The second-generation Crag hammer, with the same smooth cleaning pick as the 1972 original and a new notch under the hammer face.
Identifying Marks
- Long, thin, blunt pick with no teeth
- Notch under the front of the hammer face, added in 1973–74 (the 1972 Crag has a solid head)
- Heavier pick than 1972 Crag
- Wood handle
About the Model
The 1975 Crag kept the toothless pick of the original, made for cleaning nuts and hexes and clearing dirt from cracks, and added the notch under the hammer face. Climbers didn’t always leave them stock: the collection includes a 1975 Crag with a tooth on the pick. Owners often filed or reshaped their hammers to suit how they climbed, so it’s worth checking whether a pick is factory-original before dating it.
About This Piece
The piece pictured here is all stock: toothless pick, notched head, Phillips leash screw and a handle stamped “CHOUINARD MADE IN USA” in red ink. The diamond-C logo is still there, though worn nearly away.
Sources: identifying marks and dates from the Karabin Climbing Museum‘s Chouinard Equipment display; notch date and pick design from the Vertical Museum’s Chouinard hammer collection. Stamp details and notes on this piece from the collection. Have something to add? Let me know.
