Chouinard Piton

Before the invention of tri-cams, nuts, and other climbing protection devices, mountaineers and climbers used pitons to protect their ascents. On my desk, I have a Chouinard Equipment (which later split to become Patagonia and Black Diamond) piton from the mid-1970s, which was a gift from a dear friend in Southern Chile. Using CAD, wax printing, and silver investment casting, I was able to then finish my part to a mirror polish. I opted for a patina on the reverse side to further accentuate/contrast the mirror as well as more honestly replicate the condition of these heavily abused climbing tools.