Chouinard Equipment started producing equipment in 1957, By the late 1980s, the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Former Chouinard Equipment employees purchased the company assets in 1989, and formed Black Diamond Equipment Ltd.
Initially Black Diamond continued using the "C-inside-a-diamond" logo inherited from Chouinard Equipment. Over time, this logo evolved into the current "cut diamond" design. While the exact year of this transition isn't precisely documented, discussions among climbers suggest that the new logo was introduced around the year 2000.
Denis Pivot of C.A.M.P. provided the following information on C.A.M.P.'s relationships with other manufacturers:
CAMP - Chouinard
In 1968, during a trip to Italy to participate in the Trento Mountain Film Festival, Yvon Chouinard visited the CAMP factory in Premana with Hermann Huber (Salewa). Following this visit, an agreement was reached for CAMP to manufacture ice axes, pitons, Hexentrics and Stoppers for Chouinard (later Black Diamond). This equipment was sold by CAMP with the double marking of the logos CHOUINARD and CAMP and the addition of the logo of the INTERALP sales agent. All Chouinard equipment marked "Made in Italy" or "Italy" was manufactured by CAMP.
Wired Rurps
"RURP" stands for "Realized Ultimate Reality Piton." Chouinard developed the Rurp in 1959 to fit the thin seams found in Yosemite's walls. The earlier ones were to be strung with cord. Wired Rurps were introduced ca. 1984.
↑ 078: Black Diamond Wired Rurp
- Made in Salt Lake City, Utah [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 19 g.
- Effective size: 26.1 mm.
- Square logo
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with a diamond inside a square logo.
↑ 079: Black Diamond Wired Rurp
- Made in Salt Lake City, Utah [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 19 g.
- Overall Length: 26 mm.
- Effective size: 10x26x105 mm.
- B D Logo
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D USA" logo (no periods for "USA").
Modified Wired Rurps
↑ 080: Black Diamond Wired Rurp
- Made in Salt Lake City, Utah [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 17 g.
- Effective size: 10x26x105 mm.
- Cut to form a Beak
- Alloy steel.
Horizontals
Lost Arrows
↑ Set 088-095: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy [1993–1994].
- #1–#8
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ Set 498, 088: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy.
- #1 Short Thin
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ 498: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy.
- Weight: 73 g.
- Overall Length: 88 mm.
- #1 Short Thin, Effective size: 40x25x5 mm.
- Likely Black Diamond from 1989-1991, but could be 1999 or earlier Chouinard.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade with a raised "2" and stamped with "CAMP." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ 088: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 78 g.
- Overall Length: 85 mm.
- #1 Short Thin, Effective size: 40x25x5 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "1."
↑ Set 499, 089: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy.
- #2 Short Medium
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ 499: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy.
- Weight: 85 g.
- Overall Length: 91 mm.
- #2 Short Medium, Effective size: 45x23x8 mm.
- Likely Black Diamond from 1989-1991, but could be 1999 or earlier Chouinard.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade with a raised "1" and stamped with "CAMP." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ 089: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 96 g.
- Overall Length: 91 mm.
- #2 Short Medium, Effective size: 45x23x8 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "2."
↑ 090: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 98 g.
- Overall Length: 98 mm.
- #3 Short Thick, Effective size: 50x22x8 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "1."
↑ 091: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 113 g.
- Overall Length: 110 mm.
- #4 Wedge, Effective size: 70x19x11 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "4."
↑ 092: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 94 g.
- Overall Length: 118 mm.
- #5 Long Thin, Effective size: 75x24x6 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "5."
↑ Set 500, 093, 501-502: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy.
- #6 Long Medium
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ 500: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy.
- Weight: 101 g.
- Overall Length: 128 mm.
- #6 Long Medium, Effective size: 80x22x7 mm.
- Likely Black Diamond from 1989-1991, but could be 1999 or earlier Chouinard.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade with a raised "6" and stamped with "CAMP." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ 093: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 99 g.
- Overall Length: 126 mm.
- #6 Long Medium, Effective size: 80x22x7 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "6."
↑ 501: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 106 g.
- Overall Length: 127 mm.
- #6 Long Medium, Effective size: 80x22x7 mm.
- Second batch of 1994. Markings are different than those of #093 (first batch 1994) with a smaller logo and a different arrangement.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "6" "294," and "Italy." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ 502: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 106 g.
- Overall Length: 127 mm.
- #6 Long Medium, Effective size: 80x22x7 mm.
- Second batch of 1994. Markings match #501 but are turned 90°.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "6" "294," and "Italy." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ Set 503, 094: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy.
- #7 Long Thick
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ 503: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy.
