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Hickory Irons

The irons are where hickory golf really gets fun. If you're searching for a hickory mashie for sale, or any other classic iron, this collection has you covered. Every iron here has been restored in my Aloha, Oregon shop and is ready to play. These are original clubs with real history, and they still perform on the course when you put a good swing on them.

The naming conventions from the hickory era can throw people off at first, but they map pretty cleanly to modern clubs. A cleek is roughly a 1 iron, the driving iron that keeps the ball low and running. A hickory mid-iron sits around a 2 iron. The mashie iron is your 3 or 4 iron equivalent, great for long approach shots. The mashie golf club is the workhorse of any hickory bag, playing like a modern 5 iron. Drop down to the mashie niblick and you've got your 7 iron, perfect for those 130 to 150 yard shots. The hickory niblick is your wedge, a vintage iron golf club essential for greenside play, the club you'll use around the greens and out of bunkers. And then there's the jigger, a fun little run-up club with low loft that's incredibly useful for bump and run shots around the green. Lofts across these clubs typically range from about 18 degrees on a cleek up to 50 or so on a niblick.

When choosing a hickory iron, the key things to look for are a straight shaft with good flex, a head that sits squarely at address, and a face that's not worn too thin. I check all of that during restoration. The face scoring (those lines on the clubface) is something I preserve whenever possible because it helps with spin and control. If you're building a set from scratch, I'd recommend starting with a mashie and a niblick, then filling in from there as you figure out what your game needs.

Not sure where to start? Our club types guide on the blog breaks down every category in detail. You can also grab a ready-to-go hickory starter set that includes the essential irons already matched for feel. Round out your bag with a hickory putter and you're set for your first hickory round.

17 products

Hand-inspected Ships from Oregon Secure checkout
Spalding Monel cleek, hickory golf, face viewA.G. Spalding Bros Monel cleek driving iron, vintage hickory golf, hero view
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A.G. Spalding Bros Monel Cleek (Driving Iron)

$45.00
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Tom Stewart iron head with cleek mark, vintage hickory golfTom Stewart St Andrews smooth face hickory golf iron, full club view
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Tom Stewart Smooth Face Iron

$45.00
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Spalding Gold Medal mashie hickory golf maker stamp, Accurate Hand-Forged No. 2Spalding Gold Medal mashie hickory golf iron, full club with hickory shaft and leather grip
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Spalding Gold Medal Mashie

$35.00
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Dickson Special Diamondback Mid IronDickson Special Diamondback Mid Iron
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Dickson Special Diamondback Mid Iron

$35.00
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Wilson Paragon hickory golf mid-iron, rainbow fancy-face detailThos. E. Wilson Paragon Rainbow fancy-face mid-iron, vintage hickory golf, hero view

Thos. E. Wilson Paragon "Rainbow" Fancy-Face Mid-Iron

$70.00
Custom Build

Build Your Own Hickory Club

Pick the head, shaft, grip, and assembly path. Brad builds it in the shop.

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Harry Vardon Totteridge Mongrel Iron vintage hickory golfHarry Vardon Totteridge Mongrel Iron vintage hickory golf

Harry Vardon Totteridge Mongrel Iron

$150.00
Kroydon Roland Wingate J7 Mid Iron vintage hickory golfKroydon Roland Wingate J7 Mid Iron vintage hickory golf

Kroydon J7 Ball Face Roland Wingate J7 Mid Iron

$60.00
Willie Fernie smooth face iron face view, vintage hickory golfWillie Fernie Troon smooth face hickory golf iron, full club view

Willie Fernie Troon Smooth Face Iron

$65.00
Harry Vardon Spalding iron head detail, hickory golfHarry Vardon A.G. Spalding & Bros hickory golf iron, full club view

Harry Vardon Iron by A.G. Spalding & Bros

$75.00
J. Forman maker stamp on iron back, hickory golfJ. Forman smooth face hickory golf iron, full club view

J. Forman Smooth Face Iron

$40.00
Thomas E. Wilson Super-Stroke maker stamp, Warranted Hand Forged, ChicagoThomas E. Wilson mid iron hickory golf club, full club with hickory shaft and black leather grip

Thomas E. Wilson Mid Iron

$25.00
MacGregor Radite mashie hickory golf maker stamp, Won't Rust Dayton OhioMacGregor Radite mashie hickory golf iron, full club with hickory shaft and leather grip

MacGregor Radite Mashie

$30.00
Spalding Gold Medal mid-iron, vintage hickory golf ironSpalding Gold Medal mid-iron, vintage hickory golf iron

Spalding Gold Medal Mid-Iron

$25.00
R. Forgan & Son smooth face iron, Prince of Wales plume, vintage hickory golf ironR. Forgan & Son smooth face iron, Prince of Wales plume, vintage hickory golf iron

R. Forgan & Son Smooth Face Iron

$125.00
Gene Sarazen Juvenile Mid Iron | Wilson Hickory GolfGene Sarazen Juvenile Mid Iron | Wilson Hickory Golf

Gene Sarazen Juvenile Mid Iron | Wilson Hickory Golf

$25.00
Spalding Baseball Logo Model A Smooth Face IronSpalding Baseball Logo Model A Smooth Face Iron

Spalding Baseball Logo Model A Smooth Face Iron

$30.00

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Build your own hickory club from the head up. Pick the head, shaft, grip, and assembly path.

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Yes, vintage hickory irons are still playable, and Old World Hickory Golf lists original mashies, niblicks, cleeks, and mid-irons here, each one a single antique club hand-picked by Brad Harvey. Most are sound and ready to play. A few are honest project pieces priced for someone who wants to do their own work, and each of those says so in its description.

Singles run from $25 to $125 depending on the maker, the head, and condition. Want an iron that plays right out of the box? Read the description, or shop the playable hickory clubs collection for irons that are ready to go. Pair one with a driving wood from the woods collection to round out your bag.

Don't know the old names yet? A mashie plays like a modern 5-iron, a niblick is the hickory era wedge, a cleek is a low-lofted driving iron, and a mid-iron sits around a modern 2-iron. A smooth face iron has no grooves, true to early play. See the glossary of hickory club terms for the full list.

Are vintage hickory irons still playable?

Most irons in this Old World Hickory Golf collection are sound and ready to play. A few are honest project pieces that need work, and each of those says so in its description. Check the listing before you buy if ready-to-play matters to you.

What is the difference between a mashie, a niblick, and a cleek?

A mashie plays like a modern 5-iron. A niblick is the hickory era wedge, good for short and lofted shots. A cleek is a low-lofted driving iron. All three show up in this collection as original clubs.

What is a smooth face iron?

A smooth face iron has no grooves on the face, true to early hickory play before grooved faces were common. Old World Hickory Golf carries smooth face irons from makers like Tom Stewart, R. Forgan, and Willie Fernie.

How many irons do I need for a hickory round?

A couple of irons spanning your yardages, a mashie and a mid-iron for most players, cover a typical round, paired with a driving wood and a putter. Shop the woods collection for a wood, or check the playable hickory clubs collection for ready-to-play singles.

How much do vintage hickory irons cost?

Singles run from $25 to $125 depending on the maker and the head. Project pieces sit at the lower end and are priced for someone doing their own work.

Want something built to your specs? Build your own hickory set and Brad will assemble it for you, or order the parts kit and do it yourself.