MSR introduced an aluminum ice axe with a 410 stainless steel head in their February 1970 newsletter. At the time they simply called it the MSR Ice Axe. It was expensive at $37.50, and even at that price MSR did not make any profit. In the next newsletter (May 1970) they announced that they would be receiving Stubai heads, allowing them to produce more affordable axes. At the time, they continued offering the MSR Ice Axe, but it no longer appeared in their next (February 1971) newsletter.

The Ice Steiger matches the time and description of the MSR Ice Axe given in the 1970 newsletters. I bought my Ice Steiger from the original owner in December 2025, along with the original sales receipt from MSR. He bought it mail-order from MSR on August 30, 1970. The axe's name "Ice Steiger" appears on the sales receipt.

↑ 383: MSR Ice Steiger

• Made in USA [August 1970].
• 660x265 mm.
• Weight: 805 g.
• Fiberglass-covered Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 35x27 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a curved edge and a moderate arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x66(w)x3(arch) mm.
• Curved alpine pick with a pointed tip and with 5 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 120(l)x19(h)x7(t) mm.
• Square spike.
• Spike: 68(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring with adjustable webbing loop.
• Aluminum shaft is significantly stronger than the wood shafts available at the time.
• Forged Stubai head on an aluminum MSR shaft.
• The blue tape at the top of the shaft is original. The black tape at the bottom was added to protect the shaft when knocking ice off crampons.
• Stamped with the MSR logo on one side of the pick.
• This is one of the very first aluminum–shaft ice axes sold in the USA.
• The original owner purchased this axe on August 31, 1970 for $25.71.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2025.

The original MSR Ice Axe, a.k.a. Ice Steiger, was expensive and unprofitable. In their May 1970 newsletter MSR announced that they would be receiving 200 Stubai heads and putting their own aluminum/fiberglass shafts on these. Five models were offered, the Nanga Parbat, Wallner, Stubai Heavy, Stubai Light, and Aschenbrenner Light. Prices were reasonable, ranging from $19.50 to $21.75.

I do not have any of these rare axes in my collection.

MSR's experience with using European heads showed that that approach was not economically viable. They needed a new process. The fourth (February 1971) MSR Newsletter describes the process and the resulting Eagle ice axe:

"The new process is simple. The pick and tang portions are flame-cut as one piece from 1/4" plate, and the adze is stamped from 1/8" plate. The two are welded together by the TIG (Tungsten-inert gas) process. The steel is chrome-moly Type 4130 including the weld metal, the same as used in pitons and aircraft. The final shaping and finishing are done by conventional milling, grinding, and drilling.

"Our initial thought was to make a reliable axe that would have excellent self-arrest capability on hard snow and ice, which would cut steps with the adze, but not with the pick. This axe head was named the EAGLE. It has a good hooking angle, 68°, and has a 30° included-angle point. Its main use will be for ice climbing specialists."

↑ 192: MSR Eagle

• Made in USA [1973–1979].
• 825x270 mm.
• Weight: 790 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 34x26 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 70(l)x70(w)x1(arch) mm.
• Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 13 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 135(l)x18(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 65(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring was removed by previous owner (stop remains).
• Similar to the Thunderbird but with a more traditional pick, the Eagle is designed for both ice and general climbing.
• The pick is hollow–ground for easy penetration. The pick's chisel tip is only 4 mm. tall – nearly a point.
• MSR introduced the Eagle in their February 1971 newsletter.
• Early (1971–1972) Eagles had a hole through the pick for transferring the load of a fallen companion. The hole required a hump obn the top of the pick. Climbers did not use the hole for its intended purpose, so MSR removed the hole and hump in 1973.

↑ 432: MSR Eagle

• Made in USA [1973–1979].
• 565x280 mm.
• Weight: 650 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x26 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x70(w)x2(arch) mm.
• Curved alpine pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip.
• Pick: 145(l)x19(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 69(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring with sewn webbing strap.
• Similar to the Thunderbird but with a more traditional pick, the Eagle is designed for both ice and general climbing.
• The pick is hollow–ground for easy penetration. The pick's chisel tip is only 4 mm. tall – nearly a point.
• This short axe is sized for technical ice.
• MSR introduced the Eagle in their February 1971 newsletter.
• Early (1971–1972) Eagles had a hole through the pick for transferring the load of a fallen companion. The hole required a hump obn the top of the pick. Climbers did not use the hole for its intended purpose, so MSR removed the hole and hump in 1973.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2026.

