Info on these Wilson Staff Tour Blades

[rok78]

I need some help identifying and getting some info on the Wilson Staff Tour Blades in this pic. There's some lettering on the top that I can't distinguish. Can anyone help shed some light on it?

 

 

[birly-shirly]

Those look similar to the tour blades that Langer used to play. I'm happy to be contradicted on this, but I'm not sure those are stock heads. No idea what the writing above the muscle says - could be custom stamping?

[super20dan]

where is froth? this is his bag. are they fg17,s?

[rok78]

My thought was FG-17s as well. The look of it fits with the Staff stamping, but the stamping near the topline has me confused.

[Froth]

Those are 81'-84' FG-17 heads, they made quite a number of "custom" lines that had something other than FG-17 stamped in that location. Those appear to be a personalized custom, if you look at the back middle just below the sole grind you can see four digits denoting a custom shop stamping. Meaning? These heads were ground from FG-17 blanks to a custom specification, some times those custom specifications also included stamping the players name on them. The first name appears to be Charles, other than that because of the quality of the picture I can't tell much. But for sure, those are 81-84 FG-17 heads that were done up for a custom request.

The Wilson custom shop in the 80's was second to none, IMO. If you were connected the right way and knew the right person you could literally have any modification done to a stock "blank" forging. This could be anything from simple modifications such as engraved initials or a name to extensive modifications such as rounding or squaring off the toe, even having them built to be heavier or lighter heads all the way down to changing the entire grind of the sole.

There are two different types of custom,
- Limited run public production (Examples: FG-17 heads with "Patty Berg" stamped where the FG-17 would go, I have also seen sets with "Oakmont" stamped where the FG-17 would go.)
- Single run custom production (Generally you can identify these by the custom grind stamping numbers, Many start with H or N and may or may not be followed by a - and three digits.)

Edit: I would classify the pictured blades as a single run custom production, there is likely not another matching set in existence. They were custom made to a players exact specifications, how closely they match production FG-17's would depend on how much was changed during the customization process.

[smiley9929]

Those are FG-17's which were my first set of clubs (used) at age 15 in 1984.

The other club at the top right of the photo is not part of the same set so far as I'm aware.

[KevCarter]

In those days, anybody could order custom grinds. The good old days... Those look like they may have square toes, hard to tell from the back, and my eyes are bad...

[rok78]

[quote name='Froth' timestamp='1392249560' post='8655559']
Those are 81'-84' FG-17 heads, they made quite a number of "custom" lines that had something other than FG-17 stamped in that location. Those appear to be a personalized custom, if you look at the back middle just below the sole grind you can see four digits denoting a custom shop stamping. Meaning? These heads were ground from FG-17 blanks to a custom specification, some times those custom specifications also included stamping the players name on them. The first name appears to be Charles, other than that because of the quality of the picture I can't tell much. But for sure, those are 81-84 FG-17 heads that were done up for a custom request.

The Wilson custom shop in the 80's was second to none, IMO. If you were connected the right way and knew the right person you could literally have any modification done to a stock "blank" forging. This could be anything from simple modifications such as engraved initials or a name to extensive modifications such as rounding or squaring off the toe, even having them built to be heavier or lighter heads all the way down to changing the entire grind of the sole.

There are two different types of custom,
- Limited run public production (Examples: FG-17 heads with "Patty Berg" stamped where the FG-17 would go, I have also seen sets with "Oakmont" stamped where the FG-17 would go.)
- Single run custom production (Generally you can identify these by the custom grind stamping numbers, Many start with H or N and may or may not be followed by a - and three digits.)

Edit: I would classify the pictured blades as a single run custom production, there is likely not another matching set in existence. They were custom made to a players exact specifications, how closely they match production FG-17's would depend on how much was changed during the customization process.
[/quote]

Thanks for the great info. These do have a 4 digit stamp that began with an H, so it seems to be a single run. I haven't heard back from the seller yet, but will hopefully know soon.

[BIG STU]

[quote name='Froth' timestamp='1392249560' post='8655559']
Those are 81'-84' FG-17 heads, they made quite a number of "custom" lines that had something other than FG-17 stamped in that location. Those appear to be a personalized custom, if you look at the back middle just below the sole grind you can see four digits denoting a custom shop stamping. Meaning? These heads were ground from FG-17 blanks to a custom specification, some times those custom specifications also included stamping the players name on them. The first name appears to be Charles, other than that because of the quality of the picture I can't tell much. But for sure, those are 81-84 FG-17 heads that were done up for a custom request.

The Wilson custom shop in the 80's was second to none, IMO. If you were connected the right way and knew the right person you could literally have any modification done to a stock "blank" forging. This could be anything from simple modifications such as engraved initials or a name to extensive modifications such as rounding or squaring off the toe, even having them built to be heavier or lighter heads all the way down to changing the entire grind of the sole.

