Kenneth Smith Putter

[bad-frog]

I ran across this Kenneth Smith putter in a discount bin at an antique store this past summer. With it being such an odd configuration I figured it was a "Franken-Putter" that someone had created in his garage but it felt perfectly balanced when I gave it a dozen test swings and since I'd been looking for a compact mallet style putter I thought what the heck... Plus the 50% off tag meant it was just $5 and so I picked it up without knowing anything at all about the maker.

 

Once I got it home I cleaned it up a bit and slipped it in my bag to give it a trail run on my next round. I was shocked at how this little thing performed! Balanced, swings like a dream and putts so true. Just what I had been looking for!

 

So I started checking into Kenneth Smith and was fascinated by his story.

 

Anyway, thought I'd share some pics of an interesting putter from a quality club maker and see if anyone had ever seen another like it. And maybe it is a "Franken-Putter", but it's done very well if it is and the mallet head doesn't display any sign of ever having a neck or other means of attachment other than what's shown.

 

 

 

 

[Guia]

As you found out Kenneth Smith clubs used to be very expensive and hand made, very exclusive custom clubs. When they sold the business some clubs inventory went to another company (I believe in the late 80s or early 90s) and they were sold cheap and the name was retained. I saw a set or so with the new vendor and they were pretty much inferior to the originals.

I have never seen a putter like the one you found. Ugly to me, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work.

[super20dan]

not a reg production smith item. its home made.

[BIG STU]

I knew they made some beautiful persimmons back in the day but never knew that they made any putters at all

[super20dan]

they made a full line. whats really beautifull is their wooden putters. highly pried and sell for 200$ and up on ebay. i played their irons for a good 10 years.old school blades-hard to hit.

[guisician]

Those Kenneth Smith persimmon mallets are just gorgeous. Never saw one before; thanks for the pics, super20dan!

[super20dan]

yes they are beautifull. they have gotten too pricy for my collection tastes. if i am paying out 200$+ for a putter -it better be a scotty camerom or tp mills

[Ironmaster Oddities]

Those are super, Dan . MacGregor made one back before WWII. But I think the brass back plates are dynamite. Powerbilt mad one for a couple years in the 1950's. maybe Maxwell or Bella has one.

[super20dan]

i have a stan thompson version and it putts very well.untill a kenneth falls into my lap-this one will have to do

[majic]

The Kenneth Smith shown with the "forked" hosel is illegal by USGA rules. i think this rule came into effect years ago. The Otto Hackbarth hickory was the irst really popular forked putter. The Kenneth Smith wood mallets are nice. I would like to find a hickory one. He was in business back in the hickory days. Tad

[super20dan]

[super20dan]

tad- do you know if the above putter was legal? its a convidence spyder . i actually have 2 in my huge putter collection. great preforming putter. super stable at impact. there is also a modern version made today . called the bermuda triangle putter cant get pics to work right now. www.ashdongolf.com

[super20dan]

here is a pic this is a very fine putter.extremly well built and balanced

[super20dan]

the stan thompson

[Joe85]

Cool putter. The one posted just above me is cool too.

Wonder why such putters would be illegal?

[tstephen]

I have a Kenneth Smith persimmon putter with a serial number 37792. Anyone know what year that putter was made? It is actually a very solid and well balanced putter. I was thinking of getting it refinished. Would that be a mistake? Does anyone specialize in refinishing Kenneth Smiths?

[Bella Woods]

[quote name='tstephen' timestamp='1390355488' post='8505539']
I have a Kenneth Smith persimmon putter with a serial number 37792. Anyone know what year that putter was made? It is actually a very solid and well balanced putter. I was thinking of getting it refinished. Would that be a mistake? Does anyone specialize in refinishing Kenneth Smiths?
[/quote]

If you do get it refinished - I have hundreds and hundreds of the Kenneth Smith decals (both white and gold) like the one
on super20dan's K. Smith putter.

[super20dan]

wish it was my putter in the pic! igot the pic of the net. if you can get the decal-by all means get the putter re-finished. no one will know it not original. will add value if it looks pretty.

[Joeyzr]

I have a Kenneth Smith putter serial number 18216 8

I would like to know what year that is?

[slsutherland]

did you ever find out what year? I was just gifted a Roll-In Putter wooden grip with a cove carved in and ribs carved into the grip #44693 would love to find out what year it is too,