Tom Stewart RTJ Dot faced matched irons

Museum-Quality Set of Tom Stewart dot faced “RTJ” Hickory Irons
Exceptional Matched Set – Professionally Rebuilt – Tournament Ready
A rare and highly desirable matched set of Tom Stewart dot faced RTJ stamped hickory irons, representing one of the most collectible iron patterns from the golden age of golf clubmaking.
Forged in St Andrews during the late hickory era, these irons originate from the workshop of the legendary cleekmaker Tom Stewart, whose forging quality and craftsmanship set the standard for early twentieth-century iron production. Stewart supplied iron heads to many of the leading professionals and retailers of the period and was widely regarded as one of the finest clubmakers working in Scotland.
The RTJ Mark
The RTJ stamp refers to Bobby Jones (Robert Tyre Jones Jr.), whose dominance in the late 1920s culminated in the historic 1930 Grand Slam, one of the most celebrated achievements in the history of the game.
During this period, Stewart produced a small number of irons bearing the RTJ initials, based on the same design characteristics associated with Jones’ preferred iron shapes and playing specifications. These clubs reflect the refined blade profile and balanced weighting typical of the best Stewart forgings of the era.
Production of RTJ irons was extremely limited and short-lived, and surviving examples today are scarce, particularly in matched or playable sets.
Rarity and Collectability
Tom Stewart irons were often sold as individual heads to professionals and retailers who then assembled sets to suit their clients. As a result, very few matched Stewart sets have survived intact over the past century.
RTJ-stamped examples are considered among the most desirable of all Stewart iron variants due to:
Their association with the Bobby Jones era
The limited production of RTJ-marked heads
The historical prestige of the St Andrews Stewart workshop
Complete or playable RTJ sets are seldom encountered on the market and are highly sought after by both collectors and competitive hickory golfers.
Restoration and Condition
This set has been professionally rebuilt for modern hickory play, while maintaining the historical integrity of the original Stewart forgings.
Features include:
Original Tom Stewart dot faced forged iron heads with clear RTJ stamps
Original Herd & Herd premium hickory shafts
Traditional Neuman calfskin leather grips over 3 layers of graduated underlisting
Correct pinning and assembly using historically appropriate methods
Lofts and lies set for authentic tournament play
The clubs display the elegant shaping and balanced feel for which Stewart irons are renowned, offering the distinctive responsiveness that only well matched hickory shafts and hand forged blades can deliver.
Significance
Stewart’s irons represent the peak of early twentieth-century forging craftsmanship. The RTJ pattern sits at the intersection of historic design, elite playability, and one of the most celebrated eras in golf.
For collectors, these irons embody a direct connection to the golden age of competitive amateur golf. For players, they provide an opportunity to experience the feel and artistry of clubs crafted at the height of the hickory era.
An Exceptional Opportunity
Matched sets of Tom Stewart RTJ irons rarely appear on the open market, particularly in restored and playable condition.
This set represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a historically important and beautifully rebuilt collection of clubs that honours the craftsmanship of St Andrews and the enduring legacy of golf’s hickory era.