MSR's Thunderbird was derived from the MSR Eagle. The fourth (February 1971) MSR Newsletter tells the story:

"Suddenly, while testing the Eagle, came the dawn! By lengthening the radius of the upper edge of the pick, retaining the same hooking angle of the lower edge, the pick could also be used for cutting steps In appearance, the upper edge and the lower edge of the pick diverge as they approach the point. By providing positive clearance of the cutting edge, self-arrest capability is retained. This is the design concept called THUNDERBIRD.

"Field testing quickly showed the THUNDERBIRD advantages : Kick (bounce, vibration) is gone! Steps can be cut with greater precision, both with the pick and with the adze. When cutting with the pick, the ice chips spurt to the right and left, not into your face. There is 6° to 10° less tendency of the ice below the step to flake out because the splitting force is uni-directional, not 360° around the point. Excellent hooking power is retained.

"This name, Thunderbird, comes from its resemblance to the beak of mythical thunderbirds on the totem poles of Western American Indians."

Larry filed for a patent on April 25, 1972 and received U. S. Patent No. 3,735,434 on May 29, 1973.

The original 1971 Thunderbirds did not have teeth. "Teeth on Thunderbird are not wanted, because they make the pick stick too much in hard snow." MSR began offering Thunderbird teeth as an option in 1972, and made teeth standard in 1976.

Thunderbirds picks were 1/4" (6.3 mm.) thick to improve self arrest in medium snow where thinner picks slice through. MSR quietly reduced the thickness to 3/16" (4.8 mm.) in 1978.

The standard Thunderbird had a steel head. MSR also offered a lighter aluminum Thunderbird, the Light-ee. It was half a pound lighter but less durable. "This axe is not for chopping rocks… the edge will dent."

MSR offered a shaft extension for their shorter ice axes and ice hammers. Separating the two parts made the axe easier to carry in a pack.

In 1971 Larry wrote,

We think the Thunderbird axe is the best axe in the world today, and we recommend it for general climbers as well as for the experts.

Surely there is some marketing behind that statement, but when it was published in 1971, there was nothing else in the U.S. market quite like the Thunderbird. It remains a good axe for its designed purpose.

↑ 124: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [1971–1972].
• 750x275 mm.
• Weight: 910 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x27 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a moderate arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x70(w)x3(arch) mm.
• Straight swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip.
• Pick: 135(l)x18-30(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 71(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
• The rib supporting the adze is smaller than the one on my Thunderbird #106.
• This version has a small hole near the end of the pick. The hole in the pick is for transferring the load of a fallen companion.
• In their 1971 Newsletter, MSR wrote that teeth on Thunderbird are not wanted because they make the pick stick too much in hard snow. MSR offered teeth as a Thuenderbird option starting in 1972.
• MSR introduced the Thunderbird in their February 1971 newsletter.
• The hole near the pick appears in MSR's newsletter photos of the Thunderbird up through the May 1972 issue.

↑ 106: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [1973–1975].
• 750x275 mm.
• Weight: 910 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x27 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a moderate arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x70(w)x3(arch) mm.
• Straight swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip.
• Pick: 135(l)x18-30(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 71(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
• The Thunderbird pick was designed with a focus on self arrest. It also performs well cutting steps. Current mountaineering doctrine focuses more on self belay and modern crampons have reduced the need to cut steps.
• This version does not have the small hole near the end of the pick that is fund in #124.
• In their 1971 Newsletter, MSR wrote that teeth on Thunderbird are not wanted because they make the pick stick too much in hard snow. MSR offered teeth as a Thuenderbird option starting in 1972.
• MSR introduced the Thunderbird in their February 1971 newsletter.
• The hole near the pick found on #124 does not appear in MSR Newsletter photos of the Thunderbird from April 1973 onward.
• MSR last offered orange ice axes in their 1976 catalog.

↑ 431: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [1973–1977].
• 700x280 mm.
• Weight: 825 g.
• Plastic-covered Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 36x29 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 70(l)x70(w)x1(arch) mm.
• Straight swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 12 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 135(l)x19-33(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 64(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• The Thunderbird pick was designed with a focus on self arrest. It also performs well cutting steps. Current mountaineering doctrine focuses more on self belay and modern crampons have reduced the need to cut steps.
• Shaft has an insulting cover that appears to be heavy vinyl heat–shrink tubing. A previous owner applied this. It is a welcome improvement to bare aluminum.
• The original 1971 Thunderbirds did not have teeth because they make the pick stick too much in hard snow. MSR started offering Thunderbird teeth as an option in 1972.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2026.

