Blacksmith Nicola Codega founded C.A.M.P. in 1889 to produce wrought-iron goods. The company first entered the climbing equipment business in 1920 when Nicola's son Antonio started making ice axes for the Italian Army Alpine Corps. The firm continued to grow and was handed down through the family.
From about 1950 through 1976, C.A.M.P. used a diamond-shaped logo bearing "D CN & FD CAMP" for "Ditta Codega Nicola & Figli De Codega Antonio Metilde Premana."
In 1968, C.A.M.P. entrusted Robert Charles Maillot and his firm Interalp to distribute C.A.M.P. products outside Italy. These products bore both C.A.M.P. and INTERALP logos. Their relationship continued until 1980.
C.A.M.P. changed its name to "Construzione Articoli Montagna Premana" in 1972.
In 1972 C.A.M.P. started using a new logo with "CAMP" inside a rounded rectangle above a mountain. The transition was completed around 1976.
C.A.M.P. introduced a new wolfs-head logo in 1992.
C.A.M.P. acquired Cassin in 1997.
In 2003 C.A.M.P. again changed the company name, this time to "Concezione Articoli Montagna Premana" and changed their logo to CAMP in italics.
C.A.M.P. introduced another new logo in 2022 and returned to the name "Construzione Articoli Montagna Premana."
Denis Pivot of C.A.M.P. provided the following information on C.A.M.P.'s relationships with other manufacturers:
CAMP and Other Manufacturers
CAMP has always maintained good relations with its competitors. The biggest brands (Chouinard, Black Diamond, Lowe, Cassin, Salewa, Simond, Charlet-Moser, Petzl), thanks to the confidence they had in CAMP's manufacturing quality, subcontracted the manufacturing of mountain equipment to CAMP. This was an opportunity for the latter to make its industrial tooling profitable.
CAMP – Interalp
In 1968, CAMP entrusted its French multi-card agent, Mr. Robert Charles Maillot, with the marketing of its products outside Italy. Through his company INTERALP, Maillot distributed various brands of mountain equipment in Europe and thus helped to make CAMP known outside Italy. In the 1970s, it was common to stamp the manufacturer and distributor brand on equipment, such as Robbins (distributor in the USA of the Alpélit brand) and Alpélit (French manufacturer of ice axes).
Over time, INTERALP focused on developing its own company and hid CAMP's role as designer and manufacturer. CAMP, unable to accept this, withdrew distributing from INTERALP in 1980 and reorganized its distribution network worldwide.
(Without the CAMP brand, the INTERALP company disappeared in a few years…)
Ice Axes
Alpamayo
↑ 107: C.A.M.P./Interalp Alpamayo
- Made in Italy [1970s].
- 740x250 mm.
- Weight: 750 g.
- Fiberglass Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x23 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 65(l)x59(w)x4(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 135(l)x18-30(h)x7(t) mm.
- Round fluted spike.
- Spike: 64(l)x13(d) mm.
- A full-length axe more suited for mountaineering self-arrest than for hard ice. Keyhole cutout in adze is fo inseting the spike of another axe for use as a step.
- Keyhole cutout in adze is for inseting the spike of another axe for use as a step.
↑ 031: C.A.M.P./Interalp Alpamayo
- Made in Italy [ca. 1974].
- 600x260 mm.
- Weight: 870 g.
- Aluminum Shaft with Rubber Grip.
- Shaft: 31x22 mm. (Grip: 38x25 mm.)
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 70(l)x63(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 140(l)x26(h)x6(t) mm.
- Round fluted spike.
- Spike: 47(l)x15(d) mm.
- Glide ring is missing.
- A shorter axe for steeper terrain. I do not like the fluted round spike because it does not provide much support for bracing while traversing moderate ice.
Bernina
↑ 198: C.A.M.P./Interalp Bernina
- Made in Italy [ca. 1976].
- 850x275 mm.
- Weight: 1085 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 35x24 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a slight arch.
- Adze: 70(l)x69(w)x2(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 145(l)x27(h)x9(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring, missing the strap.
Screw used as a replacement stop.
- This wood–shafted axe has a 100 mm. aluminum collar at the top, combining disadvantages of aluminum shafts with disadvantages of wooden shafts.
REI/Interalp/C.A.M.P. Bernina
REI marketed C.A.M.P. Bernina ice axes in the U.S.A. and included their own logo stamped into the pick.
↑ 082: REI/Interalp/C.A.M.P. Bernina
- Made in Italy [ca. 1979].
- 810x270 mm.
- Weight: 915 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x24 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 60(l)x62(w)x3(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 140(l)x27(h)x6(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 67(l)x24(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring missing.
- This wood-shafted axe has a 100 mm. aluminum collar at the top, combining disadvantages of aluminum shafts with disadvantages of wooden shafts.
- Keyhole cutout in adze is for inseting the spike of another axe for use as a step.
- I like the broad, heavy-duty spike.
- This is newer than my C.A.M.P./Interalp Bernina (#198). The keyhole in the Adze is new, and several key dimensions have changed.
