How old is this crampon?

[sierra]

As I emerged from the scrub on the Lions head winter route, I went off trail to go to the BR. I found this crampon, it appears to be old, any guesses?

 

[ColdRiverRun]

To give you an idea I Googled, "the first crampon ever made" and this came up.

 

[DougPaul]

Looks somewhat similar to a WWII US Army ice creeper: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Vintag...916?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6aaeda44

Search on Army ice creeper for more examples.

Doug

 

[--M.]

I have been using new-old-stock Vietnam-era Army fatigues from the 70's; they use identical webbing for their cinch-straps (instead of a belt) and thigh straps.

So, my guess is that whatever you have there is from that era. Would you call that a data point?

 

[DougPaul]

To give you an idea I Googled, "the first crampon ever made" and this came up.

Umm--that is the same image that Sierra posted...

Doug

 

[skiguy]

As I emerged from the scrub on the Lions head winter route, I went off trail to go to the BR. I found this crampon, it appears to be old, any guesses?

http://www.spadout.com/a/the-evolution-of-crampons/

 

[Chip]

As I emerged from the scrub on the Lions head winter route, I went off trail to go to the BR. I found this crampon, it appears to be old, any guesses?

They are definately older than the newest and newer than the oldest.

Crampons were used thousands of years ago by early paleo-mountaineers, who needed traction to cross steep mountain slopes in pursuit of game. Almost 3,000 years ago, Celtic miners used iron spikes on their feet while hunters in the Russian Caucasus made leather sandals with spiked plates for snow travel. The Arch of Constantine, built in 315 A.D. by the Romans, depicts an early crampon-like device used for ice traction. By the 1500s hunters and mountain travelers in Europe wore four-point forefoot crampons in the Alps.

My guess is that they are actually relatively new army surplus bought and lost by someone starting out.

 

[dug]

I was looking for that. I lost it a few weeks ago. Quite the dangerous walk out after....

You trying to tell me I need to upgrade my gear?

 

[Suebiscuit]

Looks like these:

http://www.potsdampublicmuseum.org/gallery/sub14/IMG_8807_cropped.JPG

Can't find the page that they are on at this Potsdam museum site site, but found this with a Google image search for ice creepers. Site says they are from 1910-1930...

Cool find!

 

[Andrew]

You could actually buy this type new in hunting/fishing stores up until a few years ago (maybe even still today?). The straps are older though, and do suggest they were military surplus from time periods suggested.

You can still buy em it looks util recently: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...mbination-toe-heel-ice-creepers.aspx?a=242818

They came in a box that looked liked this (this is the heel-only version): http://compare.ebay.com/like/300602805151

Here they are if you want to buy some: http://www.marine-engine-parts.com/ice.html

 

[sierra]

Looks like these:

http://www.potsdampublicmuseum.org/gallery/sub14/IMG_8807_cropped.JPG

Can't find the page that they are on at this Potsdam museum site site, but found this with a Google image search for ice creepers. Site says they are from 1910-1930...

Cool find!

That is them, I had 2 more pictures but they didnt download, I knew they where old thanks.

 

[RoySwkr]

I have seen people actually wearing those but not in this century