Wilson Sam Snead Signature Irons

[braincramp52]

Can anybody tell me anything about these irons. Thinking about getting an old set of Wilson blades to take out and dink around with sometimes.

[Socrates]

Without a picture, there is no way to tell which ones you are talking about (and there were many iterations).  Most of the Sam Snead irons were department store quality and some were really bad.  There are some early early ones that might not be bad though.

[ezgoer]

Agree with Socrates. Pretty sure most were non pro line but that being said if it’s an early 70’s or older and you can get them for really cheap why not give em a try. Think I read those old non pro line’s was often manufacturers using up old stock or slightly blemished stuff. Sometimes but not always lower quality shafts used plus the build quality wasn’t as good so lofts and lies could be ranging. Heck any pro line 30-60 year old iron set these need to be checked anyways especially if you have one you don’t get along with. I do have a few old store line wedges that play pretty damn good and in my hands I can’t tell they aren’t pro line. Late 50’s early 60’s Wilson Harmonized wedges and a 70 or so Spalding Kro Flite SW with an aluminum shaft even. 

[Maine Golfer]

So many models, ive seen some that to my eye are worth trying.  My view is "pro line" Wilson Staff stuff is so easy and cheap to get, the store line needs to be unique and good looking. But many such cases

 

I picked this up, a 7 iron. Seems like it would be fun to pitch with.  Maybe 1970s with the "low profile" fad? I don't think i'd care for the shape on a long iron

 

[mocokid]

Save up a few more $$, and go with Staff models.

[Hickory4ever]

10 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

Can anybody tell me anything about these irons. Thinking about getting an old set of Wilson blades to take out and dink around with sometimes.

I would also recommend watching for some old Staffs, but if these were given to me, I would at least try them.

[Maine Golfer]

You totally can get a pre 80s set of Staff blades under 50 bucks 

[Shallowface]

20 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

So many models, ive seen some that to my eye are worth trying.  My view is "pro line" Wilson Staff stuff is so easy and cheap to get, the store line needs to be unique and good looking. But many such cases

 

I picked this up, a 7 iron. Seems like it would be fun to pitch with.  Maybe 1970s with the "low profile" fad? I don't think i'd care for the shape on a long iron

 

Definitely late 70s/very early 80s for these. I love the shape of that head.  I would think the long irons in a set like that would be very playable as the center of gravity should be fairly low in them.

 

I don't understand why anyone ever designed an iron with a high toe.  If you're hitting it up there, you might need to find another hobby.  I've heard the concerns about going under the ball in the rough with a low profile club, but I always recall the wisdom of Jim Ferree who said "you have to know where the leading edge is at all times."  

 

I don't think there is all that much difference between inexpensive steel shafts of that day versus the Dynamic shafts which were about 4 bucks in the retail aftermarket if memory serves.  Now, if they are installed improperly that's a different story, but I've seen Staff sets from that era where those little color bands didn't line up as they should through the set.  The chrome plating may not be all that great on the Blue Ridge, but it often wasn't all that great on the Staff clubs of that time either.

Edited February 7 by Shallowface

[braincramp52]

10 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

You totally can get a pre 80s set of Staff blades under 50 bucks 

When I find a lefty set for that I'll jump on them.

[braincramp52]

This is the set I was looking at.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c%3Ag%3AEeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0NaMvlC1MeO3RBf1qRrKbTsvC%2BUFGDiyPJIyFXSJK1Nt%2F63SGTREW7jlGEeZ8udXpwOQFN%2BkxwwlkDx8QyAY1U3O1HqzcI1GQjrtVvRy8YQ2meyWnRJnYLhCo7nuH2fiGQzl%2BZAVmwkfz6oKk4tEJRcfBAkxGT0XqAtjhSvOuDRNFL7hPZ%2BvTDl9hLwX4xFF0pWnoaimljRAHPpEsJgAV8r1Yf1wgF%2F1r%2FdKeZG9gZlsgAuOVrlit%2B4ORDfra2AnMXj9i59KWrkSR9J6k6aFi8A%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR6y7h-CwYw&LH_ItemCondition=3000

[Maine Golfer]

15 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

When I find a lefty set for that I'll jump on them.

thats a key detail, i take my comment back.

