Objects Database

Bhend Ice Axe

Accession Number

1265.2015.1

Object Name

Bhend Ice Axe

Created

29/09/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

29/09/2015

Brief Description

Bhend Ice Axe with leather safety cover.

Materials

wood, steel

Dimensions

head 30(l) Shaft 75(l) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"J.F HENDER " and inside an elipse "BHEND SCHWEIZ SWITZERLAND"

Colour

silver, brown

Maker

Bhend

Object Production Place

Grindelwald

Provenance

Karl Bhend started making ice axes in the little town of Grindelwald, Switzerland, way back in the 1860's and 150 years later Karl's great grandson, Ruedi, is atill making them in almost exactly the same way and to the same specification.
The Eiger looms large above Grindelwald and many of the early climbers heading for the North Face had a Bhend with them. Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tensing took Bhend axes to the summit of Everest in 1953 and Swiss Mountain Guides have used Bhend ice axes on their trips to the mountains from the very beginning through to the present day.

Things have changed however, and the days of Bhend ice axes may well be numbered. Having been designed specifically as a tool to cut steps in ice, modern techniques have consigned this style of axe to the history books. Many Swiss Guides continue to carry and use a Bhend but this seems to be as much about tradition as practicality. There is a collector's market for what is probably the last, handmade, wooden shafted ice axe in the world.
Ruedi still makes ice axes(2015) though for how long only time will tell. The supply is very limited and the waiting list long. If you could get one in 2015 it would cost you 400 SF (£270) which makes us very happy since the one we have here in the collection came with a load of other gear bought off the internet for £25.
The name J F Hender is stamped on the pick so we assume he/she was the previous owner. The amount of aging/ pitting on the head when we got it (see picture opposite) seems to indicate that the axe is several decades old, though it has obviously never been used. Unfortunately, we don't know who J F Hender was so I guess we'll never know the story - it's still a fabulous axe though.
PS
We’ve had a fascinating e-mail from Sam Vowles, whose grandfather, Cleveland Bartlett, was best friend of John Hender. They went to school together, played music and went mountaineering together. They both went to Grindelwald in 1958 and amazingly, Sam still has his grandfather’s Bhend axe. It’s fairly certain then that Cleveland and John both bought their axes in Grindelwald in 1958 - Sam has one and we have the other- fabulous!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

29/09/2015

Condition Check Date

29/09/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

29/09/2015

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