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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Dec 14, 2010 - 11:13am PT
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Harrrr! That locker belongs to Davey Jones! LOL
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 10, 2011 - 08:24pm PT
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I'm posting a photo of a Chouinard carabiner identification guide "cheat sheet" I made up, since this thread got long and complex.
To use the "cheat sheet":
1. Find the breaking strength on your mystery Chouinard biner (if shown). Otherwise look at the first 3 models listed without breaking strength.
2. Figure out if your biner is shaped like a: D, oval, or pear.
3. Look for markings on your biner that match markings on ones with your biners breaking strength and shape.
Photos and catalog descriptions of all but the two earliest Chouinard carabiners are on the first page of this thread.
Information on the two earliest Chouinard carabiners is scattered through the rest of the thread.
Click on photo for a larger version.
Yes! Locking Chouinard carabiners are not on this "cheat sheet." Look on page one of thread.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jan 10, 2011 - 09:49pm PT
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Annual, Marinabiner anti-corrosion workshop. One of the first things you learn on a boat is the lovely affinity that aluminum and stainless have for each other. Kind of a relationship frozen in time.
Antiseize, lamb fat, Neverseize, Tef Gel are just a few of the lubricants we use to prevent this.
So I have to laugh when I read the old copy from GPIW that Fritz provided for us:
"make for a very safe, strong and corrosion resistant carabiner, making it the perfect choice for marine purposes."
Still they have their place and with a little upkeep they function.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 10, 2011 - 10:37pm PT
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Guido! Thanks for the marine carabiner update.
I like adding my new qualifier to your ST handle.
Guido---The Sly Sailor-man!
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Thorgon
Big Wall climber
Sedro Woolley, WA
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Jan 10, 2011 - 11:22pm PT
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Fritz~
I found this thing in my climbing partners backyard and it was powder-white!!!
Chouinard/Salewa after rotofinishing!
Thor
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 11, 2011 - 10:27am PT
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Thor: That biner looks better than it likely looked when new in 1972.
After tumbling: I'm impressed you still see the Tested stamped on the gate.
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ericz
climber
Ogden, UT
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Jan 23, 2011 - 11:21pm PT
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ericz
climber
Ogden, UT
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Jan 23, 2011 - 11:30pm PT
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ericz
climber
Ogden, UT
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Jan 23, 2011 - 11:40pm PT
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OOOoooopppps!!! Should have scrolled all the way through the post,... oh, well. Carts before horses.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 23, 2011 - 11:56pm PT
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eritz: No problem. Your photos are very, very good. Thanks for adding those to the thread!
As you now know: your biner is vintage 1957-1967. The likely timeline: has it towards the later of those dates, but------history of the Jurassic is only available from us fossils.
If you have more than one of those, and want to trade: email me?
Best Wishes!
Fritz
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 14, 2011 - 08:28pm PT
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I finally got to touch one of the pre-1968 Alcoa Chouinard carabiners.
When I was in Teton Mountaineering in Jackson, WY last week: I got to look over their small, but significant, "climbing gear museum.
Long-time Teton Mountaineering owner Chuck Schaap was “pretty-sure” he had one of the Chouinard-Alcoa D’s on display.
We found one after a short search.
Heavenly music didn’t play when I fondled it, and Chuck took it away from my grasping fingers in short order.
I’m still looking for one of these to complete my collection. I will trade anyone that regularly posts on ST: two of any of the newer Chouinard D or oval biners. I have original made in USA Lost Arrow pitons to trade too.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 28, 2011 - 12:29am PT
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Jim Phillips just sent this mint condition Alcoa my way!
Thanks Jim!
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11worth
Trad climber
Leavenworth & Greenwater WA
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Aug 28, 2011 - 01:18am PT
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You are welcome Steve!
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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Sep 12, 2011 - 06:55pm PT
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Fritz: I appreciate this thread and your interest in these biners. If you are coming to Facelift and if you still have not acquired one already, I have a pre-1967 for you if you don't mind a "KB" stamped into the gate. Thank you for your positive attitude and the generousity of your spirit. Please advise me on the best way to get this biner to you.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 12, 2011 - 07:01pm PT
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Fritz! I want some of those carabiners for training weight.
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tolman_paul
Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
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Sep 12, 2011 - 07:15pm PT
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I don't know if it was Black Diamond nomeclature, or under the last years of Chouinard, but I coulda sworn the Improved Lightweight was referred to as the Almost Oval biner.
In fact, I coulda sworn I bought mine at the Patagonia Outlet store in San Francisco, and that would have been pre-BD, ~87 or 88.
PS, I needed an excuse to get out of the office. I wandered down to the truck and grabbed my harness out of my pack. Low and behold an almost oval biner on a sling, bummer, stamped black diamond. But then, the biner next to it, also an almost oval, is stamped Choinard. Both are stamped 2100 kg on the opposite side of the spine.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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Sep 12, 2011 - 07:35pm PT
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Jim D: If you REALLY want to do some weight training, I have some old Cassin steel biners I might let you have. Interested? See you at Facelift!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 12, 2011 - 08:58pm PT
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Ken- Does the CHOUINARD lettering on your biners look like the one that I just posted?
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