James First Signature Bat

James Laver Signature No. 1 cricket bat Made July 1999

The Signature is the pinnacle offering from the Laver & Wood workshop, representing the master bat maker’s personal commitment to quality and bespoke craftsmanship. It is not a single, fixed profile but rather a mark of excellence applied to a select, rare grade of willow, tailored precisely to the individual player.

This bat was the first Signature made by James in 1999.

Own a piece of history. This original bat is for sale at USD $200,000.

The Essence of the Signature Bat

The “Signature” designation signifies the absolute finest willow and James Laver’s personal touch throughout the entire crafting process.

• Willow Grade: The bat is crafted exclusively from “Signature Grade” English willow, which is the “cream of the crop” sourced from J.S. Wright & Sons, the world’s top willow merchants. Only one or two clefts in a hundred make this grade, which typically features nice clean grains with minimal cosmetic blemishes.
• Handmade by the Master: Every Signature grade bat is personally made and tested by James Laver himself. This ensures his decades of expertise are applied to escalate the potential performance of each individual piece of wood.
• Bespoke Design: True to the Laver & Wood philosophy, the Signature bat is a fully custom built. The final shape (profile), weight, handle type, and sweet spot position are all determined in consultation with the customer to suit their unique playing style.
• Exclusivity: Due to the rarity of the willow required and the time-intensive hand-making process, only a very limited number of Signature bats are produced each year, sometimes with a waiting list in operation. Each bat carries a unique serial number for authenticity.

In essence, the Signature bat is a high-performance, collector’s item that combines the best available natural material with the unparalleled expertise of James Laver, the master craftsman to create a truly unique piece of cricketing equipment.