Ice axe - Himalya-Pickel, Modell, Kuno Rainer

This is a wooden handle ice axe.

Labelled: Himalya-Pickel
Modell
Kuno Rainer

On the opposite side is the Manufacturer's marks

F. Ralling
Hammerwerk
Fulpmes
Made in Austria

F. Ralling is Felix Ralling a master Blacksmith
Hammerwerk translates as
Hammer mill or trip hammer

 

Fulpmes

Fulpmes is a village in Tyrolese Stubaital, Austria, with a population of approximately 4000. Fulpmes is considered to be the centre for iron industry in the Stubaital valley and therefore also referred to as the “village of smithy”, which is also shown by the anvil on the emblem of the village. Located on the sunny side of the valley. Iron, gold and silver have been exploited in this area, resulting in the construction of several smitheries which processed the metals directly on site.
Fulpmes Location within Austria   Felix Ralling named this axe "Kuno Rainer"       Kuno Rainer was a member of the first expedition to climb Nanga Parbat. This was achieved by Hermann Buhl in a supreme solo effort. Kuno Rainer was involved in organising the food, equipment and the retreat. He had the ability to master the most difficult routes. With Buhl he conquered the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses in 1950, and finally tranversed the whole Jorasses ridge to the Col de Grande Jorasses. He was the trainer for the Austrian trainee guides.   This was likely why Ralling named this axe "Kuno Rainer"   The Ice axe   The adz is an improvement being spoon shaped not merely curved, and it cuts most efficiently.       There are 5 teeth on the pick end     Metal straps are used to rivet the head to the handle    There are remnants of plating on the head   The sliding rope handle is on a metal ring.   There is a screw to stop the ring sliding off. Other pictures of this axe also show this screw. It is therefore probably an original feature, not a later addition   The spike is quite straight forward   There are owners marks on the wooden handle "(H or K) U"
see my earlier blog for  Chouinard Frost - Chouinard Piolet ice axe and Chouinard Alpine Hammer
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