Yvon Chouinard started making gear for rock climbers and mountaineers at his Great Pacific Ironworks in California around 1957. Much of his early gear was what we call ‘hand forged’ and we have a fine example here of a piton from that era – looking very much the part, having been well hammered in the making and subsequently.

Much sought after by collectors, these pitons have become a rarity and we have to thank our pal, Art McCarthy, over in California, for sending us this one.