I acquired this eight from Speleoshoppe in 1979.
The Pierre Allain is made of cast aluminum alloy. Mine is 149 mm tall, 79 mm. wide, and 19 mm. thick. The rope hole is 39 mm. high and 51 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 19 mm. The shaft length and width are 68 mm. and 17 mm, respectively. The eye measures 19 mm. by 19 mm. My eight weighs 152 g.
The front of the shaft has "PA" in raised letters, and the rear has "77" (possibly the year), also in raised letters.
This figure eight was cast, not forged. That has always worried me a bit. Other than that, it has an unusual shape, but performs much like any other figure eight. The rope hole is shorter than normal, so it may provide too much friction on stiff or muddy ropes. The eye is too narrow to accept two full size locking carabiners. The shaft is longer than necessary.
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©2007, Gary D. Storrick