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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 16, 2018 - 02:13pm PT
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Happy Cowboy and RDB- Please email me at scgrossman (at) msn (.) com
Cheers
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Dec 16, 2018 - 04:37pm PT
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I have a black Terror in good condition. Was my 2nd tool for big north walls.
You can really wail on pins with it. I would part with it
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 17, 2018 - 02:19pm PT
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I have a mint Terror hammer AP and am looking for a nice specimen of the version with an adze.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Dec 17, 2018 - 04:51pm PT
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No got adze. Sorry
This thread sure has a lot of sh**ty gear
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 17, 2018 - 06:09pm PT
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No lack of desire to make that shizzle sizzle though...
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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RDB that Simiond Chakal was the best climbing tool of that era INMOP.
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 13, 2019 - 02:21pm PT
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The Simond Chacal was a good tool.
The last Chouinard axe.
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pacyew
Social climber
Fall City WA
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Apr 13, 2019 - 03:58pm PT
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Possibly an early production, 55cm ash shaft, small ferrule (shown in 1970 flyer), short neck, beefy head and pick[photo[photoid=557561]id=557560][photoid=557564]
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pacyew
Social climber
Fall City WA
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Apr 13, 2019 - 04:02pm PT
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[photoid=557566]
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pacyew
Social climber
Fall City WA
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Apr 13, 2019 - 04:03pm PT
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 13, 2019 - 05:44pm PT
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Hey Jay! Took me a while to put that together :) Really nice axe! Early with a C-F roll mark for sure. Ash shafts were made and sold in Europe the entire time Chouinard was having his tools made. When you see a lot of the wooden/laminate axes (in any variation) it is pretty obvious they are all hand made and some of the metal smiths were better (more delicate) than others.
I work metal by hand myself. And I'd bet the heavier tools (ash handles) were a novice smith's effort. That said I have never seen a straight pick on a Chouinard Interalp tool. Happens when you are hammering the pick out on an anvil.
But on a 2nd look I think you are spot on got to be a very, very early Chouinard axe. Earliest one I have seen. Wonder if it was first shipment, first year production here? Do you know its history?
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 13, 2019 - 06:18pm PT
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Nicola Codega (who founded CAMP) and his sons did some fine work for Chouinard Equipment which is why there is one of their piolets in the Smithsonian for its craftsmanship, aesthetic and design merits. I bet Yvon is very proud of that and I know Tom Frost was.
Chouinard Equipment catalog 1972
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 13, 2019 - 07:50pm PT
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The design is classic no doubt. But craftmanship for the 7 or so years the Chouinard Piolets were built was spotty IMO. I have the chance to look at 3 dozen or so bamboo, rexilon and ash shafted Chouinard piolets. That is not a lot of them but may be enough to get an idea on build quality. As a whole the hand forging on the heads runs from exceptional to rather dismal. Final finishing was always good. It covered a good number of mistakes. My take is the ash handled tools were the best for fit and finish. Never seen an ash handle enhanced by filler. Most of the bamboo tools have some filler on the head tangs. I suspect the laminations on the bamboo were more difficult to fit/deal with than good solid ash.
Even the bad ones were pretty. The good ones striking in design and build quality for a tool meant to be used. Sad most of those hand skills are long gone. Neat to see Bhend in Grindlewald still making axes in the old fashioned way.
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ice-axe-that-glows-bhend.html
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 13, 2019 - 07:58pm PT
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As woodworker myself, it would definitely be easier to work with a solid hardwood shaft than laminated bamboo.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Apr 13, 2019 - 10:25pm PT
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As woodworker myself, it would definitely be easier to work with a solid hardwood shaft than laminated bamboo.
I aver that bamboo is more stable in the shrinkage department.
I can also attest that bamboo plywood rapidly shrinks yer wallet! 🤡
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 13, 2019 - 10:41pm PT
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I aver that bamboo is more stable in the shrinkage department.
I can also attest that bamboo plywood rapidly shrinks yer wallet!
Problem now 40 years on is the laminated bamboo is falling apart as the glue is releasing. It has also be susceptible to moisture absorption at the metal joints and in the lamination itself. Working laminated bamboo I suspect was a bit of a bitch when layers blew apart fitting that tangs at the head. Which is why we always saw a good bit of wood putty used to fill the gaps there.
Shaft material price is the reason I think it was the rookie's @ Camp/Interalp that built the ash handled tools. Bamboo went to the best in the shop.
Ha ha. We fell all over ourselves trying to make the ID.
got a chuckle from that Tar...I just did the same a few minutes ago!
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 14, 2019 - 11:03am PT
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Going through some old photos. 1973 I think, and likely posted prior some time back. Here all decked out in wool with piolet and alpine hammer. Memorable because the sun had just gone down and temps were dropping to eventually hit -40C that night. We had yet to get down and had no clue exactly how we were to accomplish that. Thankfully it turned out easier/shorter than expected.
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RDB
Social climber
Great Basin
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Apr 14, 2019 - 11:32am PT
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Just looked at Jay's axe again a few posts back. Have to wonder just how old it is as far as Chouinard production goes. Is Doug Robinson around to look at it?
I am thinking one of the very first production piolets.
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