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Posted

These are all new SMC angles and shallow angles. The shallow angles haven't been available in years and are still in high demand if you need pins.

 

SMC didn't make a knife blade.

 

Chris, good to meet you and thanks!

 

PS his other gear are great deals as well.

Posted

Shallow angles are a good option over a LA. The SA offers similar sizes, generally higher holding power and less weight.

 

Same reason guys like Twight, Blanchard and Takada suggest shallow angles are still worth hunting down.

 

One man's suggestion for alpine climbing:

"SMC shallow angles, if you can find them. Pika is making them, but, I like the originals, as you could get them in long or short (1 each is nice). Lighter and more springy than lost arrows, similar size range (can drive in short and tie off, or to the hilt). Can be a bummer to clean."

 

 

 

Posted

I know, but have a bunch of SMC shallow angles and a couple of more-experienced-than-I climbers (30+ years of experience) I climbed with refused to use them... and quoted the strength problems as the reason. I have never broken one myself but as they say, forewarned is forearmed.

Posted
.... because the eye can break. The design was a very poor one for strength and that's why SMC had to stop making them...

 

 

I spoke with Don at SMC this morning. A number of products were dropped when the company changed hands and then moved from Seattle to Ferndale, WA. Rigid crampons and pitons were two of the products that were discontinued. There was never an issue with strength on the shallow angle pitons...no documented design/strength issues, no industry service warnings and no recalls. The last pitons from earlier production were sold from the Ferndale plant. Production of shallow angles (along with all the chrome/moly angle SMC pitons) was stopped for simple economic reasons.

(I would suspect production stopped when the last US Army contact was completed)

 

SMC intends to restart production of shallow angles again in 2009. You can bet they won't be selling for $2.50 each.

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