There were very few British ice axe manufacturers in the good old days which meant imports from the continent became the norm. Stubai of Austria were by far the most popular brand of import with just about every British winter mountaineer carrying one back in the 1950/60’s. This was a time when climbers were venturing out onto ever steeper ice to pioneer new climbs. Step cutting had been the norm until now, but it was not practical on very steep ice. The answer was to shorten the shafts of the old Stubais and droop the pick so it would hold in steep ice. The axe we have here in the collection is a very fine example of modification done by blacksmith and mountain guide, John Brailsford, for his fellow mountain guide, John Cheesmond, who kindly donated it to us when his ice climbing days were over—- proper job!