The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
977.2012.1(a-b)
Simond Chacal Ice Hammers
18/02/2012
Hermione Cooper
18/02/2012
Two Simond Chacal ice hammers. One with white leash and one with black leash.Movable serrated picks.Ferrule has gnarled edges.
steel,alloy,rubber
Shaft & ferrule 47(l) x 10(cir)cms. Head 25(l) cms. Hammer 3 (w)cms.
2
"SIMOND SPECIAL" on head and "CLAUDIUS SIMOND CHAMONIX MONT BLANC"
black,silver
Simond
Chamonix, France
These two Simond hammers date from the 1980's when, unfortunately, they had two models, the Chacal and the Barracouda but we were not quite sure which ones we have here.The following extract from Steve Foster's gear notes in the Dec 1988 Mountain Magazine gives us a few clues, but not the total answer.
"Simond Barracouda and Chacal
Simond started the reverse curve (banana) pick revolution about 10 years ago and until now have made few changes to their range. Until last year the main problem with the chacal had been an over-complex pick attachment which developed rattles. Simond modified its existing forging by simply using two interlocking Allen screws, at the same time introducing an ungainly looking pick which was raised and extended to give greater knuckle clearance. This rather half hearted attempt at modification,coupled with the fact that the Chacal is not a true modular system because of the attached hammer heralded, I judged, the demise of Simond as market leaders. How wrong I was. They are to introduce a brand new modular system for'89."
Quite how successful the '89 system was we are not sure though lots of climbers were using them.
This pair once belonged to Mick Tighe's Mountain Guiding Company, Nevis Guides. Neither has been used a great deal, but both have slightly wobbly heads!
Footnote:-
We've had a very helpful note and two pictures from fellow collector, Renato Bianco over in Italy. It would seem that both our hammers are Chacals, with one being the earlier version and the other one modified as described in Steve Foster's notes. What we need now is a Barracouda!
Donated by Mick Tighe
18/02/2012
18/02/2012
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
18/02/2012