Howell-N-Mann Racks

4-bar, Smith Special, Speleo, Rescue

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4-bar

I acquired this rack from Larry Howell of Howell-N-Man in 1993.

The frame is ASTM grade 6 6Al/4V titanium alloy, and the bars are titanium tubing (same type) with hollow aluminum inserts to absorb and dissipate heat. The top bar is a "hyper-bar" that allows looping the rope over the top for a temporary lockoff, or permits more secure lockoffs by tying the rope in any of several ways. The fourth bar has horns that also fascilitate locking off. In addition, they allow pivoting the bar as an added means of braking - a method I can't recommend. The eye is milled aluminum, and admits several carabiners. The eye is threaded to the frame, and locked in place with a lock nut. It is not free to rotate.

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Smith Special

I acquired this rack from Larry Howell of Howell-N-Man in 1993.

The frame is ASTM grade 6 6Al/4V titanium alloy, and the bars are titanium tubing (same type) with hollow aluminum inserts to absorb and dissipate heat. The top bar is a "hyper-bar" that allows looping the rope over the top for a temporary lockoff, or permits more secure lockoffs by tying the rope in any of several ways.The eye is milled aluminum, and admits several carabiners. The eye is threaded to the frame, and locked in place with a lock nut. It is not free to rotate.

This rack is narrower than the others on this page. Bruce Smith had Larry Howell produce this narrow rack to save weight (mainly in the bars), but the resulting rack is not as well suited for the rare occassion where a double rope rappel is needed.

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Speleo

I acquired this rack from Larry Howell of Howell-N-Man in 1993.

The frame is ASTM grade 6 6Al/4V titanium alloy, and the bars are titanium tubing (same type) with hollow aluminum inserts to absorb and dissipate heat. The top bar is a "hyper-bar" that allows looping the rope over the top for a temporary lockoff, or permits more secure lockoffs by tying the rope in any of several ways. Spacers between the two top bars shift friction to the lower bars, helping to reduce heating on the top two. The eye is milled aluminum, and admits several carabiners. The eye is threaded to the frame, and locked in place with a lock nut. It is not free to rotate.

[ Top | 4-bar | Smith Special | Speleo | Return to Racks ]

Rescue

I acquired this rack from Larry Howell of Howell-N-Man in 1993.

The frame is ASTM grade 6 6Al/4V titanium alloy, and the bars are titanium tubing (same type) with hollow aluminum inserts to absorb and dissipate heat. The top bar is a "hyper-bar" that allows looping the rope over the top for a temporary lockoff, or permits more secure lockoffs by tying the rope in any of several ways. The eye is milled aluminum, and admits several carabiners. The eye is threaded to the frame, and locked in place with a lock nut. It is not free to rotate.

This rack is larger than the others, presumably because many members of the rescue community believes that bigger is better.

[ Top | 4-bar | Smith Special | Speleo | Rescue ]