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Mystery Cam - Anyone know???

Original Post
CO_Michael · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 956

Found this cam in Sedona.

Anyone got some info on this cam?

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Goodman Sachs · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 315

Looks like a homemade goody to me.

Dan Dalton · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 1,465

Doesn't look like a home made goodie to me, the stamp on the stem look like was machined in a quantity of more than one. Definitely looks like a friend style came, I've never seen anything like it but this might help in identification:

needlesports.com/nutsmuseum…

If nothing else, I might try contacting someone at this museum, they seem to have seen it all. Good luck and fill us in if/when you find out.

Charles Danforth · · L'ville, CO · Joined Aug 2003 · Points: 170

As I mentioned on the other thread, it looks a bit like titanium. It's got that same shifty look as the Ushba Ti ice screws. The webbing color scheme suggests something out of the late '80s. No idea other than that.

aluke · · PHX, AZ · Joined May 2007 · Points: 90

That webbing appears to be stitched by an individual rather than a company. The main thread concentration is at the center verses equally distributed about the width of the webbing. I have never seen a pattern like that used commercially and it appears somewhat sloppy (running over the edge, and the start of the zigzag up the center being bellow the zig zaging zig zag stitch).

My 2 cents

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,746

Doesn't look Ti to me (I've got a set of Ti ones).

Maybe a late-ish 80's ROK friend copy.

Marty K might know...

Aric Datesman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 145

Hey guys,

Stephane from the Nuts museum has been lurking over on Supertopo lately, so easy enough to ask there. Alternatively I've always found him quite responsive to emails... (address is listed in the Nuts Museum website)

-a.

Tradster · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0

Ask Marty Karabin...he may well know.

CO_Michael · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 956

Thanks all. It is totally Titanium.

I will chat with Marty K.

karabin museum · · phoenix. AZ · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 1,670

Greetings,

I have this same cam in the museum but never was able to find out who created it. I received it from a climber in British Columbia who picked one up on his travels. The cam is Titanium. He called it a Russian cam from 1992. Most titanium climbing products come from Russia. I am not completely sure who the MFG is. Lets wake up Stephane in Corsica!

Rock on! Marty

karabin museum · · phoenix. AZ · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 1,670

Stephane from the Nuts Museum in Corsica calls them "Russian Cams" from the 1990s. He has the same cam and one smaller. He too has found no further info on them.
So what we do know:
-Titanium cams
-very well crafted so not homemade
-2 sizes known so far
-from Russia
-1990s possibly 1992
-both Marty and Stephane cams have no sling webbing.

Hope this helps.........Marty

CO_Michael · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 956

Thanks Marty.

I agree that it is well made and TI.

It is about the size of #4 friend.

Nice booty for me but a trigger wire broke.

Allen Hill · · FIve Points, Colorado and Pine · Joined Jun 2004 · Points: 1,410

It's Russian, straight out of the tractor factory.

Greg Barnes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,065

Hey Marty, while on the subject of weird cams -

About 10 years ago I bootied a medium cam in Yosemite that is labeled "KoubA" with an accent above the o. Looked like a factory job, not homemade. I always assumed it was Czech or something - do you have any in your collection or know anything about those?

karabin museum · · phoenix. AZ · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 1,670

I only have these two KoubA cams in the museum.
They are from the Czech Republic circa 1990s created by the KouBA brothers.
I really like the craftsmanship put into these cams. Bomber two swedge design, awesome cams. The only downfall I see is the ring spring pins on the ends of the axle that holds the lobes together.

CO_Michael · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 956

Hey Marty,

What is the entrance fee to see the museum?

I would totally like to see lots of gear.

MM

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 21,746
MichaelClimbs wrote:Hey Marty, What is the entrance fee to see the museum?
My bet is you'd get unlimited access with a Chouinard '67 alpine hammer or a Climaxe with a externally riveted on head.
Greg Barnes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,065

Cool Marty, the one I have is exactly the same as your upper (orange) one.

My one also has a "WG" stamped vertically on one of the lobes, with the "W" actually an upside down M. And a bit of old white paint on the underside of the inside lobes. Guess there's even a slight chance that it was previously owned by some climber guy no one ever heard of...but that looks a bit like Sylvester Stallone...

Dan Sahli · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2018 · Points: 0
I know this post is old, but I just came across some more. I have some 2’s, 3’s, a 4,7 and an 8. They have the same stamping as the original post along with “UIAA  ***” and then the number. Any ideas other than Russian and titanium?

karabin museum wrote: Stephane from the Nuts Museum in Corsica calls them "Russian Cams" from the 1990s. He has the same cam and one smaller. He too has found no further info on them. So what we do know: -Titanium cams -very well crafted so not homemade -2 sizes known so far -from Russia -1990s possibly 1992 -both Marty and Stephane cams have no sling webbing. Hope this helps.........Marty
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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