For the last five years, Miura founder Katsuhiro Miura has been working towards creating an iron that’s been dubbed his “crowning achievement.” Those are bold words, especially when they happen to be attached to one of the greatest master craftsmen in the history of the industry.
In Miura’s eyes, the new KM 700 is more than just another iron in the company’s matrix. It’s the culmination of five years of collaborative work that brought together state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques and specialized grinds to create an iron that’s designed to consistently deliver the head square at impact.
“Katsuhiro Miura’s life and career is an inspiration,” said Bill Holowaty, Miura Golf’s chief operating officer. “The KM 700 is the culmination of his rigorous approach to craftsmanship, an approach that has been diligently passed down to the entire team of Miura craftsmen who now proudly take up his mantle of pride and precision.”
What makes the the blade-like profile extra special is the fact that it features more than Miura’s fingerprints. While helping to groom the next generation of Miura craftsmen, one of his proteges offered feedback that was eventually used to create the design of the KM 700.
The overall weight distribution allows the iron to look like a better-player model but still deliver a surprising level of mis-hit protection. A toe-cut grind — visible on the sole — was added to optimize the camber and bounce, ensuring the iron has no trouble getting through the ground regardless of lie or turf conditions. The grind also stabilizes the head at impact to help reduce distance loss on off-center strikes.
Miura paid particular attention to the hosel and heel designs as well in an effort to move the center of gravity 3 millimeters closer to the toe. While the slight CG shift might seem insignificant to some golfers, it helps create a bigger sweetspot that comes in handy for golfers who don’t consistently hit it out of the middle.
“We know of no other forging process able to achieve this level of precision and consistency,” Holowaty added, “and no factory has ever attempted this level of precision. It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Katsuhiro Miura.”
Each KM 700 head goes through a rigorous grinding and polishing regimen that includes Miura’s proprietary “third-strike” manufacturing process, which allows the head to be “altered and manipulated for the perfect shape.” The end result is a tighter steel grain structure and optimized density.
The last step in the process is Miura’s seal of approval — a red hanko stamp that’s hammered into the back cavity of the iron.
Miura’s KM 700 irons retail for $2,800 (4-PW).
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.