Russian Industrial Descender

Version A, Version B

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Version A

John Weinel brought this industrial descender back from the Russia in 1990. It appears to be made of three steel pieces welded together: the main plate, the riser, and the bollards. It is designed for double rope, but also works on single rope. Judging by the diameter of the bollards and the size of the slots, it was designed for 8 or 9 mm. rope, or possibly cable. The device is rigged by bringing a bight through the back plate and over the bollard. There is nothing to keep the rope on the bollards; however, a carabiner can be clipped through the bollards to keep the user from entering disconnected free-fall if the rope should slide off. The large horns provide convenient tie-off points. The lower slots can be used with additional carabiners to increase the device's friction. This will probably be necessary if one is rappelling on rope.

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Version B

I acquired this Version From Ural Sport in 2004, when Serguei Khramtsov made a personal shopping trip in Russia for me. version B has the following significant differences:

The back plate is heavier, 8.5 mm. instead of 6 mm. steel.
The riser is thinner, 4.5 mm. instead of 4.8 mm.
The bollards are cut away at about a 45° angle at the back.
The lower side slots are straight, not curved.
Version B is painted with a speckled gray paint.

I don't like the idea of painting descenders, since I find that paint simply comes off and makes a mess of one's rope.

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