↑ 524: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [1978–1980].
• 750x290 mm.
• Weight: 800 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 34x26 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x70(w)x1(arch) mm.
• Straight swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 12 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 135(l)x19-30(h)x5(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 64(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• The Thunderbird pick was designed with a focus on self arrest. It also performs well cutting steps. Current mountaineering doctrine focuses more on self belay and modern crampons have reduced the need to cut steps.
• This axe's pick is thinner than those on my other Thunderbirds, making it less suited for self arrest.
• Grip tape added by a previous owner.
• The original 1971 Thunderbirds did not have teeth because they make the pick stick too much in hard snow. MSR started offering Thunderbird teeth as an option in 1972. Teeth became standard in 1976.
• MSR went to the thinner pick in 1978.

Realizing that many climbers never chop steps in hard ice, MSR developed a lighter Thunderbird with an aluminum head. It was half a pound lighter but less durable than the traditional steel-head Thunderbird.

MSR reminded climbers of the obvious: "This axe is not for chopping rocks… the edge will dent."

↑ 517: MSR Thunderbird Light–ee

• Made in USA [1971–1972].
• 780x280 mm.
• Weight: 625 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 35x25 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a scalloped edge and no arch.
• Adze: 75(l)x70(w)x0(arch) mm.
• Straight swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip.
• Pick: 135(l)x19-30(h)x7(t) mm.
• Round spike with square base.
• Spike: 64(l)x13(w)x13(t) mm.
• Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
• Aluminum head saves about 300 g. compared to a standard Thunderbird.
• Shaft has a neoprene coating.
• The pick has a hardened steel insert to help it bite into hard ice.
• MSR says, "This axe is not for chopping rocks… the edge will dent."
• This version has a small hole near the end of the pick. The hole in the pick is for transferring the load of a fallen companion.

MSR introduced the Stiletto Ice Axe and Hammer in their March 1975 newsletter. They spelled it "Stilletto" in 1975 but changed to "Stiletto" in the March 1976 Newsletter. In the earlier newsletter they wrote the following:

"These new axes are made specifically for hard snow and ice climbing. The picks are needle pointed for instant hooking without need for hard impact, Stirrups can be connected between the carabiner hole and the foot for climbing as if on Jumars. Please be top-roped while you learn the technique."

The bump above the carabiner hole allowed looping the rope or a webbing over a placed axe.

The Stiletto Ice Axe and Hammer were not listed in their March 1977 or later newsletters.

↑ 296: MSR Stiletto

• Made in USA [1975].
• 455x225 mm.
• Weight: 620 g.
• Neoprene-covered Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x28 mm.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a straight edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 60(l)x66(w)x1(arch) mm.
• Curved waterfall pick with a neutral-clearance chisel tip and with 15 fine teeth near tip and two mid-pick.
• Pick: 100(l)x19(h)x5(t) mm.
• Triangular spike.
• Spike: 55(l)x18(w)x7(t) mm.
• The short length and strongly–drooped pick (similar to the Snowdon Mouldings Curver) make this axe better suited for technical ice than for general mountaineering.
• The bump above the carabiner hole allows looping the rope or a webbing over a placed axe.
• The handle taper above the spike forces me to grip this axe higher on the shaft to prevent slipping, effectively shortening this axe's swing radius.
• MSR introduced the Stiletto Ice Axe and Hammer in their March 1975 newsletter. It was not listed in the March 1977 or later newsletters.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2025. He got it from Brian Morgan in the summer of 1975.

MSR described the Sumner as follows:

"The Sumner is based on the T-Bird axe and is named for Bill Sumner who had us make a special model for technical ice climbers . The hooking angle is 53 ° (instead of 68°') for superior holding power. The pick is thinner and the cleaving angle is narrower for easy penetration and less fracture in ice. The adze is flat and straight for step cutting. The steel edged spike does not skid on ice. We think this is the best technical ice axe there is."

