The 1975 Alpine hammer came in two handle lengths, both with a more aggressive six-tooth pick.
Identifying Marks
- Pick with 6 teeth on 5-tooth spacing
- Long-handle version: 13″ wood handle, stamped “CHOUINARD MADE IN USA” with the diamond-C logo in dark blue ink
- Short-handle version: same pick on a shorter handle
About the Model
By the mid-1970s the Alpine hammer had become a serious ice tool. The longer handle and extra teeth reflect steeper ice and the growing use of piolet traction. Offering two lengths let climbers choose between a better swing on ice and a more compact tool for rock. The blue ink stamp on long handles is the quickest way to tell the two apart.
The Pieces in the Collection
The collection has both lengths. The short-handle piece is shown at the top of this post. The long-handle piece below carries the dark blue diamond-C stamp, the notch under the hammer face and a Phillips screw holding the leash.
Source: identifying marks and dates from the Karabin Climbing Museum‘s Chouinard Equipment display. Stamp color and details of these pieces from the collection. Have something to add? Let me know.
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