Objects Database

Omega Karabiner

Accession Number

1197.2014.1

Object Name

Omega Karabiner

Created

19/12/2014

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

19/12/2014

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

silver

Maker

Omega

Object Production Place

USA

Provenance

Carabiner or more correctly, karabiner, is a shortened version of the German word Karabinerhaken which literally means karbine hook - a karbine being the old name for a rifle. Karabinerhaken were the clips or hooks which were used to clip a sling to the rifle so it could be carried over the shoulder. They were used for centuries, mostly by the military, and when the sport of mountaineering came along, karabinerhaken were adapted and modified for clipping onto ropes. The word was shortened to karabiner and because the Germans made some of the earliest karabiners it was adopted pretty much worldwide though the French call their karabiners 'mousequeton' which means the same thing 'musket hook'.
Karabiners have come a long way since Otto Herzog first used one back in 1911. They've become lighter, stronger and very prolific. The one we have here is made by the American firm, Omega, who have continued the word play since omega means big 'o' in Greek and presumably refers, roughly, to the shape of a karabiner.
It came from our American collector friend, Art McCarthy, out in California, where such things are called 'biners' whilst in the UK we call them 'krabs'!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Art McCarthy

Acquisition Date

19/12/2014

Condition Check Date

19/12/2014

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

19/12/2014

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