History from the SMC website:
SMC is one of America’s most trusted technical rescue brands. Founded in 1967, as Seattle Manufacturing Corporation, during the golden age of high-altitude mountaineering, our products have accompanied many of the Northwest’s finest climbers on historic ascents of peaks like K2 and Everest.
SMC’s first product was an oval carabiner designed and manufactured specifically for Mary Anderson of the original REI Co-op Store who was dissatisfied with the quality and turnaround time of overseas manufacturers. SMC’s founder, Jim Clark, identified the critical design and tooling elements that REI required and brought his aircraft industry standards of excellence to the manufacturing of mountaineering gear.
Our products expanded into the rescue market as climbers of the 60’s and 70’s became the rescue experts of the 80’s. They required durable hardware that would reliably perform in the demanding rescue environment. This request for stronger, more sophisticated products launched SMC’s technical rescue division.
In 1997, avid outdoorswoman, Kathy Hughes took over as SMC’s new CEO and has moved the brand into a new era of customer service, information-driven communication, and ISO certification.
SMC is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, an independent, third party certification process that guarantees reliability and efficiency in manufacturing. All SMC products are made in the USA at their Ferndale Washington facility.
SMC is one of America’s most trusted technical rescue brands. Founded in 1967, as Seattle Manufacturing Corporation, during the golden age of high-altitude mountaineering, our products have accompanied many of the Northwest’s finest climbers on historic ascents of peaks like K2 and Everest.
SMC’s first product was an oval carabiner designed and manufactured specifically for Mary Anderson of the original REI Co-op Store who was dissatisfied with the quality and turnaround time of overseas manufacturers. SMC’s founder, Jim Clark, identified the critical design and tooling elements that REI required and brought his aircraft industry standards of excellence to the manufacturing of mountaineering gear.
Our products expanded into the rescue market as climbers of the 60’s and 70’s became the rescue experts of the 80’s. They required durable hardware that would reliably perform in the demanding rescue environment. This request for stronger, more sophisticated products launched SMC’s technical rescue division.
In 1997, avid outdoorswoman, Kathy Hughes took over as SMC’s new CEO and has moved the brand into a new era of customer service, information-driven communication, and ISO certification.
SMC is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, an independent, third party certification process that guarantees reliability and efficiency in manufacturing. All SMC products are made in the USA at their Ferndale Washington facility.
I am not exactly sure what year SMC started creating pitons, but a few pitons that were donated by Jim Bridwell was mentioned that they are from the late 1960s. This brings up the question of who copied from who when looking at the Bong style pitons. In the late 1960s both Chouinard and SMC were creating bong style pitons with lightening holes. The 4", 3", and 2" SMC and Chouinard bongs look similar to each other. Chouinard started producing a 2" bong with lightening holes in 1964. But the larger Bong sizes with lightening holes came in the late 1960s both companies at the same time.
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There are three distinct chemically applied nickel finishes on the SMC pitons. A shiny finish (late 1960s-1971), a more dull light grey finish (1972-1981) , and a darker grey finish (1982-late 1990s).
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SMC steel Angle pitons late 1960s-1971
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The Aluminum SMC Bong Angle pitons were available in three sizes 2 1/2", 3" and 4". Corrosion resistant iridite finish from late 1960s and the aluminum Bong Angles were discontinued before 1978. I believe the aluminum Bongs remained with the same finish and did not change in 1972. The two SMC Bong Angle pitons shown to the right are from the late 1960s and were donated by Jim Bridwell. Aluminum and steel 3". |
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SMC 1972 catalog mentions that the steel angles are now made from a nickel alloy, chrome-moly steel. Rivets are stainless steel. A new surface finish process is now being used, chemically applied nickel. The steel SMC pitons now have a more light grey finish look to them.
SMC steel bong angle pitons 1972 - 1981
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SMC steel angle pitons 1972 - 1981
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SMC 3/4" Angle, From: Tyler Challinor / Dave Hodson
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SMC 1" Angle
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SMC 1978 catalog
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SMC short and long steel Shallow Angle pitons. Sometime between 1973 and 1978 SMC added six sizes of Shallow Angle steel pitons to their piton inventory. On all six of the Shallow Angle pitons manufactured the metal thickness remained the same. It is how much the blade on the piton is bent which creates the piton thickness. However all six pitons have different overall lengths. The .4 Short Shallow Angle piton (orange stripe) donated by Art McCarthy. |
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Aluminum Angle Bongs were not offered in 1978. So sometime between 1973 and 1977 SMC Aluminum Angle Bongs were discontinued.
SMC 1980 catalog
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