Simond History (condensed)
Early 1820s Simond brothers were blacksmiths and crystal hunters. The created agricultural implements, bells and tools for crystal hunting.
By 1860s the brothers divided up the work with Francois Simond manufacturing mountain equipment: axes, crampons, toboggans, skis, etc. In Chamonix, France.
Francois’s son Claudius started work at the forge in 1925. Claudius improved on the present items manufactured and Simond became known across the world as the leading manufacturer of mountaineering equipment.
1948 Claudius introduced the Simond lightweight carabiner.
In 1960 Francois’s grandson Ludger improved on Simond equipment.
In 2004 Simond sold to Wichard.
Most of the early Simond pitons that are shown in vintage gear catalogs are all from the early to mid 1950s. The Simond wedge that I came across dates back to the 1940s, but may be older than that still. I am not exactly sure when Simond first created pitons.
Early 1820s Simond brothers were blacksmiths and crystal hunters. The created agricultural implements, bells and tools for crystal hunting.
By 1860s the brothers divided up the work with Francois Simond manufacturing mountain equipment: axes, crampons, toboggans, skis, etc. In Chamonix, France.
Francois’s son Claudius started work at the forge in 1925. Claudius improved on the present items manufactured and Simond became known across the world as the leading manufacturer of mountaineering equipment.
1948 Claudius introduced the Simond lightweight carabiner.
In 1960 Francois’s grandson Ludger improved on Simond equipment.
In 2004 Simond sold to Wichard.
Most of the early Simond pitons that are shown in vintage gear catalogs are all from the early to mid 1950s. The Simond wedge that I came across dates back to the 1940s, but may be older than that still. I am not exactly sure when Simond first created pitons.
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1940's Simond wedge style piton.
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1940's - early 1950's Simond pitons that were shown on ebay in 2007 from a seller in France.
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1950s Simond piton shown on ebay 3/2024
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Simond piton shown on ebay 1/2025
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Simond - 1950s wedge
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The catalog page is from the Holubar 1954-1955 catalog and shows a few Simond pitons. #12 is a Simond U -shape ice piton, #13 is a Simond U shape (channel) piton, #14 and #15 are Simond Rock pitons. These style pitons were made from the mid 1950s through the 1970s so it is difficult to determine the older from the newer batches. I am guessing on the date but sometime in the late 1940's or very early 1950's the manufacturers stamp changed from F. Simond (Francois) to Claudius.
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Pitons shown in the 1987 Simond catalog. I am not sure when these style pitons were first introduced to the public, but at least this catalog shows what was created by Simond.
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Simond Rock Pegs (Rocher). These pitons were available in extremely resistant steel (soft), and also in Chrome Molybdenum steel (extremely hard). Note that there are two different manufacturer stamps given on the pitons. One being older and one being more recent.
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Simond U Section Rock Pegs (Rocher U). Available in 4 sizes. Note that the frame of the carabiner eye of the U Section Rock Pegs shown in the photos are square in shape at the peg side. Where in the 1987 catalog the peg side of the frame of the carabiner eye is rounded.
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Simond Multiroc Rock Pegs. These pitons were available in Chrome Molybdenum steel, or also available in a softer nickel chrome steel.
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Simond Pegs Roc were available in chrome molybdenum steel, 4 sizes. Note that the Pegs Roc shown in these photos have a extra extended piece of steel for the piton hammer end, where the Pegs Roc shown in the 1987 catalog do not.
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This color catalog page shown (right) is from a early 1990's Simond catalog. By 1994 the Simond U Section Rock Pegs were discontinued.
Simond pitons shown in the 1963 REI catalog.
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