Classic Mizuno blades

bond007 · March 22, 2010

any info?

I posted a similar post in "Hickory, persimmon and classic clubs" forum with no accurate enough answer. So I´m trying to find out what I have the chance to buy.
They are supposed to be from the low 80s. What I know for sure is what the seller told me about them. They belonged to a Japanese profesional player. Nothing else.
And I can´t see in the pic what it is writen on the back of the club.
So I will appreciate any info about them and a price range.
Thanks again.

NPVWhiz · March 22, 2010

There were two different models of the "Craft Model". The designation is on the hosel. They were made in 1991 as best I've been able to find, right before the MS 203 and some of the other great Japan market blades were produced by Mizuno. This was a period of time when Mizuno was right on the verge of becoming known worldwide for their forging quality. If they don't have the Japanese square toe styling, they're probably a great set of forged blades with relatively compact heads.

bond007 · March 23, 2010

Ok, like MPVWhiz said they are from 1991. The exact model is Craft Model 893.
Now, what is its value? Are they worth anything? or just another old style blades?
Thanks for comments

NPVWhiz · March 23, 2010

I think the 893 is the more compact in size. The face appears to be a little shallower than the 911 model.

I am a huge fan of Mizuno blades from this period of time, because I think that time period was when Mizuno was really going no holds barred after their place in the forged iron markets in Europe and later in the US.

Remember that their economy was booming during that time, so there were tons of business types that would pay huge sums of money for prestige models. The craft model designation on Mizuno products is an appeal to the higher end of the market segment. When these clubs were new, they probably sold for $1200-1500 at the time. For that reason, I like to believe that the company was using the highest quality materials and top notch finishing work.

I have had two sets of MS-203 irons, as well as a set of Super 11s, and I just think they're among the best forged irons ever made by any manufacturer. I'm particularly fond of the way the MS-203 feels, with the longer, deeper hosel.

The goldish finish on the Super11s is aesthetically nice, and the head weights of that set were spot on. They also had a very unique hand ground shape to them that must have taken some time to produce.

But, there are about 10 people in the world that seem to love this stuff, so the market value should be pretty low.

The nice part is that many of these sets that were sold in the 1990s never saw a golf course. They may have been to the range 10 times, then after the real estate bust in Japan and a decade of deflationary economics, you can find these sets for a song.

I paid $280 for a like new set of MS 203s from a seller in Japan last year, and I thought they were a bargain. But, you should be able to pick them up for a song. I would love to find a set of the 911 model, because I like the deeper face, especially in the heel.