Help with old piton find

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Messages 1 - 7 of total 7 in this topic
letsplay2

Social climber
chicago, il
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 29, 2015 - 07:57pm PT
I found this lot of pitons last week at an estate sale. I'm not a climber, but I thought the items looked unique. I'm looking for help identifying them and maybe some tips for cleaning them up.

Some of them are marked in black AMES 1944 and 3 are stamped on the bottom US AMES. I didn't see marks on any of the flat ones or ones with rings. It could be because they're pretty rusty.

Thanks for reading, here's some pics:



Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Jan 29, 2015 - 08:02pm PT
Score!

WD40 and or the usual rust treatment.

Depends on what you're going to do with them. I'd give ya $30 and pay for shipping.

Primo wall hangers. Probably work for banging into rock but we don't do that much any more.

I'd sell them in Silver Lake for hipsters to hang in their piercings and ears and stuff.
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Jan 29, 2015 - 08:02pm PT
Military pins. Old and rusty. Some crossover collector value with the date.
crankster

Trad climber
Jan 29, 2015 - 08:10pm PT
This might help..
http://www.chesslerbooks.com/item/12854-us-ames-vertical-army-rock-piton-not-marked.asp
Banquo

climber
Amerricka
Jan 29, 2015 - 08:12pm PT
Cool stuff but may or may not be worth anything. I would think it mostly depends on if you can somehow date them as early.

Crap soft steel surplus pitons are going for $2 each.

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/military-issue-unique-items-odds-and-ends/climbing-pitons-carabiners-accessories.html
Licky

Mountain climber
California
Jan 29, 2015 - 08:32pm PT
Do NOT clean them up. They will be worth more to someone looking aged than if they are sparkely clean. Contact Ken Yager at the Climbing Museum in Yosemite
letsplay2

Social climber
chicago, il
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 11, 2015 - 06:30pm PT
Thank you all for the help. I'll probably sell the 3 stamped ones separate and then lot up the rest.

I like the idea of keeping their patina. The only problem is there may be markings under the rust. One of the flat ones w/o a ring is marked. I can't make out all the letters, but the last letters look like ESTON. Another one looks like it's marked US in black, but I have to scrub it more.

Messages 1 - 7 of total 7 in this topic
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