Ice Axes/Hammers: C.A.M.P./Interalp

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.
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.

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].
950x285 mm.
Weight: 915 g.
Wood Shaft.
Shaft: 36x23 mm.
Fixed head with carabiner hole.
Curved adze with a curved edge and a strong arch.
Adze: 77(l)x67(w)x10(arch) mm.
Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
Pick: 155(l)x28(h)x7(t) mm.
Square spike.
Spike: 72(l)x12(w)x11(t) mm.
Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
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.

↑ 169: C.A.M.P./Interalp Sentinelle Rouge

Made in Italy [ca. 1975].
750x280 mm.
Weight: 1190 g.
Wood Shaft.
Shaft: 34x23 mm.
Fixed head with carabiner hole.
Curved adze with a curved edge and a very strong arch.
Adze: 80(l)x67(w)x11(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.
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.