The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
212.2008.1
Stubai ice axe
21/10/2008
Hermione Cooper
21/10/2008
Stubai ice axe. Wooden shaft with metal at base. One hole in middle of head. Adze, serrated pick. Pointed spike on ferrule with four flat sides. Red leash through metal ring attached round shaft.(Adaption of slightly drooped pick and shortened shaft)
wood, metal, tape
Shaft & ferrule 56(l) x 9.5(cir)cms. Head 27(l) cms. Adze 7 (w)cms.
1
Inscription stamped on one side of head reads
"MADE IN AUSTRIA ASCHENBRENNER FUHRERPICKEL GES.GESCH" Also mountain logo with "STUBAI" inside. On shaft, red and white striped label reads "QUALITASERZEUGNISSE TYROL AUSTRIA" and also a blue mountain label with "STUBAI" inside. Another blue label with "STUBAI" and "HICKORY"
silver, brown
Stubai
Austria
Peter Aschenbrenner was an Austrian Mountain Guide (1902-1998) who was somewhat controversially involved in early expeditions to climb Nanga Parbat in the Himalaya. The German led - and Hitler backed - expedition of 1934 ended in disaster when several Sherpas perished, the result being that Aschenbrenner and fellow expedition member Schneider were hauled before a 'court of honour' for 'abandonment' of Sherpas and were excluded from further expeditions to Nanga Parbat. This was later rescinded and he was back in 1953 taking over the role of expedition leader from Karl Harrligkoffer. On this occasion, Herman Buhl made the summit alone, to claim the first ascent and though the expedition had technically been a success there was much acrimony.
Aschenbrenner left behind a much less controversial legacy in the form of an ice axe which he developed in the early 1930's and got the Stubai company to manufacture for him. These axes became almost universal in the mountains from the mid 1930's right up to the 1960's when metal and alloy shafted tools began to take over. There were many variations and it seems that some were custom made. Batches were made for German mountain troops during WWII and thousands were exported to the UK, mostly just after WWII, many of which have found their way into our collection
21/10/2008
28/04/2009
Bohuntin
Bohuntin
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009