Value of old gear

Typically only Dolt commands these prices. Friends sell for $20 every day on ebay.

I just listed up my last piece of Dolt gear that is available for sale at this time. There are a total of 12 pieces for sale, including a Thinbit, Crudnut, Colornuts (Trunuts), Hipchock, Kernlchock, Cornchock, and Blockchock. It's just time to thin down on the things I own and share the enjoyment of climbing history with others.

Here is the items I have for sale on eBay:

ebay.com/sch/flashoflight2/…

Jesse,
Marty is definitely the source for the best Dolt info. He has the catalogs and the history pretty much nailed down.

The small hex in the photos you posted could be a very early Eiger example but the wire looks a bit thin to me. Maybe it was replace somewhere along the line or maybe it's just a nice homemade piece.
Eiger had a few different versions of their hexes:

#1 Eiger hexes

In this photo you can see the differences in the finish and care taken when chopping off the hex stock:

#1 Eiger hexes

Of course the wired version with the drilled out center is a slightly later generation than the solid slung piece.

Eiger hex chocks

The last photo shows some of the differences in marking. Font size and location changed occasionally as did the angle of the end tapers and width of the chock.

Cool stuff!

More available here: Vertical Archaeology:Eiger Hexes

More vintage gear going up for sale this week on eBay. Colorado Nut I-Beam chocks being added first.

I've been trying to learn about, date, and value these pitons ive connected. Can anyone help? They are all Chouinard.

Group

Steel

Aluminium

Extra aluminum

Those look like they are all bongs - aka the largest of the pitons. My understanding is that chouinard pitons are actually worth less than new BD pins even if they are actually new. Doesn't make much sense to me bit that's what I've been told. I don't believe bongs are made anymore so they may be an exception to that rule - of course there is little use for them anymore but they are cool!

petercoe wrote:I've been trying to learn about, date, and value these pitons ive connected. Can anyone help? They are all Chouinard.

Value is whatever someone is willing to pay. In regards to date/era your best bet is to read through this post on Supertopo. Happy Searching and Learning!
M

supertopo.com/climbers-foru…

Those are Bongs. The steel were no longer made after 1971 I think. The lightening holes were added later, so the one with no holes would be mid-60s, with holes late-60s, aluminum late-60s to 70s. The smaller ones are angles. The steel bongs are worth about $10/ea and the aluminum are worth up to $20/ea. that's recent eBay values. About 3 years ago they would've sold for maybe $50/ea as there was a stronger market, but the big collectors have filled their appetite and/or spent their collecting monies elsewhere.

Gunks Jesse wrote:The steel bongs are worth about $10/ea and the aluminum are worth up to $20/ea. that's recent eBay values. About 3 years ago they would've sold for maybe $50/ea as there was a stronger market, but the big collectors have filled their appetite and/or spent their collecting monies elsewhere.

So for the OP, toss them in a box and sit on them till once again their value increases.

...or sell them now. Let me know if any are for sale, especially the solid ones.

Was hoping someone could help me with some gear I have. Pictures posted below, I can post more if it helps. Looking to get a general idea of whether anything is of value or if it's more of a sentimental value type thing. Thanks in advance!

Ascenders

Piton hammer

Piton hammer #2

Pitons

Pitons 2

Pitons 3

Hook?

Pitons 4

Various

Nuts, friend

Axe

Crampons

I would say all of that (above) is worth nothing. There's just so much of it around, no monetary value can reasonably be applied to it. My two cents.

Sure...some value.

You have some semi collectable old nuts and pins. Wood shaft ice axes always sell for something (yours looks like a Stubai?).

The hammers...worth something.

The old Gibbs are popular with some folks.

The cam...depends on vintage. Old pre wild country?

I'd be interested in a couple of the nuts and pins and maybe the hammers and ice axe.

What are your plans for the gear?

Russ Keane wrote:I would say all of that (above) is worth nothing. There's just so much of it around, no monetary value can reasonably be applied to it. My two cents.

Why bother chiming in if you don't know what it's worth?

They all have value.

Depends on how you sell: one lot is worth less than if you sold each individually.

"Why bother chiming in"

I don't know, why not? If we were all in a room together, and this person pulled out this gear and asked the same question, I would offer my opinion just the same. Isn't someone's perceived notion of value going to be based on a collective consensus? Sure, maybe I was wrong, maybe someone will give a few bucks for the stuff.

I also caveated my comments twice.

old piton
Anyone have an idea as to the origin of this piton, taken from a rock at 7,900 meters on the North Ridge of Everest? I think it was part "wart hog" style ice dagger/screw and part "piton" with the intention of clove hitching the rope to secure it. Likely pre-WW2, but could have been left by the Chinese in 1960. I pulled it from the rock in 2000 (also found several parts of an old English tent, likely from the 1920s) at the 7900 m campsite. Most of the tent parts went to a British mountaineering historian.
piton, side view

Great story. Can you post a side view pic?

Brian in SLC wrote:Sure...some value. You have some semi collectable old nuts and pins. Wood shaft ice axes always sell for something (yours looks like a Stubai?). The hammers...worth something. The old Gibbs are popular with some folks. The cam...depends on vintage. Old pre wild country? I'd be interested in a couple of the nuts and pins and maybe the hammers and ice axe. What are your plans for the gear?

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of hanging on to it. That said if there is something that interests you feel free to send me a PM with an offer.
To answer your questions:
-Yes, the axe is a Stubai Nanga Parbat
-The cam is an old Wild Country, size 3. Doesn't look like it was placed more than a few times.

LucaJ wrote:Was hoping someone could help me with some gear I have. Pictures posted below, I can post more if it helps. Looking to get a general idea of whether anything is of value or if it's more of a sentimental value type thing. Thanks in advance!

Cavers like the old Gibbs Ascenders.

The slung stopper is a MOAC nut. The slung square nut looks like a Clog Wedge. Old school.

The aluminum pin/bong is probably a Chouinard or SMC. Folks still buy old pins.

The old axe is nice.