Over the years I have not found much information on CCB pitons. From a Supertopo Forum discussion it was mentioned that CCB may stand for a persons name, C. Christian, from Bern Switzerland. In a conversation I had with Jim Bridwell Jim mentioned that he believes that CCB pitons were made starting in the late 1930, but I have not found any actual proof for that to be true. So CCB still remains a mystery. On the CCB pitons I have they were not always perfect creations and many were offered to the public while still being very crude in their look. There are two distinct stamps on the pitons one showing “Made In Switzerland” where the “B” of CCB is smaller. The other stamp shows “Swiss Made” where the “B” of CCB is very large. I feel like the Swiss Made CCB pitons were made in the 1950s and 1960s since they are more refined in the way they look. The Dolt 1960 catalog shows CCB pitons, but the photos are kinda fuzzy and I can’t make out what actual stamp is on the pitons in that 1960 catalog.
CCB pitons shown in the Dolt 1960 catalog
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I obtained these three pitons from a ebay auction which came with other gear items from the 1930s era. The pitons are the same shape as early CCB pitons and are marked "Made in Switzerland." However there are no CCB marks on these three pitons. I believe these are early CCB pitons but not sure if they are 1930s or even 1920s.
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Jim Bridwell believes that these two CCB pitons were made in the 1930s. Neither of these pitons were placed or hammered. This is how crude the early CCB pitons were.
CCB vertical piton
- Donated by: Jim Bridwell
- Found by Jim Bridwell on the Eiger, Mittileggie Ridge. Jim suggested the piton is from the 1930s. I place it at 1930's or 1940's.
- Donated by: Jim Bridwell
- Found by Jim Bridwell on the Eiger, Mittileggie Ridge. Jim suggested the piton is from the 1930s. I place it at 1930's or 1940's.
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These CCB pitons may be from the 1940s or early 1950s. Crude in form. Stamp is "Made in Switzerland." The "B" of the CCB stamp is small.
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These CCB pitons may be from the late 1950s and early 1960s. More refined in form. Stamp is "Swiss Made." The "B" of the CCB is bigger. These pitons look closer to what is shown in the Dolt 1960 catalog.
Left two pitons show the smaller "B" in the CCB stamp. The right two pitons show the larger "B" in the CCB stamp.
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CCB piton made into a bolt hanger by Dave Rearick. "R" (Rearick) stamp shows in the middle photo. Piton donated by Michael Chessler.
CCB Vertical piton
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CCB Ice piton
- c.1940s/1950s
- Tip section is cracked
- Donated by Michael Chessler
- c.1940s/1950s
- Tip section is cracked
- Donated by Michael Chessler
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Ski Hut 1959 catalog showing CCB pitons. Sorry about the fuzzy image |
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CCB - horizontal piton
- From ebay 2/2025
- From ebay 2/2025
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