Ichiro Moriya (1903-1980) was a blacksmith in Akita, Japan. In 1952 Nobuichi Yoshikawa, a member of the Alpine Club, approached Moriya about supplying high-quality ice axes. Moriya had been climbing the mountain since he was young, so he agreed to make a prototype, saying, "I've been interested in making ice axes for a long time."

Moriya used existing examples from Yamauchi, Kadota, and Prima (Hupfauf), photographs of Schenk axes, and measurement diagrams of Fritsch (Andenmatten) axes as references for his prototypes. He forged axes using both carbon steel and nickel-chromium steel. Once he was satisfied with the results, he began commercial production that same year.

Ichiro's eldest son Shouichi (1933- ) was already working with him, and they made ice axes together. Ichiro retired from ice axe making in his early 70s, and Shouichi took over the business.

The lower part of the inscription includes a symbol indicating the head material and a sequential manufacturing number. An "N" was stamped for nickel-chromium steel and a "C" for carbon steel. The numbers started from 1, but numbers ending in 4 were skipped due to superstition. It was possible to order an axe with a preferred number. The next ice axe would be stamped with the next number in the sequence. Numbers up to the 4500s were used, but due to the skipped numbers, the number stamped on the ice axe does not match the number of ice axes made. The number made is believed to be less than 3000.

Moriya ice axes were produced continuously for approximately 30 years. Shouichi finally closed the blacksmith shop and became well-known Japanese painter in Akita.

Ice Axes

↑ 380: Moriya

• Made in Japan [1970s].
• 825x295 mm.
• Weight: 800 g.
• Wood Handle.
• Shaft: 35x22 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a curved edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x59(w)x2(arch) mm.
• Straight alpine pick with a pointed tip and with 6 starting 45 mm. from tip.
• Pick: 145(l)x22(h)x6(t) mm.
• Rectangular spike.
• Spike: 77(l)x13(w)x10(t) mm.
• Characterized by a shallow pick with a forward tilt angle and a blade that is almost flat.
  The shaft extension part of the head was made thin to reduce weight, so this axe has a light-weight feel when swung.
• This axe's head is made from nickel-chromium steel.
• Stamped with the "akita moriya" mountain logo incorporating an "N" (for Ni-Cr steel) and the serial number "4416."
• The serial number 4416 indicates that this is one of the latest Moriya axes.