Here in Scotland SMC refers to the Scottish Mountaineering Club, an austere bunch of gentlemen in the early days, who were eventually enlightened by ladies a hundred years or so after inception.

S.M.C. In this case refers to the Seattle Manufacturing Corporation founded by American, Jim Clark, in 1967. Jim specialised in making high quality rock pitons – three of which we have here in the collection.

Bongs got their name from the noise they make when being hammered into a rock face and were much used by big wall climbers in the 1960/70s.

The arrival of camming devices such as Friends and Camalots in the late 70s served a death knell on bongs since where a bong could go so could a cam and you didn’t have to hammer it in.

Still used occasionally and still useable if required, bongs are pretty much collector’s items nowadays and that’s how these ones have ended up.

They were kindly donated by our good friend, Allen Fyffe, Mountain Guide and gentleman of the Scottish Mountains.