955 Dyna weight Top Notch irons? I asked because I picked up a set on ebay very cheap. When I opened the box they looked brand new, only the 9 iron looked like it was hit. The reason I think they're reissue is the black leather grips look new also. I checked my old faithful Kaplan book on Wilson clubs but that ends with the 1978 models and I think the reissues were in the 80's. Thanks in advance for your help.

[TheDeanAbides]

Let us see those beauties! 

[Stephen8802]

I'm with Dean, we need some pictures...include the shaft bands. Partially to help ID your clubs and partially because we like pictures. 

 

I'm not aware of any Dyna Weight re-issues and don't see them in my catalog. However, the re-issues Dean has, and the ones I sold in the spring, also don't appear in the catalog, so that doesn't rule it out. On those '60-'61 reissues, the shafts give it away along with a few other details. 

 

I have some random Dyna Weights that showed up with some M43s I bought, so I can compare any pictures you post to the originals and look for differences. 

 

Nice clubs by the way, I wish I had the entire set...they should be collected more. I have a partial set of the ones you have plus two from the 1950 model including a pitching niblick that is one of my favorite clubs...the first of the modern Wilson irons and unmatched in coolness. 

 

[Stevarino57]

Hi all, thank you for your responses and sorry for the tardy reply. The set is 2-9 irons with true temper rocket shafts, reg. Flex.

Edited December 28, 2020 by Stevarino57
Add picture

[Foozle]

6 minutes ago, Stevarino57 said:

Hi all, thank you for your responses and sorry for the tardy reply. The set is 2-9 irons with true temper rocket shafts, reg. Flex.

They are sweet! I am the least reliable authority on reissues but for my money I would be betting on these being original and in quite remarkable condition. Multi piece ferrules, hosel pins, reminder grips and rocket shaft bands.....not aware that remakes reproduced these features?

[Stevarino57]

Thank you so much for the kind reply.  Now the hardest question to answer, game them or put them on a rack in the man cave? There is still gold in them there hills know ad Ebay! I picked up a set of 1964 Power-Bilts in almost the same condition last year along with a matching set of NOS 1970 ProSonic woods.

[Foozle]

4 minutes ago, Stevarino57 said:

Thank you so much for the kind reply.  Now the hardest question to answer, game them or put them on a rack in the man cave? There is still gold in them there hills know ad Ebay! I picked up a set of 1964 Power-Bilts in almost the same condition last year along with a matching set of NOS 1970 ProSonic woods.

I would game them or at very least enjoy a few rounds to see if they play as good as they look. 🙂

The 9 iron shows evidence of play even if the others don't so any "never been hit" premium value has gone. A few rounds with them will not affect their value, they will remain exceptional! 

Frankly, they are too good not to play. 🙂

[TheDeanAbides]

I'd say originals too... and a very sweet set of them too!

[Stephen8802]

I would be shocked if those are re-issues...they look like the real deal to me. They are the later model and mine are the earlier, so I can't help with pictures, but I'd put money down that they are original, because: 

 

1) Re-issues didn't have Green Band Rockets...they all had modern shafts and those shafts hadn't been made in 25 years when the re-issues started

2) Those are the same ferrules as my '56 Staffs...Ferrules in the 80s and 90s were different

3) Re-issues didn't have leather reminder grips that I know of, they had modern (for then) grips

 

I've seen like new clubs that old...some just get bought, played a few times, and put away and forgotten. When I picked up my 8802 in 1982, it had been in a closet since the early 60's and was practically spotless. I also found a set of '66 Staffs that looked unplayed and have a set of '67s in my garage that can't have more than a few rounds in them. People buy sports equipment with the best intentions then never end up using it, which is what I think happened to yours. You did good with those.

 

They look a lot like my '56 Staffs, and are closer to the first Staffs than the preceding model of Dyna Weights (below); I love my '56 Staffs. I think you have a real find there. In my opinion, they should be played. I only collect to restore and play, it makes me sad to think about golf clubs that don't get hit. They need to see the grass again in 2021. 

 

By the way, my Dad used to call me Stevarino...nice to see another, especially one with good taste in irons. 

 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Stephen8802

[Stevarino57]

Thank you so very much and for the nudge over the fence to play them! I know they aren't worth a fortune so they definitely will get played in the season starts. It is really great to find others that enjoy the older clubs and the history that goes with them. Thanks for the inputs!! Happy and safe holidays to all.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Great find. As for whether to play them or not, I agree with the others here who say they should be played. As @Foozlesaid, the 9i at least has already been hit so they're no longer brand new. You should have no qualms in taking them out and getting them dirty.

[Stephen8802]

Bonus pic, original '56 Staff grip. Look familiar?

 

Look closely, you can see a faint "Wilson" 2 1/2 wraps from the bottom. I've had these for a while and didn't notice that until I went looking for it. 

Edited December 29, 2020 by Stephen8802

[Stevarino57]

Another nice "reminder" grip. According to my  Kaplan book, the only difference between a 54 and a 55 was the 54s hard red grips.

[Stevarino57]

Greetings again everyone, I was able to score the woods that went with this set of irons from the ebay seller. They are 1,2,3 and 4. The finish they used in the 50' must have been terrible! Very strange the shafts, labels and leather grips are like new but the finish on the heads are terrible. Is there a way to refinish the heads and save the decals? I kind of doubt it. Think I'll just play the irons but rack these.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

I don't mean to threadjack, but while the Dynaweight attention is here can anyone say what year the stainless version came out. I have a close to mint PW.