Unusual David Myles Golf Club, Nipper Iron
Unusual David Myles Golf Club, Nipper Iron
29593
Unusual Driving Iron Golf Club, The Nipper
This rare and unusual hickory shafted iron 'The Nipper', has a smooth face, bulbous weighted back, hickory shaft and suede leather grip. The rear of the head stamped 'D. Myles, Dundee. 7 Nipper', the face stamped 'Patent, USA, British' within a circle. The club was designed by David Myles of Dundee and is said to resemble a wood, and should be used as such. It was claimed that the iron was more suited to the rubber cored or pneumatic balls and could drive either ball greater distances. The club had the face profile of a wood and was approximately the same weight.
The measurements shown are the length of the shaft with hosel and the width and depth of the face.
Taken from Jeffery Ellis book, The Clubmaker's Art:
The "Nipper", "Rexor", "Paxie" & "Placer" were four nearly identical clubs created by David Myles. These clubs were designed to function as woods, complete with the face profile of a wood, but made as irons. Myles received three different British patents that covered this concept. The basic objective of his iron club as stated in his first British patent, (No. 5,121) dated September 11, 1905, was "to improve … driving clubs by adapting them to suit rubber cored or pneumatic balls". In addition to the claim that his iron could drive either ball greater distances, Myles also claimed his iron, due to its small head, was exceptionally playable from a heavy lie.
In designing his invention, Myles states: 'I make the head of the driving clubs metal instead of wood … and of a shape somewhat similar to such wooden clubs, but of smaller bulk, that is to say the length of the club is shortened very considerably, the depth of face kept the same while the weight is approximately the same as the weight of a wooden club used by the same player and for the same purpose'.
Accordingly, the outline of the face on his iron is shaped like the face of a wood, and it also maintains the same approximate face area. To give his iron head the same approximate weight as a wooden club, Myles concentrated "as much metal as possible behind the striking center" of the face. As produced, only a small amount of extra metal was used. The enlargement on the back of any Myles iron does not command much attention.
In his second British patent, (No. 18,990) dated August 6, 1906, Myles sought to improve his first patent by shifting the angle of the enlargement. According to the second patent: 'while the sole of the club is parallel to the ground the enlargement at the back lies at an angle, the lower end being towards the heel and the higher end towards the toe'.
Myles thought this back design would help his iron achieve the balance found in a wood. (On most woods, the back of the head is lower towards the heel and higher towards the toe).
In his final British patent, (No. 114,814) dated March 21, 1918, Myles refers to his second patent and presents a minor refinement: 'I provide between the enlargement and the heel a depression, or hollow'. This depression or hollow, which was very subtle, made it possible to lengthen the blade without disturbing the weight.
Myles also patented the clubs in America and received a U.S. patent (No.868,667) dated October 22, 1907, that copied his first British patent and a U.S. patent (No.956,594) dated May 3, 1910, that copied his second British patent.
Dimensions:
1900-1949
Circa 1905
Hickory & iron
Scotland
Very good, club head is pitted.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://sportantiques.co.uk/sports/unusual-david-myles-golf-club-nipper-iron&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/sportantiques-64hFGwj3-uEHU73t22/stock/64368bd48711b_3_29593.jpg&description=Unusual Driving Iron Golf Club, The Nipper This rare and unusual hickory shafted iron 'The Nipper', has a smooth face, bulbous weighted back, hickory shaft and suede leather grip. The rear of the head stamped 'D. Myles, Dundee. 7 Nipper', the face stamped 'Patent, USA, British' within a circle. The club was designed by David Myles of Dundee and is said to resemble a wood, and should be used as such. It was claimed that the iron was more suited to the rubber cored or pneumatic balls and could drive either ball greater distances. The club had the face profile of a wood and was approximately the same weight. The measurements shown are the length of the shaft with hosel and the width and depth of the face.Taken from Jeffery Ellis book, The Clubmaker's Art:The "Nipper", "Rexor", "Paxie" & "Placer" were four nearly identical clubs created by David Myles. These clubs were designed to function as woods, complete with the face profile of a wood, but made as irons. Myles received three different British patents that covered this concept. The basic objective of his iron club as stated in his first British patent, (No. 5,121) dated September 11, 1905, was "to improve … driving clubs by adapting them to suit rubber cored or pneumatic balls". In addition to the claim that his iron could drive either ball greater distances, Myles also claimed his iron, due to its small head, was exceptionally playable from a heavy lie.In designing his invention, Myles states: 'I make the head of the driving clubs metal instead of wood … and of a shape somewhat similar to such wooden clubs, but of smaller bulk, that is to say the length of the club is shortened very considerably, the depth of face kept the same while the weight is approximately the same as the weight of a wooden club used by the same player and for the same purpose'.Accordingly, the outline of the face on his iron is shaped like the face of a wood, and it also maintains the same approximate face area. To give his iron head the same approximate weight as a wooden club, Myles concentrated "as much metal as possible behind the striking center" of the face. As produced, only a small amount of extra metal was used. The enlargement on the back of any Myles iron does not command much attention.In his second British patent, (No. 18,990) dated August 6, 1906, Myles sought to improve his first patent by shifting the angle of the enlargement. According to the second patent: 'while the sole of the club is parallel to the ground the enlargement at the back lies at an angle, the lower end being towards the heel and the higher end towards the toe'.Myles thought this back design would help his iron achieve the balance found in a wood. (On most woods, the back of the head is lower towards the heel and higher towards the toe).In his final British patent, (No. 114,814) dated March 21, 1918, Myles refers to his second patent and presents a minor refinement: 'I provide between the enlargement and the heel a depression, or hollow'. This depression or hollow, which was very subtle, made it possible to lengthen the blade without disturbing the weight.Myles also patented the clubs in America and received a U.S. patent (No.868,667) dated October 22, 1907, that copied his first British patent and a U.S. patent (No.956,594) dated May 3, 1910, that copied his second British patent.){kind=link}