a Vintage "99" wedge, haha? Factory misprint?

[radiopreacher]

Greetings and please forgive my ignorance...I got this by itself at the thrift store out of curiosity.

Has anyone ever seen a wedge numbered "99"? I thought maybe it was a thing until I got home and couldn't find any on Google.

Now I'm assuming it's a 9 iron and the club accidentally got stamped twice?

(?)  o.o

This from the Powerbilt guys back in the day I guess:

H&B Louisville Grand Slam Reg. 147

Maybe since by today's loft standards it is a couple degrees stronger than a 9 I might keep it as a longer wedge and call it my "Louisville Slugger"?

Looks a bit like it's already been used on some gravel at that (I polished the stainless head a bit with micro-abrasive compound but you can still see dings on the edge between the face and sole)

 

 

Edited March 15, 2019 by radiopreacher

[Vinsk]

Maybe if you gently keep rubbing you’ll find a Van Gogh underneath! 😁. I think you’re right..it’s just an error.

[RussUK]

Hey, at least you can have fun with your playing partners when they ask you what club you hit. "I hit a 99 on that hole"

[billchao]

Since loft is measured from vertical, a 99° club would point backwards 😜

[radiopreacher]

Hehe... thanks for verifying I wasn't missing out on some genuine, arcane golf nomenclature.

That makes it kinda cool  🙂

[craigw]

"99" signified a sand wedge.  Don't know why, but it's in their catalogs from the 30s and 40s.