Ice Axes
Akademiker Pickel Meister
In 1925 Ralling and the Academic Section of Vienna began working together to design the "Academiker Pikel." This was available in 1926. After WWII, Ralling marketed these with "Meister" added to the name.
↑ 125: Felix Ralling Akademiker Pickel Meister
- Made in Austria [1970s].
- 900x305 mm.
- Weight: 940 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x23 mm.
- Fixed Head.
- Straight adze with straight edge.
- Adze: 90(l)x63(w)x0(curve) mm.
- Straight Alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 165(l)x21(h)x7(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 52(l)x10(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
- The original owner added fiberglass to improve the strength of the wood shaft.
- To restore the axe, I removed the fiberglass with a heat gun. Some resin penetrated the wood too deeply to be removed.
- The stamp reads "Akadem Pickel Meister F Ralling Fulpmes.".
Himalaya Kuno Ranier
Kuno Rainer was an Austrian Mountain Guide and amember of the first expedition to climb Nanga Parbat in the Himalaya.
↑ 136: Felix Ralling Himalaya Kuno Ranier
- Made in Austria [1970s].
- 800x270 mm.
- Weight: 845 g.
- Ash shaft.
- Shaft: 32x22 mm.
- Fixed Head.
- Adze is strongly curved in both directions.
- Adze: 75(l)x60(w)x7(curve) mm.
- Straight Alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 6 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 140(l)x19(h)x8(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 60(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
- Curved head facilitates step cutting. The small chisel on the negative-clearance pick is not to my liking. This is the lightweight model with the 27 cm. head (vs. the standard 30 cm.).
SIXT
SIXT appears to have been a retailler in Insbruck Austria for whom this axe was made.
↑ 236: Felix Ralling SIXT
- Made in Austria [1970s].
- 770x300 mm.
- Weight: 970 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 35x21 mm.
- Fixed Head.
- Straight adze with curved edge.
- Adze: 85(l)x60(w)x2(curve) mm.
- Straight Alpine pick with a rounded tip and with 6 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 165(l)x21(h)x7(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 92(l)x11(w)x11(t) mm.
- Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
- One side is stamped with a logo with "SIXT," mountains, and "INNSBRUCK." I presume that SIXT was a retailer who sold these axes with their own logo added.