Cerro Torre
↑ 134: C.A.M.P./Interalp Cerro Torre
- Made in Italy [ca. 1972].
- 850x270 mm.
- Weight: 910 g.
- Plastic-covered Aluminum Shaft.
- Shaft: 32x22 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 70(l)x66(w)x8(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 135(l)x25(h)x7(t) mm.
- Round fluted spike.
- Spike: 65(l)x13(d) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
- A full-length axe with a highly curved adze.
- I wanted a longer axe for winter hiking and easy climbing, but for steep work I would use a much shorter axe.
Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp
Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost teamed with C.A.M.P in the 1960s to market axes under the Chouinard–Frost name. In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Frost & and took his name off the pick. Chouinard reportedly ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979 but C.A.M.P. continued to list the Chouinard axe (without the Chouinard and Interalp stamps) in their catalog as late as 1983.
Denis Pivot of C.A.M.P. provided the following information on C.A.M.P.'s relationships with other manufacturers:
CAMP - Chouinard & Black Diamond
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, through 1980, the additionale logo of the INTERALP sales agent. All Chouinard equipment marked "Made in Italy" or "Italy" was manufactured by CAMP.
Chouinard–Frost Climaxe
First appearing in 1972, Chouinard’s Climaxe was his response to the Terrordactyl, with the curved rather than the drooped pick being his choice. It was created with help from his friend and fellow climber, Tom Frost.The 1972 CHouinard catalog described it as follows:
The ultimate technique on steepening ice, before resorting to artificial climbing or chopping steps, is front pointing using two Alpine Hammers. Rather than each man having to carry two hammers we have designed a mini-axe with the same pick as the Alpine Hammer but having an adze for cutting "pigeon hole" steps in extremely steep ice or for clearing away verglas on rock climbs. This combination of axe and Alpine Hammer is perfect on near vertical ice. The Climaxe is so versatile that it can also replace the more cumbersome ice axe on some mixed climbs.
The 1972 C.A.M.P. catalog lists two handle options, ash and bamboo, but lists only ash in 1976. The 1972 and 1976 Chouinard catalogs do not list handle options or specify the wood used.
↑ 291: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Climaxe
- Made in Italy [ca. 1973].
- 325x225 mm.
- Weight: 430 g.
- Hickory Handle.
- Shaft: 29x19 mm. (Grip: 35x26 mm.)
- Fixed Head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x58(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 4 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 100(l)x24(h)x7(t) mm.
- A small, short axe appearing near the beginning of the technical ice climbing revolution,
- The head is drop-forged nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel.
↑ 411: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Climaxe
- Made in Italy [ca. 1973].
- 325x225 mm.
- Weight: 420 g.
- Ash Handle.
- Shaft: 29x19 mm. (Grip: 36x25 mm.)
- Fixed Head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x60(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 4 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 105(l)x23(h)x7(t) mm.
- A small, short axe appearing near the beginning of the technical ice climbing revolution,
- The head is drop-forged nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel.
Chouinard–Frost Piolet
↑ 425: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard–Frost Piolet
- Made in Italy [ca. 1972].
- 695x285 mm.
- Weight: 890 g.
- Hickory Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x65(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 155(l)x26(h)x9(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 65(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- The Chouinard-Frost ice axe was first made in 1969. C.A.M.P started making them in about 1972.
- The previous owner Russel Norton climbe Mt Rainier, completed a winter traverse of the Presidentials, almost completed a winter summit of Mt Katahdin, covered many winter miles on the Long Trail in Vermont, and did a few ice climbs with this axe.
↑ 148: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard–Frost Piolet
- Made in Italy [ca. 1972–1976].
- 700x290 mm.
- Weight: 920 g.
- Laminated bamboo shaft.
- Shaft: 38x24 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x67(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x26(h)x9(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- The Chouinard-Frost ice axe was first made in 1969. C.A.M.P started making them in about 1972.
Chouinard Piolet
↑ 261: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard Piolet
- Made in Italy [ca. 1977–1978].
- 645x280 mm.
- Weight: 850 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm. (Grip: 35x24 mm.)
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x67(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x25(h)x8(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- Grip tape added by a previous owner.
- In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Tom Frost & took Frost's name off the pick. Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979.
- Chouinard catalogs list their axes with bamboo and rexilon handle options.
C.A.M.P. catalogs at the same time list the same axes wth ash, bamboo, rexilon, and hickory handle options.
↑ 385: Chouinard/C.A.M.P./Interalp Chouinard Piolet
- Made in USA [1977].
- 695x280 mm.
- Weight: 920 g.
- Laminated Birch Shaft (Rexilon™).
- Shaft: 35x23 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x65(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 155(l)x25(h)x8(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x22(w)x10(t) mm.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop-forged chromium-nickel steel.
- Chouinard's Rexilon shafts are made of 18-layer laminated beech.
Rexilon shafts are stronger than their laminated bamboo shafts but heavier. - In 1977 Chouinard ended his partnership with Tom Frost & took Frost's name off the pick. Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978.
- Rexilon was no longer offered in Chouinards 1978-1979 catalog.
