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Need Experienced Opinion on Older Chouinard Climbing Equipment

Original Post
RocktoRock · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 120
  • *****Updated with More*******

Hi I could really use some help, someone I know was given these and asked me to look into selling them for them since I'm a bit more computer savvy. I have done some research and it seems like He was given a very very nice gift, which could be worth quite alot. I'm not a huge climber (would like to get there) though, and I really don't know what I'm looking at, at least not with an experience eye. Are these even safe to sehttp://www.mountainproject.com/v/community_forum/105083561ll ? Or are they considered more antiques now ? What kind of prices would actually be realistic?
Any help would be appreciated and I thank you for your time, apologies if I posted this to the wrong area.

There are 4 Chouinard pick axes or hammers

5 Pickaxes ?

Closeup

A whole slew of carabiners some 2000lbs other 3000 others 4000

Carabiners !

Closeup

Other Side

And then a whole bunch of things I don't understand, but would love an education on.

Yikes.

Closer

Swiss

And also

Metal!

Now for all of those yes I know they are warthogs etc. but I really don't know what they are used for, if they would be safe to use still I mean they look brand new but....
Again, thanks for your time and knowledge

--Also there is a whole bunch of other stuff camp stoves, manuals, misc bolts? Pitons, and more. Those pictured seemed the most interesting though.
Thanks Again !

-------- Here is the rest of it (almost all) ---- I'll Number the pictures just so it doesn't get super confusing.

#10
Pinions?
#11
Misc ? SMC Brand

#12
Closeup
#13
Italy
#14
Lost Arrow
#15
Bags Brand New
#16
Says Made in England but what are they ?
#17
Just Tent Pegs ?
#18
No Idea At All
#19
Misc Misc Misc but really really cool things
#20
Altimeter
#21
And More Sealed items
#22
Can't Find anything on this one, is it just a cheaper Item ?
#23
All comes in that little canvas? package, the wilderness survival kit is sealed

Thanks to everyone for helping me out, this stuff is super cool and I'm excited to learn about it.
Josh · · Golden, CO · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,140

Wow, that's quite a collection of classic equipment, and lots of it looks to be in unused or very good condition. Based on that, I bet most of it is technically safe to use, but honestly most of it is now "antiques," as you said, and is worth far more for its historic value than for current use. Some of the carabiners are essentially the same as their modern counterparts and could potentially be of interest to someone for climbing use, but those warthogs, for example, have been so surpassed in safety, reliability, and ease of use that basically no one would want to climb with them. Same thing with the pick axes (which climbers term "ice axes") and hammers-- their design was revolutionary at the time but has now been so significantly improved upon that, for the money, almost no one will choose to climb with them instead of a modern tool.

There are several places that collect climbing equipment of historic value, and perhaps some would pay for some of it, but most are museums or other public resources to which your "gift" of that equipment would have to be a donation. Sorry, but true, and in fact, you would be doing a great service to the community of people interested in climbing and its history. It would be good karma, even if it doesn't make you rich.

I would talk first with the American Alpine Club. They have a museum in Golden, Colorado with a collection of older equipment. Several National Parks might also be interest, especially Yosemite, but perhaps others if you are closer to one of the ones with a lot of climbing. Finally, you could call Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. The founder, Gary Neptune, amassed a great collection of historic equipment which is on display in the shop. Even if he is not interested in the stuff you have himself, he or someone else at the shop might have advice for you about other collectors who could be interested in your collection. Same advice for the American Alpine Club, for that matter-- if they don't want it, ask them who else might want it. Depending on where you are, there might be a local museum, outdoor recreation facility, or sports shop that would be happy to display such a large and nicely preserved collection of equipment.

Regardless, I hope your friend's collection is able to make its way to a good home. Best of luck.

Graham Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

Try posting to supertopo.com - the folks on that forum will be very happy to tell you what you've got. The ice axes are by far the most valuable - probably worth hundreds of dollars each - the rest would be of interest to the serious collector. None of it would be worth actually buying to climb with - most of it would be around 30ish years old. As Josh says, modern gear is far safer and easier to use.

Thomas Stryker · · Chatham, NH · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 250

Holy cow looks like someone cleaned out my basement...lol! Great haul of classic Chouinard stuff in great shape!

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,203

Your friends was given $1000+ worth of gear. It looks to all date from the mid to late 70s. The most valuable pieces are the tools in the first picture (L to R)

Snow saw $20
Chouinard Climb-Ax $400
Chouinard Crag hammer $150
Chouinard Alpine hammer $150
Chouinard Piton Hammer $150

The caarabiners figure $2-$3 each some a bit more depending on the collectability.

The Gibbs ascenders (next to the pulleys) $50
The Jumars $50-$100

Chouinard pulleys $15

The Rigid Friends next to the Jumars $25 each

The stoppers on wire cable $5 each

The Hexes on perlon cord and unslung ones that are drilled out with holes $5-$10 each

The Tube Chocks (the tube $50 each

The tubular ice screws $10 each

The Warthog Ice Pitons $50+

As for the other gear, camp stoves seem to be quite collectable some going for $$ like the hammers.

