Always our favourites, things of the homemade variety often tell a story of days gone by when folk had less cash, gear wasn’t so readily available in the shops and people seemed more willing to create something of their own. We have several homemade ice axes in the collection, but this one is a bit different as the pick seems to be cut from a single piece of steel, with the adze neatly welded on and ground down. Three fabulous chunky rivets hold the wooden shaft to the head and the grip is fashioned from twine to make what’s called a Common or Ordinary Whipping, much used on the ends of ropes in the days of sailing ships and put to very good use here. Sadly, we have no record of where the axe came from so we have to thank him/her in absentia. To check out our other homemade items put homemade into our quick search.