Tokutaro Iizuka founded the Iizuka Sports Goods Manufacturing Co., Ltd.in 1928 in Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo. We don't know when they started producing ice axes, but according to the industry history issued in 1939, they were producing ice axes by that time. They used the brand name HOPE for a long time before formally changing their name to Hope Co., Ltd. around 1965. Hope went out of business in the 1980s.
Alpinist
This axe's original owner added fiberglass to improve the strength of the wood shaft. I removed the fiberglass to restore the axe.
↑ 126: Hope Alpinist
- Made in Japan [mid–1970s].
- 890x255 mm.
- Weight: 720 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 31x22 mm.
- Fixed Head.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x48(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Straight alpine pick with a rounded tip.
- Pick: 85(l)x21(h)x8(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 54(l)x12(w)x12(t) mm.
- This axe has a small, lightweight head with a narrow adze.
- 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.
↑ 166: Hope Alpinist
- Made in Japan [ca. 1960].
- 770x295 mm.
- Weight: 755 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 31x22 mm.
- Fixed head.
- Straight adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x57(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Straight alpine pick with a pointed tip.
- Pick: 160(l)x23(h)x9(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 62(l)x13(w)x10(t) mm.
- This axe has a small, lightweight hand-forged head with a narrow adze.
Glanz
↑ 347: Hope Glanz
- Made in Japan [1960s].
- 750x305 mm.
- Weight: 845 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x21 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a straight edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x61(w)x5(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 6 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 160(l)x28(h)x7(t) mm.
- Triangular spike.
- Spike: 75(l)x15(w)x9(t) mm.
- Hole in adze allows stacking a second axe to make a ladder.
- Electrical tape on grip was added by a previous owner.
Glanzvoll
↑ 498: Hope Glanzvoll
- Made in Japan [ca. 1970].
- 800x285 mm.
- Weight: 845 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x23 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a straight edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x60(w)x4(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a half-rounded tip.
- Pick: 155(l)x30(h)x8(t) mm.
- Rectangular spike.
- Spike: 66(l)x16(w)x9(t) mm.
- Light feel for an axe with such a massive pick.
- Hole in adze allows stacking axes to form a rather unstable ladder.
Heiligen
↑ 399: Hope Heiligen
- Made in Japan [1960s].
- 785x295 mm.
- Weight: 835 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x21 mm.
- Fixed head with carabiner hole.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
- Adze: 80(l)x68(w)x4(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a negative-clearance chisel tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
- Pick: 165(l)x29(h)x8(t) mm.
- Rectangular spike.
- Spike: 76(l)x14(w)x9(t) mm.
- Full–size adze and a massive pick hand.forged from Ni–Cr–Mo steel.
- Thin shaft with such a massive head makes this axe head–heavy, ideal for step–cutting.
Manaslu
The name “Manaslu” is especially meaningful in Japanese alpine history. Manaslu, the 8,163 m Himalayan peak, was first climbed in 1956 by a Japanese expedition.
↑ 241: Hope Manaslu
- Made in Japan [1960s].
- 820x290 mm.
- Weight: 765 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 34x21 mm.
- Fixed head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 90(l)x62(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Straight alpine pick with a pointed tip.
- Pick: 145(l)x22(h)x6(t) mm.
- Square spike.
- Spike: 50(l)x12(w)x12(t) mm.
- A thin straight-sided adze with a curved edge and rounded corners.
- Thin shaft feels too light in my hands.
- Made from carbon steel.
- Although the inscription has almost completely disappeared, we have determined that it is a Manaslu ice axe made by HOPE based on the remaining inscription, the shape of the head, and the shape of the ferrule.
↑ 499: Hope Manaslu
- Made in Japan [1960s].
- 800x300 mm.
- Weight: 940 g.
- Ash Shaft.
- Shaft: 33x23 mm.
- Fixed head.
- Curved adze with a curved edge and no arch.
- Adze: 90(l)x63(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Straight alpine pick with a pointed tip.
- Pick: 145(l)x22(h)x6(t) mm.
- Rectangular spike.
- Spike: 63(l)x12(w)x9(t) mm.
- Brass glide ring with adjustable web strap. Brass teardrop stop secured by two screws.
- A thin straight–sided adze with a curved edge and rounded corners.
- Much heavier yet shorter than #241, giving this one a more solid feel.
- Made from nickel chromium molebdenum steel.
Tres Bien
The name "Tres Bien" is French for "Very Good," not Spanish for "Three Good." Just sayin'.
↑ 497: Hope Tres Bien
- Made in Japan [ca. 1960].
- 815x300 mm.
- Weight: 875 g.
- Wood Shaft.
- Shaft: 32x22 mm.
- Fixed head.
- Curved adze with a straight edge and no arch.
- Adze: 75(l)x59(w)x0(arch) mm.
- Curved alpine pick with a pointed tip.
- Pick: 170(l)x22(h)x9(t) mm.
- Rectangular spike.
- Spike: 69(l)x12(w)x8(t) mm.
- Steel glide ring with carabiner hole and an adjustable leather strap.
- Two different brass stops, each secured by two screws with different screws used on each one. The larger one is stamped "TOP ALPINE EQUIPMENT" and was probably added by a previous owner.
- Full–size adze with straight edge and sharp corners coupled wit a pointed tip makes this a good axe for step cutting.
- Made from nickel chromium molebdenum steel.
