Lowe Alpine Systems Hummingbird Ice Axes

These recently donated axes are great early production models from approximately 1974. They had recessed 5mm threaded set screws holding the tube picks in place and rolled steel pins securing the head to the fiberglass handle.

The axes were quite heavy headed and feel very much like the wall hammers that were around at the same time. Both tools have flat faced hammer heads with no attachment method for an adze. The tube picks seat into a hole on the opposing 45 degree angled face with a set screw on the bottom side of the head.

Lowe Alpine Systems offered many innovative products designed by Greg and Jeff Lowe. Jeff Lowe was designing gear for his cutting edge ice and alpine routes in the early to middle seventies so the gear really helped open up a lot of steep frozen terrain.