LONGWARE
Pitons & Bongs

California climber Richard Long produced LONGWARE pitons between 1958 and 1963. Marty Karabin has a nice article written by Richard Long on his web site that tells the history of LONGWARE. It is well-worth reading.

Horizontals

Set 557, 360, 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

Set 557, 360, 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

↑ Set 557, 360, 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

Made in USA [1958–1963].
4130 Chrome-moly steel.

557: LONGware Horizontal

557: LONGware Horizontal

557: LONGware Horizontal

557: LONGware Horizontal

↑ 557: LONGware Horizontal

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 85 g.
Overall Length: 113 mm.
HD205 (Spoon), Effective size: 62x21x7 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
No markings.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

360: LONGware Horizontal

360: LONGware Horizontal

360: LONGware Horizontal

360: LONGware Horizontal

↑ 360: LONGware Horizontal

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 82 g.
Overall Length: 106 mm.
HD203 (Wedge), Effective size: 60x12x10 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
Top of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
Originally belonged to Sara Corie.

Set 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

Set 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

↑ Set 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals

Made in USA [1958–1963].
HD200 (Long Taper)
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
Identical except #558 has no markings and #361 is stamped "LONGWARE."

558: LONGware Horizontal

558: LONGware Horizontal

558: LONGware Horizontal

558: LONGware Horizontal

↑ 558: LONGware Horizontal

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 117 g.
Overall Length: 132 mm.
HD200 (Long Taper), Effective size: 85x14x9 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
No markings.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

361: LONGware Horizontal

361: LONGware Horizontal

361: LONGware Horizontal

361: LONGware Horizontal

↑ 361: LONGware Horizontal

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 113 g.
Overall Length: 132 mm.
HD200 (Long Taper), Effective size: 85x14x9 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
Top of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
Originally belonged to Sara Corie.

Offset Knifeblades

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade

↑ 342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 30 g.
Overall Length: 59 mm.
HD003, Effective size: 24x20x2.5 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
Top is stamped "LONGWARE"across from the eye.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

Ring Angles

Set 556, 343: LONGware Ring Angles

Set 556, 343: LONGware Ring Angles

↑ Set 556, 343: LONGware Ring Angles

Made in USA [1958–1963].
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
Identical except #556 has no markings and #343 is stamped "LONGWARE."

556: LONGware Ring Angle

556: LONGware Ring Angle

556: LONGware Ring Angle

556: LONGware Ring Angle

↑ 556: LONGware Ring Angle

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 115 g.
Overall Length: 152 mm.
HD010, Effective size: 115x21 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
No markings.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

343: LONGware Ring Angle

343: LONGware Ring Angle

343: LONGware Ring Angle

343: LONGware Ring Angle

↑ 343: LONGware Ring Angle

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 136 g.
Overall Length: 152 mm.
HD010, Effective size: 115x21 mm.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

Angles

In the spring of 1958, Richard Long was on the Northeast Butress of Middle Cathedral Rock driving one of his 2½" angles when someone in the gulley yelled, "Wat is that BONG-BONG" noise!" Despite inspiring the names that came to be applied to all angle pitons over 2", his Bongs continued to be called "Angle Pitons" in catalogs.

Set 341, 333, 155, 328-329, 231: LONGware Angle Pitons

Set 341, 333, 155, 328-329, 231: LONGware Angle Pitons

↑ Set 341, 333, 155, 328-329, 231: LONGware Angle Pitons

Made in USA [1958–1963].

Set 341, 333: LONGware Angle Pitons

Set 341, 333: LONGware Angle Pitons

↑ Set 341, 333: LONGware Angle Pitons

Made in USA [1958–1963].
HD015
Two different length HD015 1½" angle pitons.
4130 Chrome-moly steel.
#341 uses heavier-guage steel than #333 (2.3 vs 1.7 mm.)

341: LONGware Angle Piton

341: LONGware Angle Piton

341: LONGware Angle Piton

341: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 341: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 134 g.
Overall Length: 126 mm.
HD015, Effective size: 100x32 mm.
Riveted eye. Rivet broken from heavy use.
2.3 mm. 4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

333: LONGware Angle Piton

333: LONGware Angle Piton

333: LONGware Angle Piton

333: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 333: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 119 g.
Overall Length: 152 mm.
HD015, Effective size: 100x32 mm.
Spot-welded eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome-moly steel.
No markings.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

155: LONGware Angle Piton

155: LONGware Angle Piton

155: LONGware Angle Piton

155: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 155: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 142 g.
Overall Length: 127 mm.
HD020, Effective size: 100x45 mm.
Riveted eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."

328: LONGware Angle Piton

328: LONGware Angle Piton

328: LONGware Angle Piton

328: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 328: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 184 g.
Overall Length: 128 mm.
HD025, Effective size: 100x60 mm.
Spot-welded eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

329: LONGware Angle Piton

329: LONGware Angle Piton

329: LONGware Angle Piton

329: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 329: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 265 g.
Overall Length: 153 mm.
HD035, Effective size: 100x75 mm.
Spot-welded eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

231: LONGware Angle Piton

231: LONGware Angle Piton

231: LONGware Angle Piton

231: LONGware Angle Piton

↑ 231: LONGware Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 304 g.
Overall Length: 128 mm.
HD040, Effective size: 100x95 mm.
Riveted eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome-moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."

Duraluminum Angle Pitons

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton

↑ 330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 155 g.
Overall Length: 127 mm.
HD130, Effective size: 90x65 mm.
Riveted eye.
Duraluminum.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.