Small forged iron companies I don't know about yet?

[lefthack]

So New Level is pretty small, Sub 70 is crazy small, I am getting a set of irons from Byrdie Golf Design in May (production of lefties starts today, 15 sets in the first run).

 

What other small companies are out there? Google doesn't find a ton. Is there a running list somewhere I haven't seen?

 

Especially ones that I can afford (saw some $3k sets, nope). Cool small run, personal shops making cool hardware. Post em up.

Edited February 24, 2021 by lefthack

[northernmi]

Are you looking ones designing their own?  The first two you listed are using open designs and tweaking the look (not that there is anything wrong with that).

[lefthack]

BGD's are "inspired by", not like a whole new idea. But as far as 1 piece forged, is there really anything that hasn't already been done by somebody?

 

Just looking for something cool and/or different. Rather than spend $500 for a used set of major brand something, give it to some small shop that does good work.

 

I would feel better sucking with local clubs I guess. Some guys geek out over JDM stuff. I geek out on stuff made here.

[D. A. Frey]

Haywood would fit the bill for what you're looking for I think.

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

BGD's are "inspired by", not like a whole new idea. But as far as 1 piece forged, is there really anything that hasn't already been done by somebody?

 

Just looking for something cool and/or different. Rather than spend $500 for a used set of major brand something, give it to some small shop that does good work.

 

I would feel better sucking with local clubs I guess. Some guys geek out over JDM stuff. I geek out on stuff made here.

JDM stuff is awesome but the price point is crazy and out of reach for most.  When it comes to irons, I just don't see the need to drop 2k plus when you can get a high quality forged set from DTC for under a grand with premium aftermarket shafts. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by phizzy30

[lefthack]

6 minutes ago, D. A. Frey said:

Haywood would fit the bill for what you're looking for I think.

 

Oh damn, those do look really good. Lefty set for $650, that's nice.

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2021 by lefthack
Added pic

[Bad9]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

BGD's are "inspired by", not like a whole new idea. But as far as 1 piece forged, is there really anything that hasn't already been done by somebody?

 

Just looking for something cool and/or different. Rather than spend $500 for a used set of major brand something, give it to some small shop that does good work.

 

I would feel better sucking with local clubs I guess. Some guys geek out over JDM stuff. I geek out on stuff made here.

Are any of those you listed "made here"?

[lefthack]

Oh damn, TXG seemed to like the Haywood and he compared them to his Srixon's that are what I looked at originally.

[lefthack]

9 minutes ago, Bad9 said:

Are any of those you listed "made here"?

 

That's a really good question. That would certainly be a bonus, but outsourcing happens in my company. Even though the bulk of our systems are "designed and built" here, not all the parts or software does. 

[lefthack]

Lazrus does wedges and hybrids in lefty and the 56 wedge looks nice. 

 

I guess Bombtech qualifies as small, but I think their stuff looks pretty bad. 

 

 

[Jmccas]

18 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

Oh damn, those do look really good. Lefty set for $650, that's nice.

 

 

 

I checked with Haywood towards the end of last year.  They were right hand only.  The owner said the iron is "similar in size to the Ping G410 combined with the i500".

[Chadwickog]

Alpha and Jeffmont/Avian come to mind.  Gigagolf has the Pursuit forged irons.

[lefthack]

Yeah, getting small shops to invest in lefty can be a challenge. BGD is only doing 15 sets to start and they only offer the set with Apollo Phantom shafts.

[lefthack]

Jeffmont makes one lefty for $1500-$1800, ouch.

 

 

[Tmintx]

Looks like Haywood doesnt know how to turn down ferrules 

[lefthack]

13 minutes ago, Tmintx said:

Looks like Haywood doesnt know how to turn down ferrules 

 

Is that your lone criteria for who you buy your clubs from? 🤣

[IPA4Me]

I saw somewhere recently that Argolf is making irons now.  They have a good reputation as a boutique putter company.

[lefthack]

Oh damn, that's cool looking.   A bit outta my price range, but those look bad a**.

 

They have a CB, too.

