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Unidentified Carabiner

Original Post
portercassidy · · UT/CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 66

I was lucky enough to get kicked down a bunch of old gear from a guy who is moving out of state. He gave me a bunch of pitons (sweet!), an old helmet, some hex's, stoppers, old school Bod type Harness, Webbing, gear sling and some biners.

There is about 6 SMC biners, an Eiger biner (first one I have seen) and this unidentified biner with no marking. Wondering if anybody knows what it may be.

Left (SMC) Middle (Unidentified) Right (Eiger)

Unidentified

Score

Thanks

David Gibbs · · Ottawa, ON · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2

The sharp cut on the edges of that biner make it look like a hardware-store biner, rather than a climbing one to me.

BigFeet · · Texas · Joined May 2014 · Points: 385

I second this ^^^.

Looks like a spring snap...

fastener-hardware.zoronmfg.…

Eric Mountford · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 0

The biner in question looks like an early steel caribiner. The US army put out thousands of these things in WWII when aluminum was at a premium. They were also made before WWII for general climbing. You can tell by the weight. They will be heavy. Also aluminum doesn't rust so if there is rust on them it's a sure sign.

The hex's, helmet, and hammer holster (leather/plastic object) look to be mid to late 70's to early 80's vintage.

None of the objects are particularly valuable or collectable (save the hammer holster which looks to be Chouinard) but are fun historical pieces.

Soft goods (harnesses, webbing, cord, ect) don't really sell and aren't really worth anything other than just interesting to look at.

You might get $50 on ebay for the hex's.

YMMV,

Eric

Edit: I forgot about the pins. These are collectable and have a value of $10-$13 each. But if you have any interest in aid climbing I would keep them. Also it looks like you might have one Chouinard Lost Arrow (hard to tell from pic) pin. If it is pre-Camp it would be a nice piece. From what I've seen worth in the $10-$15 range. I would need close up's to really tell.

portercassidy · · UT/CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 66

It is a steel biner, so this makes sense.

It is a Chouinard Lost Arrow, but is labeled with Camp. I have yet to place any piton's. All of the aid climbing I have done is clean, but there are always a few towers that I am interested in may require a hammer.

John Schwelm · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 15

About your krab, The sharp edge and all , the fact its made from steel wants me to say it was made by a company called 'Viking' karabiners. I do not see them online anywhere so they may be long gone.

I was president of the newly founded NATO rock climbing club in Norway back in 1980-1883 and I bought a load of equipment for the club from a British catalog supplier. Yes they were pretty shoddy, stuck open, and speared your fingers fairly regularly. I also was a member of the US Army and token guest member of the Norway Army reserve mountain rescue group and must say that all hardware used by the military was stamped with the then UIAA/DIN rating in KG's. No stamp it was not used by the US military. For reasons of liability ect.

JS

portercassidy · · UT/CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 66

Interesting...

Thanks for the info.

James Crump · · Canyon Lake, TX · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 200

Stubia also made carabiners with that gate style.

JacksonLandFill Wood · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 40

Ditto for the army issue carbabiners. I have 20ish of these, heavy as heck some are dated 1968-1977.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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