In the early seventies engineer Larry Penberthy invented an improved ice axe. Penberthy had founded the MSR Corp. (Mountain Safety Research) to sell his inventions, which have been quite innovative.
The ice axe was called the Thunderbird, and was metal covered with an orange vinyl covering that transferred less heat than painted metal. The head and shaft were aluminum. It also had a tip on the pick that was supposed to be a better edge for chopping ice, and to enter the snow better during a self arrest. However innovative it was, it was so incredibly ugly that it was accused of being a device best suited for assinations. However, sales were good, and MSR has continued to make innovative and practical products for the hiker and mountaineer.
The abstract of the patent states "Disclosed is an ice axe for use by mountaineers having improved ice chopping action and an increased bite into hard snow and ice during self-arrest. The pick portion of the axe head is provided with a hatchet-like blade having an increased maximum swinging radius. The upper and lower edges of the pick diverge so that the lower edge forms an acute angle with the axis of the shaft for improved hooking capability. The cutting edge of the blade has positive clearance."
Bob: How well I remember the ol' MSR T-bird axe. A totally great value for the money and the first ax that actually arrested well. The assasination comment was made by Chouinard in his '72 climbing hardware catalog. He didn't mention the T-bird by name, but his description of a "...day-glo metal monster more suitable for assasinations than ice climbing" was a direct poke at Penberthy and his designs.This ax influenced the design of ice axes world-wide. But they didn't copy his paint job...
Posted by: MAD | April 11, 2005 at 08:22 AM
Do you still have your old day-glo metal monster? I think you used it on the first Ptarmigan Traverse we did.
Posted by: Bob Shaver | April 11, 2005 at 08:59 AM
I am 25 years of age and just did my frist summit of Mt. Hood in Oregon and I used the T-bird. I didnt know what it was until an older gentleman said "Oh, a T-bird." I bought it at a Mazama sale in Portland.
Posted by: Michael Dennis | May 04, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Michael: everytone says the T-Bird was ugly, but no one ever said it didn't work. Congrats on climbing Hood, and here's to many more climbs for you.
Bob
Posted by: | May 04, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Michael: everytone says the T-Bird was ugly, but no one ever said it didn't work. Congrats on climbing Hood, and here's to many more climbs for you.
Bob
Posted by: | May 04, 2006 at 01:20 PM
I'm 28. I still use my father's, which was actually his bother's before him (both deceased). I Summited Mt Baker with it last year. It's actually not much heavier than modern axes, only 662 grams (sorry I'm Canadian, what's that? almost a pound and a half which makes 22ish ounces? [I don't know how you guys still use that system]) Anyway I met an older guy on Baker who was using a T-Bird he bought in Banff Alberta in '73.
I have a photo of my Father and friends from the 70's with a total of 4 T-Birds visible.
Actually they did copy his paintjob too. Apparently the Italian company Permana made a model of the same colour in the early '70s.
See you on Rainier, Steve Phillips.
Posted by: Steve Phillips | October 04, 2009 at 12:29 AM