↑ 207: MSR Sumner

• Made in USA [1973–1980].
• 640x255 mm.
• Weight: 745 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x27 mm. (Grip: 35x29 mm.)
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a straight edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 60(l)x69(w)x2(arch) mm.
• Curved swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 12 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 125(l)x11(h)x7(t) mm.
• Triangular spike.
• Spike: 50(l)x20w)x7(t) mm.
• The hook angle is 53° for superior holding compared to 68° for the Thunderbird.
• The pick is thinner and the cleaving angle narrower than that on the Thunderbird, resulting in easier penetration and less fracturing in hard ice.
• A previous owner added a nice textured tape to the grip. This provides an excellent grip and some well–appreciated insulation as well.
• Bill Summer had MSR make this model specifically for technical ice climbers.
  Introduced in the MSR's May 1972 newsletter as the "Model S" Thunderbird, it was renamed the Sumner in the next (April 1973) newsletter.
  The 1979 MSR catalog stated that it would no longer be available after May 31, 1979.
• Sumners sold before May 1976 had forged spikes.
  Axes sold from May through September 1976 had spikes made by butt–welding the "spear head" to a round shank. These were recalled after one broke during field testing.
  Later axes (including this one) had the "spear head" welded into a slot in the round shank.

Sumners sold before May 1976 had forged spikes. MSR changed the design and Sumners sold from May through September 1976 had spikes made by butt-welding the "spear head" to a round shank. One of these broke during field testing. MSR issued a recall notice on the March 1977 Newsletter.

These prototypes were made and used to test a new spike design. After testing, this design was incorporated into all Sumner axes sold after September 1976.

↑ 375: MSR Sumner (prototype spike)

• Made in USA [1975].
• 650x255 mm.
• Weight: 730 g.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 33x26 mm. (Grip: 34x26 mm.)
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a straight edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 60(l)x69(w)x2(arch) mm.
• Curved swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 12 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 125(l)x13(h)x7(t) mm.
• Triangular spike.
• Spike: 56(l)x21w)x7(t) mm.
• The hook angle is 53° for superior holding compared to 68° for the Thunderbird.
• The pick is thinner and the cleaving angle narrower than that on the Thunderbird, resulting in easier penetration and less fracturing in hard ice.
• A previous owner added the tape to the grip.
• Bill Summer had MSR make this model specifically for technical ice climbers.
  Introduced in the MSR's May 1972 newsletter as the "Model S" Thunderbird, it was renamed the Sumner in the next (April 1973) newsletter.
  The 1979 MSR catalog stated that it would no longer be available after May 31, 1979.
• Sumners sold before May 1976 had forged spikes.
  Axes sold from May through September 1976 had spikes made by butt–welding the "spear head" to a round shank. These were recalled after one broke during field testing.
  This particular axe had a prototype spike designed to solve the breakage issue. After testing, this design was incorporated into Sumner axes sold after September 1976.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2025. He got it from Brian Morgan in the summer of 1975.

↑ 376: MSR Sumner (prototype spike)

• Made in USA [1975].
• 690x255 mm.
• Weight: 755 g.
• Neoprene-covered Aluminum Shaft.
• Shaft: 35x27 mm. (Grip: 36z28 mm.)
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with a straight edge and a slight arch.
• Adze: 60(l)x69(w)x2(arch) mm.
• Curved swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip and with 12 ventral teeth.
• Pick: 125(l)x13(h)x7(t) mm.
• Triangular spike.
• Spike: 56(l)x21w)x7(t) mm.
• The hook angle is 53° for superior holding compared to 68° for the Thunderbird.
• The pick is thinner and the cleaving angle narrower than that on the Thunderbird, resulting in easier penetration and less fracturing in hard ice.
• Bill Summer had MSR make this model specifically for technical ice climbers.
  Introduced in the MSR's May 1972 newsletter as the "Model S" Thunderbird, it was renamed the Sumner in the next (April 1973) newsletter.
  The 1979 MSR catalog stated that it would no longer be available after May 31, 1979.
• Sumners sold before May 1976 had forged spikes.
  Axes sold from May through September 1976 had spikes made by butt–welding the "spear head" to a round shank. These were recalled after one broke during field testing.
  This particular axe had a prototype spike designed to solve the breakage issue. After testing, this design was incorporated into Sumner axes sold after September 1976.
• From Mike Gerbman, 2025. He got it from Brian Morgan in the summer of 1975.