T. Stewart St. Andrews Hickory Shaft Spade Mashie #6 Golf Club

Make:  Thomas Stewart, St. Andrews, Scotland

Model: Spade Mashie #6

Age:  Early 20th C  (1905-1932)

Construction:  Forged carbon steel, hickory wood, leather

Dimensions:  37 3/4" Long

Condition:  Very good original condition.  No apparent cracks, splits.  Some very minor signs of wear commensurate with age and use.  Lovely patina. Please see photos.

Details: Hickory golf club in very good original condition with hickory wood shaft, black leather grip, and forged steel head.  The head is carbon steel with a hand-lined face.  It is impressed on the back with "SPECIAL  HAND FORGED  MADE IN SCOTLAND  T. STEWART MAKER ST. ANDREWS  T.S.ST.A REG TRADEMARK  SPADE MASHIE ".  Also a larger numeral 6 is impressed beneath 'Mashie'.  Stewart's trademark, a clay pipe, is impressed below his name and above the trademark statement.

Arguably the most famous "cleek-maker" in the world, Tom Stewart learned blacksmithing from his father in Carnoustie.  In 1890, he went to work for Robert White in St Andrews, making carbon steel heads for hickory shaft golf clubs.  His high quality forged heads were fitted to hickory wood shafts with leather or suede-wrapped grips by other skilled professionals.  He began his own business in 1893 and became the most well-respected club head maker of his time, and the best known today.  His "cleek-mark" of a clay pipe, a mark also used by his father, was registered as a trademark in 1905.  An amateur golfer in his own right, he had a great understanding  of the finer points of the game, reportedly playing four times a week on the St Andrews Old Course during the 40 years of his career.  Some of his better-known clients include Bobby Jones,  Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon.