Vintage grip caps

[Pocwave]

I gripped a set of clubs with leather, stitched down the back seam, so that I could have long grips for short game play. I tried to make end caps out of walnut but they do not look nearly as good as I hoped. Is there any source for grip caps other than hunting goodwill for clubs to cannibalize? thanks. Bart

[AZBandit]

I hope someone has a source. I've looked in the past without luck.

Like you, I've tried to make my own with disappointing results.

[rwc356]

Try Tad Moore @majic he makes incredible hickory clubs, he might be able to fix you up with end caps.

 

Bob

[AZBandit]

Here's a fairly recent post with a few methods for making your own:

 

I will spend some time looking at the 3D printing sites. Maybe someone has a file by now...

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

9 hours ago, rwc356 said:

Try Tad Moore @majic he makes incredible hickory clubs, he might be able to fix you up with end caps.

 

Bob

It's my understanding that end caps are for non-hickory clubs, a plug or other attachment for the grip.

Hickory generally uses a tack to secure a leather wrap to the wooden shaft thus rendering an end-cap unnecessary.

My understanding and grip on these things is becoming increasingly suspect so please feel free to tell me how it is in today's world.

[bcstones]

5 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

It's my understanding that end caps are for non-hickory clubs, a plug or other attachment for the grip. Oh, I did replace w/modern grips. However I do plan to make my own.

Hickory generally uses a tack to secure a leather wrap to the wooden shaft thus rendering an end-cap unnecessary.

My understanding and grip on these things is becoming increasingly suspect so please feel free to tell me how it is in today's world.

I've replaced leather grips, that were thin & rotten, on some steel shafts...they had wooden plugs in them to secure the top of the leather grip with a brad  and whipping & the bottom was secured w/regular whipping. 
Tandy Leather sells leather sides w/weight/thickness at 2 to 3 oz. (0.8 to 1.2 mm...even cowhide piping at 1 to 2 oz. (0.4 to 0.8 mm)...so use the old leather grip as a template, get a doll-rod from local hardware for end plug...both the leather & wood can be dyed to whatever color floats your boat.

Edited July 8 by bcstones

[rwc356]

 

5 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

It's my understanding that end caps are for non-hickory clubs, a plug or other attachment for the grip.

Hickory generally uses a tack to secure a leather wrap to the wooden shaft thus rendering an end-cap unnecessary.

My understanding and grip on these things is becoming increasingly suspect so please feel free to tell me how it is in today's world.

 

Tad uses a plastic end cap on his hickory irons - at least my OA hickory irons came with them. Whether they would also work on a metal shaft I don't know - but Tad might be able to help direct the OP to a source.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 7/8/2025 at 3:31 PM, rwc356 said:

 

 

Tad uses a plastic end cap on his hickory irons - at least my OA hickory irons came with them. Whether they would also work on a metal shaft I don't know - but Tad might be able to help direct the OP to a source.

Thank you, I didn't know that. Is this a replica departure from the traditional norm?

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 7/8/2025 at 3:30 PM, bcstones said:

Oh, I did replace w/modern grips. However I do plan to make my own.

Not my quotation, I didn't say that.

[rwc356]

2 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Thank you, I didn't know that. Is this a replica departure from the traditional norm?

 

I'm not sure, I have purchased other original hickory clubs which had metal caps over the end of the shaft.  I think the norm was the leather wrap tacked into the hickory shaft without any form of end cap.

 

Bob

[Pocwave]

I ended going with the walnut. I cut pieces off of a 1" dowel and then countersunk the inside surface to fit over the shaft and press into the grip material. I had epoxied a dowel into the butt end already. Attached with a brass screw and finish washer. They looked clunky unfinished. I bevelled the edge and then finished with teak oil. Certainly better than the open shaft end I had previously.

[Jiggered]

I think it's already been mentioned but steel shafts tended to use butt plugs rather than caps, wooden plugs didn't generally protrude from beyond the grip.

 

These could be rough wooden plugs as shown in the video linked below  (at 3.45) or quite sophisticated designs as used by MacGregor, see a very detailed video linked below. 

 

The grip would be attached to the plug and wound down the shaft to be secured by whipping or a collar.