Chouinard Alpine Hammer Question

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 9 of total 9 in this topic
scuffy b

climber
The town that Nature forgot to hate
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 1, 2006 - 07:54pm PT
Does anyone know/remember when the second set of teeth was added
to the base of the pick, next to the handle?
I do recall reading about that mod, but have only the vaguest
notion of when it happened.
The 72 catalog shows heads with one set of teeth.
The 85 catalog has a 2-piece design.
Thanks
sm
TYeary

Mountain climber
Calif.
Nov 1, 2006 - 08:56pm PT
I don't remember the date but I believe that happened when the hammer was produced with the longer handle.
Tony
TYeary

Mountain climber
Calif.
Nov 1, 2006 - 08:58pm PT
BTW, does anyone remember the Climax Hammer? No colection is complete without one.
Tony
graham

Social climber
Ventura, California
Nov 1, 2006 - 11:07pm PT
They were working on it in ’79 – 80 when I was working there. Not sure when it became commercially available. Could have been the following year.

Mike
F10 Climber F11 Drinker

Trad climber
e350
Nov 2, 2006 - 12:40am PT
Climax hammer ??

The Climax had a pick and an adze, didn't pack much punch, not enough weight in the head.

I still use my Climax for summer Sierra routes when I don't need an axe but want a little insurance for the ocassional bit of snow. Compact and lite
Scared Silly

Trad climber
UT
Nov 2, 2006 - 10:20am PT
Late 70s early 80s sound right as Chouinard did the same with the Piolet for a couple of years.

The ClimbAxe is a great little tool. I have one hanging on my bookshelf. I wish there was a modern version of it.
scuffy b

climber
The town that Nature forgot to hate
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 2, 2006 - 10:42am PT
Thanks for all the guesses. Tony, I came upon one with the
double set of teeth but with the short handle. It seems like
maybe they got to brag about the extra teeth one year and then
brag about the longer handle another year.
ronkat

climber
Bldr
Nov 6, 2006 - 11:14am PT
I'm selling an Alpine Hammer and the 1975 Chouinard catalog on ebay right now. The Chouinard catalog from 1975 has a photo of this exact Alpine Hammer with the same number of teeth on the pick and with the short handle. The catalog states:

"The Alpine Hammer is good for cleaning moss and ice out of cracks, removing nuts, placing and removing ice pitons, and chopping steps ar close quarters. However, its special design feature is its use as an ice dagger for hard water ice. For this purpose it has a long, narrow, drooped pick with teeth at the tip.
Over the years the Alpine Hammer has gone through four major desing changes. This model has an added set of teeth on the pick next to the shaft for climbing waterfalls where the ice is often thin and the pick breaks through to water or air. The pick also has a bit more droop than before. It requires a subtle wrist action to place it..."

The tool is fully described in the 1975 Catalog. The original price list says $20.
scuffy b

climber
The town that Nature forgot to hate
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 6, 2006 - 12:29pm PT
Thanks, ronkat.
I guess I'll call mine a 1975. Good luck on eBay. Prices seem
to vary a lot on some items.
I checked a Chouinard Crag Hammer a couple weeks ago.
The seller was calling it an alpine hammer, even was reminiscing
about using it for ice climbing.
The final price was $65.
sm
Messages 1 - 9 of total 9 in this topic
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta