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Dynosoarus
Mar 25, 2010, 4:20 PM
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Since im on a tight budget I was thinking of buying these pitons since there so cheap. Now I dont want to skimp on quality, but there military grade and usa made. Does anyone know anything about them?
Here are a couple links
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150327938561&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/product/climbing-pitons-2908.cfm
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qtm
Mar 25, 2010, 4:27 PM
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Clicky.
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jaablink
Mar 25, 2010, 4:42 PM
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Are you active? If you are, I know you can get a pro deal with at least Metolious . Sent you the pro deal forms. Check your mail…
edit:
I almost forgot. Hurry up and wait…
(This post was edited by jaablink on Mar 25, 2010, 5:01 PM)
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Dynosoarus
Mar 25, 2010, 7:11 PM
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Yeah I will be soon. I get shipped off in may.
Thanks a ton I had no idea they did this and these deals are incredible. I cant find an updated sheet on the net and it seems you have to send in to get one with a military address. Im enlisted but not yet active. So once I am do I call/mail metolius for one?
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jaablink
Mar 25, 2010, 10:05 PM
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I know. Its at least 40% but you can't abuse this privlage.
For clothing and packs check out wild things gear. You need to call the number at the bottom for military sales . You will save exorbitant amounts of cash on high grade tech wear and packs.
http://www.wildthingsgear.com/legacy/
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USnavy
Mar 27, 2010, 6:41 AM
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The auction said military made. Well we dont make anything, we are not a manufacturer. Actually I dont believe the military uses pitons that much anyway. I know a few Navy SEAL's who climb and they dont use them. I would say its a flashy false title to make them sound bad ass.
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Dynosoarus
Mar 27, 2010, 3:46 PM
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Yeah, thank you. I thought it sounded kinda fishy too because I couldnt find anything that said the military made pitons and since there so cheap I questioned there quality.
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Adk
Mar 28, 2010, 1:48 PM
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As USNAVY said and we haven't used piton is ages. The military is about stealth and not banging metal into rock with steel hammers. Pitons would let the bad guy know how you got there IF you were able to place them and then they would know how to counter a re-entry if discovered.
Once nuts and then cams(placement is quiet) hit the market pitons went by the wayside. I do know that bolts are used in some training as is a lot of rope and webbing. I know of only one group that trains with passive and active pro and this is only once a year or so.
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vegastradguy
Mar 29, 2010, 12:20 AM
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Dynosoarus wrote: Since im on a tight budget I was thinking of buying these pitons since there so cheap. Now I dont want to skimp on quality, but there military grade and usa made. Does anyone know anything about them? Here are a couple links http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150327938561&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/product/climbing-pitons-2908.cfm
my first thought when reading this was if you are on a tight budget and looking for pins, maybe you should re-think your goals- there's plenty of climbing to be had without having a rack of iron and the other associated costs....
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coldfeet
Apr 3, 2010, 6:09 AM
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I think those are real US military surplus (made for the army, not by the army) but they are also pretty old, even if NOS.
http://www.chesslerbooks.com/...ontal-rock-piton.asp
Some of them may be soft steel. In any case there are probably better things to use.
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hendo
Apr 11, 2010, 6:42 PM
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I've seen online sources for these military grade pitons even cheaper. A buck a piece, or 85 cents.
However ...
These soft-steel pitons were made for one-time use -- basically, getting troops safely up steep terrain so that they could carry on with their attack. They were not intended to be long-term fixed anchors or fixed pro.
We have an extremely knowledgeable member on RC, JimTitt, who is a German manufacturer of fixed gear. He has completely stopped producing pitons (even hard steel) because he feels they are simply inadequate for the purposes of fixed gear.
He has put together a lengthy article on his thoughts and findings about fixed gear. (It has a strong engineering bent.) If you scroll down to Part 6, you'll find his conclusions on pitons.
http://www.bolt-products.com/Glue-inBoltDesign.htm
P.S. As others have said, there are other sources of inexpensive (and strong) pro, e.g. webbing.
(This post was edited by hendo on Apr 11, 2010, 6:48 PM)
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majid_sabet
Apr 11, 2010, 8:19 PM
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I got a lot of those and sold them on ebay. they are solid and work well but little heavy.
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guangzhou
Apr 13, 2010, 2:55 AM
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Adk wrote: As USNAVY said and we haven't used piton is ages. The military is about stealth and not banging metal into rock with steel hammers. Pitons would let the bad guy know how you got there IF you were able to place them and then they would know how to counter a re-entry if discovered. Once nuts and then cams(placement is quiet) hit the market pitons went by the wayside. I do know that bolts are used in some training as is a lot of rope and webbing. I know of only one group that trains with passive and active pro and this is only once a year or so.
I hate to say this, but in some cases, the service still uses pitons. I know this first hand from training I've provided to the U.S. Army on big wall climbing skills.
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graniteboy
Apr 15, 2010, 8:05 PM
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Down the road a piece, there's this place called the Pickle Meadows Mountain Warfare Training Camp. And, as Guangzou said...yeah, pitons are still on the menu. See section 3-11.
http://www.scribd.com/...ITARY-MOUNTAINEERING
But as for USNavy's assertion that putting the US military label on them would make them sound "badass".....I personally tend to shy away from gear designed for the military. It's mostly cheap crap, antiquated, or just plain inferior.
And to the OP: as for buying "military" pitons....how many dollars of savings is your life worth?
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summerprophet
Apr 15, 2010, 10:38 PM
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Military Surplus pitons are indeed real, and cheap as dirt.
They problem is that they are 50 year old technology, and somewhat unsuitable for modern aid climbing techniques.
They are made out of soft iron, which is still desirable for some alpinists, but npot that practical for the repeated placemant you would want for big wall climbing. In addition, they only ever came in two sizes: a flat blade (hazardous and rarely seen), and the 3/4" angle that is frequently seen.
I would consider them for establishing a rap route, or something similar, but would seek out modern chromoly steel for any nailing routes.
(I don't climb sandstone towers, but these could be a cheap ticket in that direction.... as long as you are putting up new routes, not repeating someone elses....... 3/4" pin would fit just right in a hairline crack in sandstane no?)
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