| Accession Number: | 2024.02.002 |
| Name: | KONG-BONAITI (Helium) (reverse 5.10) |
| Sub Item: | (5.10) |
| Category: | non-locking |
| Shape: | asymmetric D |
| Material: | aluminum |
| Profile: | trapezoid |
| Nose: | keylock |
| Nose Guard: | none |
| Rivets: | domed: sharp edged |
| Gate Shield: | full |
| Weight: | 32.1 g |
| Dimensions: | Length: 92.88 mm Width: 53.88 mm Depth (basket end): 7.62 mm Depth (runner end): 7.70 mm Gate Opening: 17.42 mm Basket Size: 17 mm |
| Strength Ratings: |  20 kN |  6 kN |  6 kN |
| Other Markings: | Recessed (stamped): KONG-BONAITI-ITALY | (ratings) | Patent | 5.10 |
| Summary: | early lightweight compact keylock |
| Description & Commentary: | A lightweight compact keylock carabiner which would not feel out of place on a modern rack, except for the meager minor axis ratings and some details on the rear of the gate & nose. The spine is thinned to a 5mm rib along the exterior, and reduced to about 3.5mm web on the interior. The steep nose angle combined with the rampless (sharp edged) full gate shield may cause it to crossload or hang on bolts more easily. The full shield limits the rope shredding potential of older open-framed notch & pin designs, but lacks a relief hole for debris found on many later designs. This design appears (from Kong's 200 years at the top) to date back to around 1987 when Kong filed a patent for keylock carabiners. It bears a simple "Patent" stamp on left side of the nose end of the gate. The right side is stamped 5.10, with the text on this example oriented FACING the spine markings. (unlike 2024.02.001 which has the markings in the SAME orientation as the spine markings). Kong sold a similar body shape in 2000 as the Helium, but I have yet to determine if that was the name on this much earlier model. Notibly, it has stamped markings, relatively weak 6kN minor axis and open-gate ratings and is branded with the older "Kong Bonaiti" mark. Other features include chamfered corners at the top of the gate (to prevent accidental opening), recessed inverted pyramid knurling, a diameter change of the gate which acts as a finger/rope catch. A small manufacturing mark is present on the left side of the spine, near the runner end. All of my examples of this model have the mark present. |