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Version A
Version B
Version C
Version D
Version E
Version F
Version G
Version H
Version I
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version A from Pathfinder Sports in 1979. I acquired three more in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
Version A is 110 mm. tall, 64 mm. wide, 76 mm. thick, and weighs 152 g. The shunt uses a stamped aluminum frame that wraps around one or two ropes. A forged aluminum lever is mounted in the center of the frame, and can be pulled through the back of the frame to allow rigging the rope. The lever is spring loaded so it will automatically return to the operating position. A 10 mm. round steel pin passes through the lever. In use, it presses the rope into a slight depression in the frame. There is a small hole in the back of the lever that one can attach a small cord to to allow remotely releasing the device. Aluminum blocks on each side of the frame provide some support for the frame and the bolt that serves as an axle for the lever.
The right side of the lever has "F. PETZL" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE."
The Petzl Shunt is truly a unique ascender. It and its copies are the only type 2 lever cam ascenders in my collection.
The shunt can be used on double rope (but only if both ropes are the same size), and with care on single rope, although single rope use puts an asymmetrical torque on the lever. For some curious reason, the Petzl literature recommends ascending with only one ascender (attached to the seat harness), and wrapping the rope around the foot as a substitute for a second ascender. In an emergency this works, but I hardly think is the safest possibility. The shunt can be released under load by pulling down on the shell. This is easily done, and with only one ascender, one could easily get into trouble.
Petzl also recommends using a shunt as a rappel safety on double rope. I don't believe in rappel safeties for a number of reasons, so I can't recommend this either.
Petzl also suggested using the shunt for top rope belays, but I recommend using a good belay device instead.
Fernand Petzl patented the Shunt in 1970, receiving French Patent #2,032,630.
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version B from Bob Elron at the 2017 NSS Convention. CarolJo Rushin-Elron originally obtained it from Bob & Bob in 1984, but doesn't remember ever using it. Michael Oatney gave me another in 2023.
Version B is 109 mm. tall, 64 mm. wide, 77 mm. thick, and weighs 154 g. The shunt uses a stamped aluminum frame that wraps around one or two ropes. A forged aluminum lever is mounted in the center of the frame, and can be pulled through the back of the frame to allow rigging the rope. The lever is spring loaded so it will automatically return to the operating position. A 10 mm. round pin passes through the lever. In use, it presses the rope into a slight depression in the frame. There is a small hole in the back of the lever that one can attach a small cord to to allow remotely releasing the device. Aluminum blocks on each side of the frame provide some support for the frame and the bolt that serves as an axle for the lever.
The right side of the lever has "F. PETZL" and "BREVETE" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE."
Version B is anodized blue; otherwise, it is essentially the same as Version A.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version D | Version E | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version C from Seth Parks in 2021. On Rope 1 donated another later the same year.
Version C is 109 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 77 mm. thick, and weighs 176 g. This version replaces the aluminum support blocks on each side of the frame with 3.1 mm. thick plated steel stampings. The bolts are now hex-head.
The right side of the lever has "F. PETZL" and "BREVETE" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE." The bolt heads are stamped with "PETZL" and "8.8."
The side pieces are now stamped from steel, and they wrap around the frame, giving it more support. They add about 20 g. to the shunt’s weight compared to the older aluminum ones.
The bolts may be slightly larger than they were on earlier versions, but I’d have to disassemble my shunt to find out for sure.
Version C is identical to the one taken by the uncharacteristically dishonorable Korean mentioned in the Version D comments.
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version D from Adventure Outdoors in 2019.
Version D is 107 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 77 mm. thick, and weighs 180 g.
The right side of the lever has "PETZL" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT." The bolt heads have "PETZL" and "8.8" in recessed characters.
CommentsVersion D features a new lever that is a somewhat cruder forging than the earlier versions had.
There is a frustrating side to this story. I purchased my Version D on eBay along with a second shunt. Quite by accident, the shipping label was swapped with one from another package, and my shunts went to another buyer in Korea. The seller quickly realized his error and worked with us so that we would each get our appropriate packages. During the exchange, the Korean buyer substituted a different shunt (a Version H) for the one that was sold to me, and kept mine for himself. As you can see from the photo from the original eBay listing, the other shunt was an intermediate version that had the cam from Version B and the side pieces from Version D - my Version C. I forgive the seller - sometimes mistakes happen - but as for the other buyer, well, some people just need to work on their honor.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version E from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1989.