 

 

[Tmintx]

20 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

Is that your lone criteria for who you buy your clubs from? 🤣

Youd shell out 1k on a set of irons that didnt have something as simple as the ferrules right?!🤣

[lefthack]

13 minutes ago, Tmintx said:

Youd shell out 1k on a set of irons that didnt have something as simple as the ferrules right?!🤣

 

I wouldn't shell out a grand for irons. Hell, it took a bit to spend $400 for my BGD's.

 

I listed ferrules as the "feature" that annoys me to begin with. My Pings didn't have them at all and I never noticed. Then I got my Nike head and had to buy some just so I could put a shaft in because it was stepped.

 

<edit> I paid $180 for my Vapor Pro Combos and spent $225 on my VR Pro Combos. That's more my style. 🤣

Edited February 25, 2021 by lefthack

[TTRacer]

Fourteen?  Are they still around?

[endy]

52 minutes ago, TTRacer said:

Fourteen?  Are they still around?

Yep! Just released the RM-4 wedges stateside, will be giving them a whirl once my RM-22 run their course. Best wedges out there, big OEM's are starting to jump on their high COG design too. 

[TTRacer]

1 hour ago, endy said:

Yep! Just released the RM-4 wedges stateside, will be giving them a whirl once my RM-22 run their course. Best wedges out there, big OEM's are starting to jump on their high COG design too. 

 

Just looked up the RM4, man they are sexy but 239 for a wedge!!

[endy]

3 minutes ago, TTRacer said:

 

Just looked up the RM4, man they are sexy but 239 for a wedge!!

Yeah, unfortunately they are spendy. I am relegated to the secondhand market for these, which is the only reason I'll wait to buy them haha. 

[lefthack]

23 minutes ago, TTRacer said:

 

Just looked up the RM4, man they are sexy but 239 for a wedge!!

 

Yeah, not saying they aren't worth it. Just not to me.  🤣

[Joe S]

On 2/24/2021 at 12:31 PM, lefthack said:

So New Level is pretty small, Sub 70 is crazy small, I am getting a set of irons from Byrdie Golf Design in May (production of lefties starts today, 15 sets in the first run).

 

What other small companies are out there? Google doesn't find a ton. Is there a running list somewhere I haven't seen?

 

Especially ones that I can afford (saw some $3k sets, nope). Cool small run, personal shops making cool hardware. Post em up.

 

According to the BGD website their irons are cast.  Nothing wrong with that, but if you are expecting forged you might be disappointed. 

 

[lefthack]

37 minutes ago, Joe S said:

 

According to the BGD website their irons are cast.  Nothing wrong with that, but if you are expecting forged you might be disappointed. 

 

Really?

[MattM97]

5 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

I wouldn't shell out a grand for irons. Hell, it took a bit to spend $400 for my BGD's.

 

I listed ferrules as the "feature" that annoys me to begin with. My Pings didn't have them at all and I never noticed. Then I got my Nike head and had to buy some just so I could put a shaft in because it was stepped.

 

<edit> I paid $180 for my Vapor Pro Combos and spent $225 on my VR Pro Combos. That's more my style. 🤣

 

Forged, cheap and new don't really go hand in hand. Some brands like Haywood, Sub70, New Level, etc can put prices cheaper because they use open source models and skip the whole R&D portion. 

[lefthack]

Just now, MattM97 said:

 

Forged, cheap and new don't really go hand in hand. Some brands like Haywood, Sub70, New Level, etc can put prices cheaper because they use open source models and skip the whole R&D portion. 

 

Hence the 30 day return policy. You better believe I will play at least 20 rounds in 30 if I need to shake them out. Otherwise it's a 6 hour drive.

 

Neither you nor I knows what went into these at this point. When they reached out to me to tell me they were starting production on the lefties the day before, I thought that was cool.

 

They are somewhat local, reasonably priced, and they reached out because they knew I was interested when a lefty set would be available. To me it's worth $400 and 30 days to see if they don't suck.

[Joe S]

1 hour ago, lefthack said:

Really?

 

 

Series 1 and Series 3 blades are cast.   But I see now that Series 2 are forged.