If you’ve uncovered an old Otey Crisman putter and want to know when it was made or whether it might be valuable, you’re not alone. Many collectors and golfers have come across these clubs without realizing the role Otey played in golf history. Between 1949 and 1959, Otey Crisman putters were trusted by champions, claiming five Masters titles in a single decade, including three consecutive wins from 1955 to 1957.
Reliable information about these putters is limited, and much of what’s online is incomplete or incorrect. As a result, many authentic Otey models are overlooked, misdated, or sold for far less than they deserve.
Key Eras of Otey Crisman Putters
Pre-1949: The Earliest and Rarest
Otey’s earliest hand-crafted models are extremely scarce. These early putters often appear unmarked or with subtle identifiers, causing many to dismiss them as generic vintage clubs. If you have one, it may be among the few surviving examples of Otey’s original craftsmanship.
1949 to 1957: The Golden Decade
This period represents Otey’s prime. These putters captured major championships and built the brand’s legacy. Even though production increased, authentic examples in good or fair condition remain rare and highly collectible.
After 1957: Later Production and Variants
Following Otey’s dominant years, designs evolved under different ownership and licensing arrangements. These later models can still hold value depending on shaft material, grip type, and head markings, but they generally fall outside the peak collector interest.
Why Dating Matters
Dating your Otey putter correctly helps determine authenticity, collectibility, and potential value. Specific materials, markings, and construction details such as shaft type, head shape, and stamping can identify its production period. Early examples, especially those with hand-tooled heads or original leather grips, often command strong attention from collectors.
Next Step: The Otey Crisman Guide
We are building a verified reference to help owners properly identify and date their Otey putters. If you have one tucked away in a garage or attic, it could be a rare piece of golf history.
Clean it up, take clear photos, and prepare to compare it with entries in the growing Otey Crisman Guide. You may find that your old club is a championship-era original.
Stamping:
Individual block letters Otey Crisman late 1930’s to ‘46 *VERY RARE*
1 9/16 Otey Crisman stamp 1947-1954 *RARE*
1 3/8 Otey Crisman stamp 1954-1986
Otey III stamp 1986-today
Mid 1965 “Selma” stamp pulled off the putter. *RARE*
Circle with a C in the sweet spot removed ~1977-1978.
Grip Cap:
Very early on, the top of the grip had a screw cap 1947-49 Phillips head screw. *VERY RARE*
Black cap with a white insert 1949-1960 *VERY RARE*
Red with a Black insert 1960-1975. Prime Otey years, *RARE*
Then a solid black cap early 70’s all the way to today under OC3 leadership.
Grip:
Burgundy grip early models 1950 *VERY RARE*
(Perforations began in the early 50s.)
Mid 50’s black and red stripe grip with perforations. For the next 15 years.
Solid brown leather hand wrapped leather grip 1965-Mid 90’s.
Mid 90’s until about 2020 was a black grip with light brown edges.
2020 - Today is a Burgundy hand wrapped grip.
Letters:
B = Brass insert in the face
H = Hickory
M = Mallet
S = Steel
D = Deluxe
W = Walnut
X = bamboo shaft
EL = eyeline shaft (2 pc aluminum)
AT = square aluminum head
AR = round aluminum head
GNMH = Gooseneck Mallet Head late 30’s early 40’s *VERY RARE*
B in the front of 20HB is the shape, model is B20. Full name, B20HB (shape, model, hickory shaft, brass insert)
Numbers:
Numbers are the models
Numbers mostly sequential and just described the particular Model. The number 2 in front was (mostly) a lefty model - 21 & 23 were right hand blades.
Most of the others were lefties,
Ex: (27 Lh - 7 Rh, 24 Lh - 4 Rh, 212 Lh - 12 Rh, 218 Lh - 18 Rh, 270 Lh - 70 Rh, 264 Lh - 164 Rh.)
Otey Putter Master Catalog
Mallets
• 3 HW – Bronze center-shaft blade. Flat top grip.
• 3 HWL – Bronze center-shafted blade with straight hosel, walnut back. Flat top grip.
• 4 HB – Medium size square mallet. Square gooseneck hosel and shaft. Flat top grip standard. Later version: slightly offset square hosel.
• 7 HB – Flanged gooseneck mallet. Round grip. Later version: small flanged mallet with offset hosel and round grip.
• 11 H – Large mallet with reverse gooseneck. Deep face is completely visible. Square hosel, shaft, and flat top grip. Later version: straight hosel, slight face progression.
• 12 H – Flanged straight neck mallet with flat top hosel, shaft, and grip.
• 15 HW – Bronze center-shaft gooseneck blade. Flat top grip.
• 15 HWL – Bronze center-shafted blade with walnut back. Flat top grip.
• 16 HB – Large pear-shaped mallet. Straight neck. Flat top grip standard. Later version: narrow pear-shaped mallet with square toe and straight hosel.
• 16 HBW – Pear-shaped mallet with straight hosel and flat top grip.
• 17 H – Large flanged mallet with recessed gooseneck hosel. Full face visible to golfer. Round grip.
• 18 HB – Large pear-shaped mallet. Round grip.