Chouinard "Standard"
After Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979, C.A.M.P. continued to list the Chouinard "Standard" axe in their catalogs through 1983.
↑ 449: C.A.M.P. Chouinard "Standard"
- Made in Italy [ca. 1981–1983].
- 795x275 mm.
- Weight: 610 g.
- Laminated Bamboo Shaft.
- Shaft: 35x23 mm.
- Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 70(l)x65(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth near the tip and 5 more near the shaft.
- Pick: 145(l)x28(h)x7(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 69(l)x24(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
Screw used as a replacement stop.
- The wide triangular spike provides better lateral support while traversing than traditional narrow spikes.
- The head is drop–forged chromium–nickel steel.
- Glide ring is undersized and does not fully rotate on the shaft, causing binding.
- After Chouinard ended wooden shafts in 1978/1979, C.A.M.P. continued to list the Chouinard "Standard" axe in their catalogs through 1983.
Jungfrau
↑ 219: C.A.M.P./Interalp Jungfrau
- Made in Italy [1969].
- 940x245 mm.
- Weight: 785 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 32x22 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 65(l)x57(w)x5(arch) mm.
- Straight alpine pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 135(l)x21(h)x6(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 58(l)x10(w)x9(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
- A full-length axe with a curved adze and a straight pick well-suited for classic step-cutting.
REI/Interalp/C.A.M.P. McKinley
REI marketed C.A.M.P. McKinley ice axes in the U.S.A. and included their own logo stamped into the pick.
↑ 220: REI/Interalp/C.A.M.P. McKinley
- Made in Italy [1980].
- 850x265 mm.
- Weight: 1005 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x22 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 65(l)x61(w)x4(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with one reversed and then five normal teeth.
- Pick: 145(l)x26(h)x7(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 70(l)x23(w)x10(t) mm.
- Glide ring with wnylon webbing strap.
- A rugged but heavy axe.
- The trianmgular pick provides good lateral support for traversing moderately steem ice.
- Camp spelled their version "Mac Kinley.".
- Obtained as unoped (sealed) new-in-bag new old stock in 2025.
Sentinelle Rouge
↑ 168: C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge
- Made in Italy [ca. 1970].
- 750x285 mm.
- Weight: 915 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 36x23 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x67(w)x10(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 155(l)x27(h)x6(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 72(l)x12(w)x11(t) mm.
- A full–length axe with a highly curved adze.
- From about 1950 through 1972–76, C.A.M.P. used a diamond–shaped logo bearing "D CN & FD CAMP" for "Ditta Codega Nicola & Figli De Codega Antonio Metilde Premana.
↑ 463: C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge
- Made in Italy [ca. 1970].
- 800x315 mm.
- Weight: 945 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 980(l)x68(w)x10(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a half-rounded tip and with 4 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 170(l)x28(h)x9(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 90(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring and stop collar missing.
- A full–length axe with a very large head featuring a highly curved adze.
- Larger head (315 mm. vs.the 285 mm. appearing in catalogs) was probably a special order.
↑ 169: C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge
- Made in Italy [ca. 1975].
- 950x285 mm.
- Weight: 1190 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x67(w)x10(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 140(l)x26(h)x6(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 69(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
Screw and washer used as a stop.
- A full–length axe with a highly curved adze.
- In 1972 C.A.M.P. started using a new logo with "CAMP" inside a rounded rectangle above a mountain. The transition was completed around 1976.
Cassin "Sentinelle Rouge"
C.A.M.P. made these axes for Cassin. They are equivalent to the C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge.
↑ 243: Cassin
- Made in Italy [1960s].
- 695x275 mm.
- Weight: 845 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x23 mm.
- Fixed head.
- Curved adze with a straight edge and a very strong arch.
- Adze: 70(l)x68(w)x11(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 145(l)x28(h)x8(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- A full-length axe with a highly curved adze.
- Made for Cassin by C.A.M.P. Equivalent to the C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge.
↑ 390: Cassin
- Made in Italy [1970s].
- 700x280 mm.
- Weight: 825 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x22 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a straight edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x66(w)x10(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 155(l)x28(h)x7(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 74(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- A full-length axe with a highly curved adze.
- Made for Cassin by C.A.M.P. Equivalent to the C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge.
Woodpecker Replica
↑ 320: C.A.M.P. Woodpecker Replica
- Made in Italy [1997].
- 480x290 mm.
- Weight: 770 g.
- Aluminum Shaft.
- Shaft: 29x19 mm. (Grip: 32x23 mm.)
- Full modular head.
- Drooped adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
- Adze: 60(l)x48(w)x7(arch) mm.
- Modular waterfall ice pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 19 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 145(l)x35(h)x4(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 40(l)x22(w)x6(t) mm.
- C.A.M.P. Leash.
- Beautifully designed to mimic the woodpecker, but generally considered a poor design for an ice axe.
- Well-balanced but the shaft curves toward the ice. This is undesirable because it reduces clearance between the shaft and the ice.
- Later and superior head design. The modular parts are not interchangeable with those on earlier versions.
- The Replica wass a new version of the Woodpecker made from 2000 to 2002.