There are two different types of custom,
- Limited run public production (Examples: FG-17 heads with "Patty Berg" stamped where the FG-17 would go, I have also seen sets with "Oakmont" stamped where the FG-17 would go.)
- Single run custom production (Generally you can identify these by the custom grind stamping numbers, Many start with H or N and may or may not be followed by a - and three digits.)

Edit: I would classify the pictured blades as a single run custom production, there is likely not another matching set in existence. They were custom made to a players exact specifications, how closely they match production FG-17's would depend on how much was changed during the customization process.
[/quote]You jogged my memory on something there I remember seeing a set of Staff tour Blades stamped with a 4 leaf clover back in the 80s. Saw them in Florida when I was playing the minis down there. they were in some players bag I did not get a story on them that I can remember

[Forged4ever]

Froth nailed it-

I played the 17's, or as most called em, THE Tour Blade, lol, from 81-86.

Our Pro was a Staffer and fairly prominant as far as club Pros went, so my second & third(final)sets, in '82 & '85, had "The Tour Blade" in it's usual position with "RPJ II" where the "Fg17" usually went.

Kevin hit it also as times were different then, if the right connections were in place, though Wilson always bent to move product, whether it was making a Limited Edition run of 70 sets of Fg51's commemorating Payne Stewart's US Open victoy for the Hawaiin distributor to sell to his Japanese clients, or their cleaning up the Fg59's For Watts to sell through their stores.

You won't find that today, lol

Fairways & Greens My Friends

[Forged4ever]

These are the irons that I was referring to.

The regular release 51's, then the 70 set run of Limited Editions commissioned by Wilson's Japanese distributor.

Then the general release retail 59's(this pic is of my 59, which was in my bag at the end of '12 season) and the "cleaner" version manufactured to be sold through Watts back in '11, I believe, though there are still sets available through them.

I don't know that it's cleaner, it's just if you prefer "Fg59" or "Tour Blade."

I'm vain, I prefer Tour Blade, LMAO

Have a good day


Fairways & Greens My Friends

[Froth]

Great post Forged4Ever, but don't forget about these! This is my own personal favorite rendition of the FG's. The Ken Venturi SG-202, they have a very squared off toe and two vertical lines that frame the grooves. Made from the same blanks as FG-17's.

 

 

 

They pop up on eBay every now and then, the last set was listed for over $1200 New/Unhit. They're now up on 2ndswing.com for $1199.99 -_- (http://www.2ndswing.com/p-198741-rare-mint-wilson-ken-venturi-limited-edition-sg-202-2-pw-steel-stiff-right.aspx)

[rex235]

Forged/Froth-

These Wilson Staff sets were very popular among the few who could get them, as they did indeed represent the best from their custom department.

Unfortunately, the two recent Wilson grinds you featured, the FG-59 and Tour Blade models were RH ONLY, as Wilson did not
translate either of these modern designs to a LH model. Other Wilson remakes not translated were the '58 Dynapower SW, and the '69 or '71 Staff Dynapower Irons.
It's a shame, as Wilson turns 100 this year, the LH PGA Tour Winners such as Russ Cochran, Ernie Gonzales, and yes, Sir Bob Charles, had Wilson bags, and are all but forgotten.

[BIG STU]

Have any of you Wilson fans noticed their new tour bags for 14? They seem to have the old retro look graphics from the 70s or at least Padrig's bag did. Modern style bag with old graphics and that off red color

[Froth]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1392321591' post='8661377']
Have any of you Wilson fans noticed their new tour bags for 14? They seem to have the old retro look graphics from the 70s or at least Padrig's bag did. Modern style bag with old graphics and that off red color
[/quote]
I noticed it immediately, I was quite happy to see them going "vintage" for the 100th anniversary.

[super20dan]

this settels it. sat i am going to the flea markrt and buy my fg17,s back. guy is selling them for 3-9 for a whopping 10$ . mabey now since i have been playing blades for a year-i can now hit them . if not way cool just to look at.

[Shallowface]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1392321591' post='8661377']
Have any of you Wilson fans noticed their new tour bags for 14? They seem to have the old retro look graphics from the 70s or at least Padrig's bag did. Modern style bag with old graphics and that off red color
[/quote]

They've got the old 60s version of the Wilson Staff shield on those bags. I saw Padraig had it on one of his hats.

Got to get a couple of those hats!

[navykip]

I think it's great for the 100th anniversary. It looks cool, but I thought the new modern logo looked great. I have a couple hats and always get told how cool it looks.

But thanks for the info on the blades above. Great to learn about that stuff.