Version E is 110 mm. tall, 56 mm. wide, 78 mm. thick, and weighs 189 g.
The right side of the shell has a stamped Sieg Heil icon. The right side of the lever has "PETZL" and "BREVETE" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "FRANCE." The bolt heads have "PETZL" and "8.8" in recessed characters.
Version E differs from Version D in several small details. The frame is now finished with Petzl’s ugly "bird droppings" (a.k.a. "spew-vomit") finish. The lever now polished, and the stamped Sieg Heil icon is new.
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version F in 2012. I wrote the date September 2, 2012 on the box (indicating that I got it at the Old Timers Reunion), but I failed to record who I got it from.
Version F is 109 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 78 mm. thick, and weighs 189 g.
The right side of the shell has a stamped Sieg Heil icon. The right side of the lever has "PETZL," "B03 107," and "BREVETE" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE." The bolt heads have "PETZL" and "8.8" in recessed characters.
Version F has different style lever than Version E - note that the raised area no longer curves around the post. Functionally, there is no discernible difference. The markings are also different; e.g., "SHUNT" reads bottom to top instead of top to bottom.
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version G on eBay from Noco Gear in 2019.
Version G is 104 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 78 mm. thick, and weighs 186 g.
The left side of the shell is stamped with a Sieg Heil icon and "WARNING - DANGER PROPER TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR USE." The rear is stamped with the Petzl Logo and "3593B." The right side is stamped with "DOUBLE ROPE: MIN Ø8 MAX Ø11" and "SINGLE ROPE: MIN Ø10 MAX Ø11" The right side of the lever has "PETZL," "B03 107," and "PATENTED" in raised letters, and the left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE." The bolt heads have "PETZL" and "8.8" in recessed characters.
Version G has different markings than Version F. The bolt head markings would suggest placing it between Version E and Version F, but the other markings suggest placing it here in the sequence.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version E | Version F | Version G | Version I | Return to L.C. Ascenders ]
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version H from On Rope 1 in 2009. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
Version H is 112 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 79 mm. thick, and weighs 175 g.
The left side of the shell is stamped with a Sieg Heil icon and "WARNING - DANGER PROPER TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR USE." The rear is stamped with the Petzl Logo and "06024KC." The right side is stamped with "DOUBLE ROPE 8≤Ø≤11," "SINGLE ROPE 10≤Ø≤11," a Reading-Is-Dangerous icon, and "CE0197." The right side of the lever has a raised Petzl logo and "B03107" and "PATENTED" in raised letters. The left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE." The bolt heads have "PETZL," "A2" and "80" in raised characters.
This version has a different style lever than earlier versions. The posts are formed as an integral part of the lever rather than being a pressed-fit rod.
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I acquired my Petzl Shunt, Version I from Expé-Spelemat in 2017. I acquired another from Adventure Outdoors in 2019.
Version I is 108 mm. tall, 55 mm. wide, 78 mm. thick, and weighs 174 g.
The left side of the shell is stamped with "SHUNT" and a hollow up-pointing arrow with "UP" inside. The right side is stamped with "ROPE •⇒" pointing to a book-with-an-"i" icon, a two-rope rigging illustration with "8≤Ø≤11" underneath, a one-rope rigging illustration with "10≤Ø≤11" underneath, and "CE 0082." The rear is stamped with the Petzl Logo and printed with "17E0081798147" and a scanner code. The right side of the lever has a raised Petzl logo and "B03107" and "PATENTED" in raised letters. The left side has "SHUNT" and "MADE IN FRANCE." The bolt heads have "PETZL," "A2" and "80" in raised characters.
Petzl eliminated the ugly "bird droppings" (a.k.a. "spew-vomit") finish and returned to the traditional look of Version A. Mechanically, this version is identical to Version H.
[ Top | Version A | Version B | Version C | Version D | Version E | Version F | Version G | Version H | Version I ]
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