Antique Ice Ax Question

[mneagle]

I recently bought an old wooden ice ax but I can't find out much about it's origin/age online. An ingraving on the adze says it was made by Sporthaus Schuster in Munich, Germany. There is also an engraving on the pick that says "ASMU Pickel Garantie". Anyone know anything about the company or the engraving?

[mike_m]

Sporthaus Schuster was (I don't know if it still exists) a huge outdoor retailer, skiing, climbing, etc, like REI used to be before they started turning into Eddie Bauer, but on a much larger scale. I went to the store in Munich in 1981, it was huge, 4 stories at least. Mostly European brands, though I recall seeing some Chouinard gear. They had some house-brand soft goods and gear too. Your axe was probably "made for" rather than "made by" Schuster. I have an axe I bought there that was made for Schuster by CAMP. Don't know about the enscription.

[southernmtguide]

mike m is correct in the fact that Sport Schuster is a huge retailer. They are one of the oldest still operating stores in Germany. The "ASMU Pickel Garantie" is just a gaurentee on the pick by an older governing body, similiar to UIAA.

[lummox]

you got the german equivalent of a walmart ice axe. bitchin.

[Dru]

mmmm ASMU pickles

[Rodchester]

The droop of the pick and the teeth are often indicators of the age of the axe. Also the length can INDICATE age as well. Back in the 1920s and 1930s almost all axes were long, damn long.

 

Can you post a picture?