Omega Pacific
JC (short split)

The JC sports an uncommon construction - the spine has been split partially apart, with two wings bent outwards. This provides the rope bearing radius of a large round bar stock carabiner (like a Petzl Attache v1) using less weight.

This example has forged batch markings, instead of the laser engraved batch markings of Omega Pacific JC (long split). It also has a shorter split section (10mm longer unsplit section), and smaller nose guard. I have two examples of this item (#1859) with the same batch code (SX), which differ noticeably in length (2mm) width (1.5mm), rope bearing depth (0.6mm), and nose guard (1.2mm). The specs listed here are an average of these two examples.

Sometime prior to 2006 the tooling for the carabiner broke and was repaired. When the tooling broke again, OP discontinued the design. (source: my recollection, from the now defunct RockClimbing.com forum post by an Omega Pac employee). A change in the tooling or process might account for the differences between this version and the long split version.

In some places this carabiner was called the JC Lite. If the JC and JC Lite were different models, and applied to the two versions I have, it might also help explain the difference in size of the split section. Unfortunately, both versions weigh almost the same and neither would be obviously the "lite" model.

Almost all Omega Pacific carabiners from this same era were outclassed by similar designs from other manufacturers. In contrast, the JC was well loved and carried a cult following from rock climbers who found the design light, compact, low drag and easy to clip while lead climbing. The narrow width and swept spine makes it easy to grab when at the end of a twisting and moving quickdraw, the large wiregate seems to just swallow rope.

Given what can be achieved with modern hot-forging methods, we are unlikely to see the return of split-spine designs. Fanatics still collect and treasure this unique carabiner.