RocktoRock · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 120
Josh wrote:Wow, that's quite a collection of classic equipment, and lots of it looks to be in unused or very good condition. Based on that, I bet most of it is technically safe to use, but honestly most of it is now "antiques," as you said, and is worth far more for its historic value than for current use. Some of the carabiners are essentially the same as their modern counterparts and could potentially be of interest to someone for climbing use, but those warthogs, for example, have been so surpassed in safety, reliability, and ease of use that basically no one would want to climb with them. Same thing with the pick axes (which climbers term "ice axes") and hammers-- their design was revolutionary at the time but has now been so significantly improved upon that, for the money, almost no one will choose to climb with them instead of a modern tool. There are several places that collect climbing equipment of historic value, and perhaps some would pay for some of it, but most are museums or other public resources to which your "gift" of that equipment would have to be a donation. Sorry, but true, and in fact, you would be doing a great service to the community of people interested in climbing and its history. It would be good karma, even if it doesn't make you rich. I would talk first with the American Alpine Club. They have a museum in Golden, Colorado with a collection of older equipment. Several National Parks might also be interest, especially Yosemite, but perhaps others if you are closer to one of the ones with a lot of climbing. Finally, you could call Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. The founder, Gary Neptune, amassed a great collection of historic equipment which is on display in the shop. Even if he is not interested in the stuff you have himself, he or someone else at the shop might have advice for you about other collectors who could be interested in your collection. Same advice for the American Alpine Club, for that matter-- if they don't want it, ask them who else might want it. Depending on where you are, there might be a local museum, outdoor recreation facility, or sports shop that would be happy to display such a large and nicely preserved collection of equipment. Regardless, I hope your friend's collection is able to make its way to a good home. Best of luck.
Thanks for the Response Josh ! Thats good to know, they are really cool so it does seem like someone out there would want them. I appreciate the info ! It does feel like I'm holding History.
RocktoRock · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 120
Allen Sanderson wrote:Your friends was given $1000+ worth of gear. It looks to all date from the mid to late 70s. The most valuable pieces are the tools in the first picture (L to R) Snow saw $20 Chouinard Climb-Ax $400 Chouinard Crag hammer $150 Chouinard Alpine hammer $150 Chouinard Piton Hammer $150 The caarabiners figure $2-$3 each some a bit more depending on the collectability. The Gibbs ascenders (next to the pulleys) $50 The Jumars $50-$100 Chouinard pulleys $15 The Rigid Friends next to the Jumars $25 each The stoppers on wire cable $5 each The Hexes on perlon cord and unslung ones that are drilled out with holes $5-$10 each The Tube Chocks (the tube $50 each The tubular ice screws $10 each The Warthog Ice Pitons $50+ As for the other gear, camp stoves seem to be quite collectable some going for $$ like the hammers.
Wow !!
That is about what I was finding, the Hammers I was thinking more around the $100 Range but that is really good to know, Thank you so much ! He will be really pleased.

Also although I don't have pictures yet, is there a market for old pocket survival guides etc ? Even for Donation ?
Martin le Roux · · Superior, CO · Joined Jul 2003 · Points: 401

There's a market for vintage ice axes on EBay. There were 6 bidders for this one: ebay.com/itm/vtg-CHOUINARD-…

Chosslover Jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 837

If you have any of those SMC hanger still i would love to buy some for my coffee shop! we have a little theme going on, it would be cool to have some vintage hangers to hang some tools on. lemme know! ill pay :)

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492

I had one of those "All Purpose Storm Kit" in the yellow can. Bought it (prob. mail order from REI back in the mid 70s when they only had one retail store (in Seattle). If it's unused, there are bouillon cubes in there that you might want to throw out.

The bigger chocks (hexes and tubes) may be appealing to some, but no way anyone will pay $50 for a tube. More like $5-10. The wired Stoppers are absolutely ready to be used. The biners are another story - the old Chouinard biners were scary weak; no one should climb on them today.

Keep us posted here if you sell these items piecemeal.

Clint White aka Faulted Geologist · · Lawrence, KS · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 151

If there is any climbing history with the pieces, a statement from the owner and keeping the collection whole gives more value. Check an auction house if you don't want to deal with shipping individual pieces. I personally prefer the suggested donation to a place that will make a public exhibit. It would be a shame for a Richie Rich to put it in their basement.

Take your time in deciding if possible. Thanks for sharing!

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,203
Gunkiemike wrote: but no way anyone will pay $50 for a tube. More like $5-10.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-tubular-chocks-by-Chouinard-for-climbing-/301932443393?hash=item464c937701:g:x~0AAOSw2GlXE9Rz

I have seen them go for more.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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