The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1216.2015.1
Bashie/Mashie (Copperhead)
31/03/2015
Hermione Cooper
31/03/2015
Homemade Copperhead on wire
aluminium
2(l) x 3.5(circumference) cms
1
silver
Unusual names for an unusual item of rock and/or artificial climbing gear, even more unusual in this case since we think it is homemade.
These bits of aluminium swaged onto the end of wire were 'bashed' into a crack in the rock with a piton hammer and often got 'mashed' up in the process. Being slightly softer than aluminium copper was often used for the same purpose - these rather logically became known as copperheads.
As both metals are fairly soft the idea was that they would conform to the size of the rock they were being bashed into and make it a safe anchor, though one had to be rather brave to trust their holding powers.
We are fairly sure this one is homemade as it once belonged to pioneer Scottish climber, Bill Skidmore, who was a prolific maker of gear. His widow, Mary, kindly donated a lot of his gear to the collection when Bill headed off to the big mountain in the sky in 2015 - thanks Mary.
Donated by Mary Henery
31/03/2015
31/03/2015
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
31/03/2015