 

 

this looks cool

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166490332611?hash=item26c398ddc3:g:RRgAAOSwYZJldQKv&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Khs%2FlAw2eoRCCIMoJZn7lCI3HOHbQ57y7wqPb%2FXiSLsx3iPG3KvHLbbt0NUbUzx%2BS84BRfLdCMfwCLm%2FN6CwcCAt6D%2B4DvzQ1gi3ZSYYwvUOCaa0sswunJ%2ByTDnc4LEiCKyAiq0E1k4osu757lOpUfSulc9l1c%2BXsTLSXLlQZPTMzlqJBOYIdwiQJ7Qh5o8L1N9mhWHola6mlBQMA0lcBLjSHpA2%2BcF3AlDFENgzArnO064ft8P7%2BAPRbYAyorfh4ruCzGqDtHWSm8BCsfpATnPkE1FiOUAc48PkFRV2arhdKPkteBNBaKCkP%2FrFATRdA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4yQ7OCwYw

[braincramp52]

1 minute ago, Maine Golfer said:

thats a key detail, i take my comment back.

 

 

this looks cool

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166490332611?hash=item26c398ddc3:g:RRgAAOSwYZJldQKv&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Khs%2FlAw2eoRCCIMoJZn7lCI3HOHbQ57y7wqPb%2FXiSLsx3iPG3KvHLbbt0NUbUzx%2BS84BRfLdCMfwCLm%2FN6CwcCAt6D%2B4DvzQ1gi3ZSYYwvUOCaa0sswunJ%2ByTDnc4LEiCKyAiq0E1k4osu757lOpUfSulc9l1c%2BXsTLSXLlQZPTMzlqJBOYIdwiQJ7Qh5o8L1N9mhWHola6mlBQMA0lcBLjSHpA2%2BcF3AlDFENgzArnO064ft8P7%2BAPRbYAyorfh4ruCzGqDtHWSm8BCsfpATnPkE1FiOUAc48PkFRV2arhdKPkteBNBaKCkP%2FrFATRdA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4yQ7OCwYw

Yea, more lefty love.😅 Is the set I posted the link of just cheapy irons?

[bcstones]

3 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

Yea, more lefty love.😅 Is the set I posted the link of just cheapy irons?

Who can tell unless you post pictures of face, back sole, shaft, shaft band & grip?

[braincramp52]

5 minutes ago, bcstones said:

Who can tell unless you post pictures of face, back sole, shaft, shaft band & grip?

I just looked at the link

It's not even the right irons

[bcstones]

1 minute ago, braincramp52 said:

I just looked at the link

It's not even the right irons

then why post....I don't understand

[sheepdawg]

If memory serves me correctly there were Sam Snead Blue Ridge clubs and Sam Snead Signature clubs and the Signature clubs were the higher ups. They were both store lines. I bet they sold 10 sets of Blue Ridges for every one set of Signatures.

Neither were really bad irons for beginners.

[st1800e]

1 hour ago, sheepdawg said:

I bet they sold 10 sets of Blue Ridges

Yep, had a set, bought in a department store, didn’t last a season.   

[braincramp52]

8 hours ago, bcstones said:

then why post....I don't understand

Not that hard to understand. I screwed up and posted the wrong link. Did this upset your day somehow? If so, sorry.

