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; HD205 (Spoon)

557: LONGware Horizontal; HD205 (Spoon)

557: LONGware Horizontal; HD205 (Spoon)

557: LONGware Horizontal; HD205 (Spoon)

↑ 557: LONGware Horizontal; HD205 (Spoon)

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

360: LONGware Horizontal; HD203 (Wedge)

360: LONGware Horizontal; HD203 (Wedge)

360: LONGware Horizontal; HD203 (Wedge)

360: LONGware Horizontal; HD203 (Wedge)

↑ 360: LONGware Horizontal; HD203 (Wedge)

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 82 g.
Overall Length: 106 mm.
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; HD200 (Long Taper)

Set 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals; HD200 (Long Taper)

↑ Set 558, 361: LONGware Horizontals; HD200 (Long Taper)

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

558: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

558: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

558: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

558: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

↑ 558: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

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

361: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

361: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

361: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

361: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

↑ 361: LONGware Horizontal; HD200 (Long Taper)

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 113 g.
Overall Length: 132 mm.
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; HD003

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade; HD003

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade; HD003

342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade; HD003

↑ 342: LONGware Offset Knifeblade; HD003

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 30 g.
Overall Length: 59 mm.
Effective size: 24x20x2.5 mm.
1.7 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; HD010

556: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

556: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

556: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

↑ 556: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

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

343: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

343: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

343: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

343: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

↑ 343: LONGware Ring Angle; HD010

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 136 g.
Overall Length: 152 mm.
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; HD015

Set 341, 333: LONGware Angle Pitons; HD015

↑ Set 341, 333: LONGware Angle Pitons; HD015

Made in USA [1958–1963].
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; HD015

341: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

341: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

341: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

↑ 341: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 134 g.
Overall Length: 126 mm.
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.

650: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

650: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

650: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

650: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

↑ 650: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 140 g.
Overall Length: 127 mm.
Effective size: 100x32 mm.
Riveted eye.
2.3 mm. 4130 Chrome–moly steel.
One side of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE."

333: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

333: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

333: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

333: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

↑ 333: LONGware Angle Piton; HD015

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

155: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

155: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

155: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

155: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

↑ 155: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

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

655: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

655: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

655: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

655: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

↑ 655: LONGware Angle Piton; HD020

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 147 g.
Overall Length: 127 mm.
Effective size: 100x45 mm.
Riveted eye.
1.7 mm.4130 Chrome–moly steel.
Inside of the blade is stamped "LONGWARE," showing that the stamped blank was flipped before being bent into shape.

328: LONGware Angle Piton; HD025

328: LONGware Angle Piton; HD025

328: LONGware Angle Piton; HD025

328: LONGware Angle Piton; HD025

↑ 328: LONGware Angle Piton; HD025

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 184 g.
Overall Length: 128 mm.
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; HD035

329: LONGware Angle Piton; HD035

329: LONGware Angle Piton; HD035

329: LONGware Angle Piton; HD035

↑ 329: LONGware Angle Piton; HD035

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 265 g.
Overall Length: 153 mm.
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; HD040

231: LONGware Angle Piton; HD040

231: LONGware Angle Piton; HD040

231: LONGware Angle Piton; HD040

↑ 231: LONGware Angle Piton; HD040

Made in USA [1958–1963].
Weight: 304 g.
Overall Length: 128 mm.
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; HD130

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton; HD130

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton; HD130

330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton; HD130

↑ 330: LONGware Duraluminum Angle Piton; HD130

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