- Weight: 114 g.
- Overall Length: 129 mm.
- #7 Long Thick, Effective size: 85x20x9 mm.
- Likely Black Diamond from 1989-1991, but could be 1999 or earlier Chouinard.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade with a raised "|" and stamped with "CAMP" and "7." - From Mike Gerbman, 2025.
↑ 094: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1993].
- Weight: 118 g.
- Overall Length: 130 mm.
- #7 Long Thick, Effective size: 85x20x9 mm.
- Second batch of 1993.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "293," and "7."
↑ Set 095-096: Black Diamond Lost Arrows
- Made in Italy.
- #8 Long Dongs, Effective size: 115x2x7 mm.
- Painted alloy steel.
↑ 096: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy.
- Weight: 117 g.
- Overall Length: 159 mm.
- #8 Long Dong, Effective size: 115x2x7 mm.
- Bought new ca. 1995. Probably Black Diamond from 1989-1991, but could be 1999 or earlier Chouinard.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade with a raised "8" and stamped with "8", and "CAMP."
↑ 095: Black Diamond Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [1994].
- Weight: 116 g.
- Overall Length: 159 mm.
- #8 Long Dong, Effective size: 115x2x7 mm.
- First batch of 1994.
- Painted alloy steel.
- Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.
Blade stamped with the C.A.M.P. Wolf Head logo, "Italy," "194," and "8."
Modified Lost Arrows
↑ 097: Black Diamond Sawn Lost Arrow
- Made in Italy [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 79 g.
- Overall Length: 70 mm.
- #4 Wedge (sawn), Effective size: 30x19x11 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Painted alloy steel.
Offsets
Black Diamond produced two concurrent series of offsets: Knifebladses and Bugaboos. I never understood why they needed different names.
Knifeblades
↑ Set 082-083: Black Diamond Knifeblades
- Made in USA [1995].
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
↑ 082: Black Diamond Knifeblade
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 41 g.
- Overall Length: 75 mm.
- Standard, Effective size: 35x24x3 mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 083: Black Diamond Knifeblade
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 47 g.
- Overall Length: 87 mm.
- Thick, Effective size: 45x23x3.3 mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
Bugaboos
↑ Set 084-087: Black Diamond Bugaboos
- Made in USA [1995].
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
↑ 084: Black Diamond Bugaboo
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 63 g.
- Overall Length: 89 mm.
- Short Thin, Effective size: 45x23x4 mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with "BUGABOO" and Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 085: Black Diamond Bugaboo
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 75 g.
- Overall Length: 91 mm.
- Short Thick, Effective size: 50x23x4.8 mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with "BUGABOO" and Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 086: Black Diamond Bugaboo
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 72 g.
- Overall Length: 117 mm.
- Long Thin, Effective size: 70x24x4.1 m. mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with "BUGABOO" and Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 087: Black Diamond Bugaboo
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 89 g.
- Overall Length: 120 mm.
- Long Medium, Effective size: 75x23x4.5 mm.
- Ground tapered bladewith hole to reduce weight. Clip the offset eye.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
Angles
↑ Set 098-103: Black Diamond Angles
- Made in USA [1995].
- Alloy steel.
↑ 098: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 55 g.
- Overall Length: 104 mm.
- Effective size: 70x12.5 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 099: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 70 g.
- Overall Length: 108 mm.
- #2, Effective size: 75x16 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with "2" and Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 100: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 93 g.
- Overall Length: 144 mm.
- Effective size: 110x18 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 101: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 115 g.
- Overall Length: 140 mm.
- Effective size: 105x25 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 102: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 135 g.
- Overall Length: 141 mm.
- Effective size: 100x31 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 103: Black Diamond Angle
- Made in USA [1995].
- Weight: 183 g.
- Overall Length: 147 mm.
- Effective size: 105x40 mm.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
Modified Angles
↑ Set 110-115: Black Diamond Sawn Angles
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
↑ 110: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 67 g.
- Overall Length: 92 mm.
- Effective size: 55x18 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 111: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 70 g.
- Overall Length: 97 mm.
- Effective size: 60x18 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 112: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 81 g.
- Overall Length: 90 mm.
- Effective size: 55x25 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 113: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 90 g.
- Overall Length: 99 mm.
- Effective size: 60x25 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with "4" and Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 114: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 100 g.
- Overall Length: 97 mm.
- Effective size: 60x31 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
↑ 115: Black Diamond Sawn Angle
- Made in USA [ca. 1995].
- Weight: 143 g.
- Overall Length: 106 mm.
- Effective size: 70x40 mm.
- Cut to stub length for shallow placements.
- Alloy steel.
- Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.