[braincramp52]

These are the actual irons I was looking at. Think I'll wait for a set of Staffs I know a bit about to come along.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c:g:EeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEqabs5bxx73SPhTJJ6DVL9%2FokrNar9BaN0Psd0h1e9Qui1ku5qBjZSTD51Yr7MXbM3WCVjULnYZfEbiHvfHlS%2FaeGfOEOWwUGfqO%2BU1Cx3Mf4oeoa6xVccX6gHlJnH%2BSKGlXEwmk2OUkrlmdtmGxNXaxJIt0QuWKsOfaj6Y1KMCzTfVotWmp1fKkBb0GZqpcfoVGJpe6iiw0c2RE1d8lQaLIK6am2pV4%2FnrnjYOdGyx|tkp%3ABk9SR77l2IyxYw

Edited February 8 by braincramp52

[Hickory4ever]

1 hour ago, braincramp52 said:

These are the actual irons I was looking at. Think I'll wait for a set of Staffs I know a bit about to come along.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c:g:EeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEqabs5bxx73SPhTJJ6DVL9%2FokrNar9BaN0Psd0h1e9Qui1ku5qBjZSTD51Yr7MXbM3WCVjULnYZfEbiHvfHlS%2FaeGfOEOWwUGfqO%2BU1Cx3Mf4oeoa6xVccX6gHlJnH%2BSKGlXEwmk2OUkrlmdtmGxNXaxJIt0QuWKsOfaj6Y1KMCzTfVotWmp1fKkBb0GZqpcfoVGJpe6iiw0c2RE1d8lQaLIK6am2pV4%2FnrnjYOdGyx|tkp%3ABk9SR77l2IyxYw

I think the ones in this link are out to lunch on price and agree with your decision to wait for a set of Staffs. 

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, braincramp52 said:

These are the actual irons I was looking at. Think I'll wait for a set of Staffs I know a bit about to come along.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c:g:EeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEqabs5bxx73SPhTJJ6DVL9%2FokrNar9BaN0Psd0h1e9Qui1ku5qBjZSTD51Yr7MXbM3WCVjULnYZfEbiHvfHlS%2FaeGfOEOWwUGfqO%2BU1Cx3Mf4oeoa6xVccX6gHlJnH%2BSKGlXEwmk2OUkrlmdtmGxNXaxJIt0QuWKsOfaj6Y1KMCzTfVotWmp1fKkBb0GZqpcfoVGJpe6iiw0c2RE1d8lQaLIK6am2pV4%2FnrnjYOdGyx|tkp%3ABk9SR77l2IyxYw

I have not seen anyone yet ask the key question of what your handicap is?

We can all get a little puffed up on pro line v store line but realistically, unless we are low figures, can we honestly tell the difference? @Jiggeredhas done some great videos which debunk the whole custom fit argument. I have personally always felt that until you get down to say 5 handicap, you are not really repeating your swing so the swing you got fitted for last Saturday is not necessarily the swing you take to the course next Saturday! This is a large part of the reason i enjoy rotating and swapping sets; i am frequently surprised by what i enjoy and play well with.

This is a long way of saying, these Sam Snead irons look pretty sweet to me, especially the leather grips. If I was a lefty, I would be tempted regardless of perceived pedigree. 

That said, I do agree the asking price looks a bit punchy! 

[braincramp52]

8 minutes ago, Foozle said:

I have not seen anyone yet ask the key question of what your handicap is?

We can all get a little puffed up on pro line v store line but realistically, unless we are low figures, can we honestly tell the difference? @Jiggeredhas done some great videos which debunk the whole custom fit argument. I have personally always felt that until you get down to say 5 handicap, you are not really repeating your swing so the swing you got fitted for last Saturday is not necessarily the swing you take to the course next Saturday! This is a large part of the reason i enjoy rotating and swapping sets; i am frequently surprised by what i enjoy and play well with.

This is a long way of saying, these Sam Snead irons look pretty sweet to me, especially the leather grips. If I was a lefty, I would be tempted regardless of perceived pedigree. 

That said, I do agree the asking price looks a bit punchy! 

I don't carry a official handicap. I'm normally between 78 and 84 but scores don't mean that much to me honestly. I play in a old guys league and play a lot of solo rounds where sometimes I really don't know what I shot. I play because I love to play. I've played everything from blades to Ping G series and to be honest my scores don't change much since I play hybrids down to a 7 iron. I agree the irons are sweet but overpriced. Thanks!

