Objects Database

MSR (Eagle) Ice Axe

Accession Number

881.2011.1

Object Name

MSR (Eagle) Ice Axe

Created

20/01/2011

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

20/01/2011

Brief Description

All metal ice axe. Red tape leash attached through one hole in middle of head. Adze, serrated pick. Pointed spike on ferrule with four sides.

Materials

metal, canvas

Dimensions

Shaft & ferrule 61.5(l) x 10(cir)cms. Head 29(l) cms. Adze 7 (w)cms.

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"SEATTLE 8 USA" on one side of pick. "MSR" on other side.

Colour

silver with orange flaking paint

Maker

MSR

Object Production Place

Seattle USA

Provenance

Mountain Safety Research(M.S.R.) began life in Seattle, USA.
Larry Penberthy had found that some of the gear available to mountaineers at the time wasn’t fit for purpose so decided to do something about it.
Wooden shafted ice axes were the norm back then and several accidents occured as the shafts broke when heavily loaded so
Larry created his ‘revolutionary’ ice axe with an aluminium shaft and metal head.
Hamish McInnes was creating his own ‘revolutionary’ all metal ice axe over in Scotland about the same time, though Hamish seems to have been first.
The axe we have here in the collection seems to be an early version(circa1975) of the Eagle which was followed by the Thunderbird, a lightweight, aluminium T-Bird and a Sumner .. “designed for the demanding technical climber”
This Eagle was once part of Mick Tighe’s Mountain Guiding Company, Nevis Guides.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

20/01/2011

Condition Check Date

20/01/2011

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

20/01/2011

Go Back