Pitons: Black Diamond

Yvon Chouinard bought a second-hand coal-fired forge in 1957, and started making hardened steel pitons under the Great Pacific Iron Works name. Their success led him to form Chouinard Equipment, Ltd. He partnered with Tom Frost, and they moved their operation to Ventura California in 1967. The Chouinard product line expanded into a wade variety of climbing and related outdoor gear. In 1971-1972, they introduced Hexentrics and Stoppers. Frost left the operation in 1977, and his name was removed from ice axes and other products that had born the CBouinard-Frost name.

In 1968, during a trip to Italy to participate in the Trento Mountain Film Festival, 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 (and later Black Diamond). This equipment was sold by CAMP with the double marking of the logos CHOUINARD and CAMP and, through 1980, the additionale logo of the INTERALP sales agent. All Chouinard equipment marked "Made in Italy" or "Italy" was manufactured by CAMP.

In 1989, Chouinard Equipment was facing a liability lawsuit. Chouinard had to separate the liability of Chouinard Equipment from the deep pockets of Patagonia, which he had founded in 1973. Chouinard Equipment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect the firm's assets. The lawsuit ultimately went nowhere. Peter Metcalf, Maria Cranor and former Chouinard Equipment employees purchased the company assets in 1989, formed Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., and moved the firm to Salt Lake City Utah.

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. The exact year of this transition isn't precisely documented, discussions among climbers suggest that the new logo was introduced around the year 2000. Archived web pages show that the cut diamond was in use by the beginning of 2000, but the 2000 summer catalog still contains the older logo.

Peckers

↑ 081: Black Diamond Pecker

Made in USA [ca. 1995].
Weight: 23 g.
Overall Length: 41 mm.
Effective size: 20x17x3 mm.
Alloy steel.
Stamped with Black Diamond's "B〈C〉D U.S.A." logo.

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."

↑ Set 092, 643: Black Diamond Lost Arrow; #5 Long Thin

Made in Italy.
Painted alloy steel.

↑ 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."

643: Black Diamond Lost Arrow; #5 Long Thin

↑ 643: Black Diamond Lost Arrow; #5 Long Thin

Made in Italy [2011].
Weight: 97 g.
Overall Length: 114 mm.
Effective size: 75x23x7 mm.
First batch of 2011.
Painted alloy steel.
Raised "ITALY" and "LOST⟨C⟩ARROW" forged below eye.

↑ 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. Black Diamond later gave them numbers as well, with #1 and #2 being the knifeblades and #3 through #6 being the Bugaboos. Even with the new numbers, they kept the old names.