U. S. Army
Pitons & Bongs

U. S. Army pitons date back to at least 1942. The first one were made by Ames and stamped with their name. Starting in 1944, U. S. Army piton markings were stenciled to avoid weakening the metal. Several manufacturers have made pitons for the U. S. Army.

A. D. C.

034: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Horizontal

034: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Horizontal

034: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Horizontal

034: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Horizontal

↑ 034: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Horizontal

Made in USA [1972].
Weight: 60 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 60x16x4 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. One side of the blade is printed with "U.S.ADC 72" and "Ⓜ."

035: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Ring Angle

035: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Ring Angle

035: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Ring Angle

035: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Ring Angle

↑ 035: U. S. Army - A.D.C. Ring Angle

Made in USA [1980].
Weight: 131 g.
Overall Length: 167 mm.
Effective size: 130x18 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. Bottom of the blade is printed with "A.D.C. 1980," "U.S.," and "Ⓜ."

A.M.T.C.

581: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Vertical

581: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Vertical

581: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Vertical

↑ 581: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Vertical

Made in USA [ca. 1965].
Weight: 53 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 60x16x4.5 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. Printing not visible.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

582: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Horizontal

582: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Horizontal

582: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Horizontal

582: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Horizontal

↑ 582: U. S. Army - A.M.T.C. Horizontal

Made in USA [1965].
Weight: 64 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 60x16x6 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. Bottom of the blade is printed with "U.S. AMTC 65."
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

Ames

Mike Gerbman tested these Ames pitons. The top one was bent and straightened twice before testing, and then loaded to 2250 lbf (10 kN). It bent without breaking. The bottom one was impact tested and absorbed 110 ft.-lbf. (150 J) when it sheared.

580: U. S. Army - Ames Horizontal

580: U. S. Army - Ames Horizontal

580: U. S. Army - Ames Horizontal

580: U. S. Army - Ames Horizontal

↑ 580: U. S. Army - Ames Horizontal

Made in USA [1942].
Weight: 53 g.
Overall Length: 100 mm.
Effective size: 60x16x4.5 mm.
1010 steel.
Stamped with "US" and "AMES" on the bottom of the blade.
From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

VACO

583: U. S. Army - VACO Vertical

583: U. S. Army - VACO Vertical

583: U. S. Army - VACO Vertical

↑ 583: U. S. Army - VACO Vertical

Made in USA [1952].
Weight: 53 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 60x15x5 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. One side of the blade is printed with "U.S. VACO 1952."

Wyott

224: U. S. Army - Wyott Vertical

224: U. S. Army - Wyott Vertical

224: U. S. Army - Wyott Vertical

↑ 224: U. S. Army - Wyott Vertical

Made in USA [1977].
Weight: 48 g.
Overall Length: 101 mm.
Effective size: 60x15x4 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings. One side of the blade is printed with "U.S.WYOTT®77M."

225: U. S. Army - Wyott Horizontal

225: U. S. Army - Wyott Horizontal

225: U. S. Army - Wyott Horizontal

225: U. S. Army - Wyott Horizontal

↑ 225: U. S. Army - Wyott Horizontal

Made in USA [1977].
Weight: 56 g.
Overall Length: 100 mm.
Effective size: 60x16x4 mm.
1010 steel.
No stampings.Top of the blade is printed with "U.S.WYOTT®77M."