• 18 HBL / HBW – Large pear-shaped mallet with offset hosel. Available with round or flat top leather grips.
• 18 SBW – Ultra-premium steel shaft mallet with brass insert and hand-tied leather grip. Limited edition.
• 19 HB – Large mallet with big offset, available with brass insert only. Round leather grip.
• 41 H – Flanged, double gooseneck mallet, square hosel and shaft. Flat top grip.
• 44 HB – Squared features of this long thin mallet help alignment. Flat top grip.
• 70 HB – Classic Otey mallet. Medium-size head with brass insert, offset hosel, and round grip.
• 71 HB – Flanged gooseneck mallet. Round grip. Later version: with offset hosel and flat top grip.
• 72 H – Small round gooseneck mallet. Round grip. Later version: small round mallet with slight offset.
• 73 H – Medium pear-shaped gooseneck mallet. Round grip.
• 74 HB – Large rounded head, square gooseneck hosel and shaft. Flat top grip.
• 74 H – Large round mallet with square hosel and flat top grip.
• 75 H – Thin mallet with slight offset. Flat top hosel, shaft, and grip.
• 77 H – Flanged gooseneck mallet. Flat top hosel, shaft, and grip.
• 99 H – Center shaft classic style mallet. Perfect balance. Round grip.
• 99 HL – Center-shafted mallet with deep face. Round grip.
• 164 H – Long thin straight neck mallet. Flat top hosel, shaft, and grip.
• 184 H – Long thin mallet, gooseneck flat top hosel, shaft, and grip. Later version: narrower head with offset hosel.
• 270 H – Medium mallet with round back. Slight offset and round grip.
• 310 HB – Largest of the Otey III line. Squared heel and toe, double goose hosel. Puts and feels like a center-shafted putter.
• 320 HB – Long, thin deep-faced mallet with offset hosel. Oversize Newman grip.
• 330 HB – Reduced version of the 320 HB. Deep face, smaller head.
• 700 H – Small straight neck mallet. Round grip.
• Stylist HB – Medium round mallet with shallow face and offset hosel. Round grip.
• Stylist HD – Medium mallet with fiberglass insert backed by soft lead. Round leather grip.
Blades
• 2 H – Deep face flanged blade, slight offset. Round grip.
• 21 H – Flanged gooseneck blade. Round grip.
• 23 H – Straight neck flanged blade, square hosel and shaft with flat top grip.
• 26 H – Straight neck armour blade. Round grip.
• 29 H – Muscle-back center-shafted blade with slight offset. Round grip.
• 30 H – Center-shafted flanged blade. Slight offset. Flat top grip.
• 31 H – Straight face blade with bulge on back to center weight behind ball. Flat top grip.
• 33 H – Rocker head of special yellow brass alloy. Round grip.
• 35 H – Compact semi-center shaft blade, square gooseneck hosel. Flat top grip.
• 36 H – Compact semi-center shaft blade, square straight hosel and shaft. Flat top grip.
• 37 H – Muscle back slight offset blade. Round grip. Later version: heel-shafted flanged blade.
• 38 H – Armour style flanged blade. Round leather grip. Later version: classic flanged with offset hosel.
• 39 H – Heavy center-shafted flanged blade, slight offset. Round grip. Later version: heavier build with offset.
• 200 H – Center-shafted flanged blade design. Slight offset. Round grip.
• 238 H – Classic flanged blade with offset hosel and round grip.
• 239 H – Heavy center-shafted flanged blade with slight offset. Round grip.
• 340 H – Thin straight blade with slight offset. Flat top hosel, shaft, and grip. Later version: deep-faced blade with slight offset.
• Old Goosie H – Replica of the classic Scottish blade. Stainless head, round leather grip.
• NN1 H – Rocker blade with squared features. Flat top grip. Right or left hand.
• Golden Touch H – Two-way center shaft rocker blade. Round grip. Later version: Otey’s classic center-shafted blade. Flat top grip.
• Otey-O-two – Stainless steel blade classic. Round grip.
Super Deluxes
• 3 HW – Bronze center-shaft blade with straight hosel. Flat top grip.
• 15 HW – Bronze center-shaft gooseneck blade. Flat top grip.
• 16 HBW – Pear-shaped mallet with straight hosel and flat top grip.
• 18 HBW – Pear-shaped mallet with offset hosel and flat top leather grip.
Left-Hand Models
• 212 H – Flanged mallet with no offset. Flat top hosel and grip.
• 218 HB – Classic lefty Otey mallet. Square toe and round grip.
• 218 HBW – Deluxe lefty mallet, walnut back. Round grip.
• 270 H – Medium mallet with round back. Slight offset and round grip.
• 37 H (LH) – Heel-shafted blade, offset hosel. Round grip.
• 38 H (LH) – Classic flanged blade with offset hosel. Round grip.
• 39 H (LH) – Heavier center-shafted flanged blade with offset. Round grip.
• 340 H (LH) – Thin deep-faced blade with slight offset. Flat top grip.
• Golden Touch H (LH) – Center-shafted rocker blade. Flat top grip.