[Socrates]

1 hour ago, braincramp52 said:

These are the actual irons I was looking at. Think I'll wait for a set of Staffs I know a bit about to come along.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c:g:EeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEqabs5bxx73SPhTJJ6DVL9%2FokrNar9BaN0Psd0h1e9Qui1ku5qBjZSTD51Yr7MXbM3WCVjULnYZfEbiHvfHlS%2FaeGfOEOWwUGfqO%2BU1Cx3Mf4oeoa6xVccX6gHlJnH%2BSKGlXEwmk2OUkrlmdtmGxNXaxJIt0QuWKsOfaj6Y1KMCzTfVotWmp1fKkBb0GZqpcfoVGJpe6iiw0c2RE1d8lQaLIK6am2pV4%2FnrnjYOdGyx|tkp%3ABk9SR77l2IyxYw

This was well before the Sam Snead's became cheap and poor quality.  The price is a little high, but they are in exceptional shape.  With these (and of that generation) you are going to have to play them as you find them unless you have some serious club repair skills.  The Blue Ridge club that was posted earlier (by Maine Golfer) was from a time in the 80's and those were terrible (rusted and all the chrome flaked off) and not something one wants to buy.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

On 11/20/2023 at 10:01 PM, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Love the colour and grain. The EOM insert is good, too.

 

Half cord victory pride grip? Normally I'd say "old school", but not for that club...

That seller is notorious for over pricing.  Going back to our conversations elsewhere on these forums about classic era not selling well, that guy is out of his mind!

[Socrates]

3 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

These are the actual irons I was looking at. Think I'll wait for a set of Staffs I know a bit about to come along.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166392491084?hash=item26bdc3ec4c:g:EeMAAOSw7ixlNldV&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEqabs5bxx73SPhTJJ6DVL9%2FokrNar9BaN0Psd0h1e9Qui1ku5qBjZSTD51Yr7MXbM3WCVjULnYZfEbiHvfHlS%2FaeGfOEOWwUGfqO%2BU1Cx3Mf4oeoa6xVccX6gHlJnH%2BSKGlXEwmk2OUkrlmdtmGxNXaxJIt0QuWKsOfaj6Y1KMCzTfVotWmp1fKkBb0GZqpcfoVGJpe6iiw0c2RE1d8lQaLIK6am2pV4%2FnrnjYOdGyx|tkp%3ABk9SR77l2IyxYw

What you will find with clubs from this era is that a lot of them had 0 bounce and many had significant negative bounce with sharp leading edges.  You absolutely need to be ball first and be prepared to take massive divots. 

[braincramp52]

You're absolutely right. I actually found a set of Yonex ADX tour forged irons for  $85 earlier this morning. Always wanted a set being a Phil fan back in the day. 

[Foozle]

2 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

I don't carry a official handicap. I'm normally between 78 and 84 but scores don't mean that much to me honestly. I play in a old guys league and play a lot of solo rounds where sometimes I really don't know what I shot. I play because I love to play. I've played everything from blades to Ping G series and to be honest my scores don't change much since I play hybrids down to a 7 iron. I agree the irons are sweet but overpriced. Thanks!

A kindred spirit! I no longer hold a handicap and typically shoot in the same range. These days I very much just play for the love of the game, appreciation of the courses and the rare joy of a sweetly struck blade or persimmon! I can't help but keep a score in my head but try not to worry too much what that score is. I have shunned the modern game entirely with much less than 1% of my ridiculous collection dating from this century. The old game is purer and more fun, I hope to enjoy it for a few years yet!

[Jiggered]

That is one of the best looking sets of Sam Snead irons I've seen.

 

Beautiful condition with the original leather grips and gorgeous ferrules.

True Temper Rocket shafts would date them to the 1950s.

 

As others have said, price is on the high side but if you've set your heart on them go for it. You could always message the seller with an offer.

[dashanks]

Guess I'm too late now but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.  I've messed around with a lot of old Wilson blades including Bullet Backs, Button Backs, Sam S Signatures and other Fluid Feels.   Easiest model to hit (for me, at least) were the Line Over Staffs.  Believe they came out in 85/86.