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Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:06 am
by Taco
Omega Pacific, under the ACME name: http://www.acmeclimbing.com/index.asp?P ... ProdID=103

$40 ain't bad. Negative clearance pick. Your average general mountaineering axe.

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:44 am
by SkinnyFat
TDR -

That's the best deal I've seen on an ice axe thus far. Thanks for finding this.

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:01 am
by AlanK
Just be careful -- wasn't Acme the company that Wile E Coyote used for most of his purchases?

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 11:24 pm
by Jim
The available lengths 60 and 65 cm are a wee bit short for general snow travel. Lengths 70cm to 80cm are better for hikers.

Jim

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:03 am
by Taco
AlanK wrote:Just be careful -- wasn't Acme the company that Wile E Coyote used for most of his purchases?
These axes actually explode into powder if you hit rock.

Jim, true, for most stuff.

BTW, I own three Omega Pacific axes, and even though they're not fancy, they're not bad. not a fan of negative clearance picks, but for 90% of stuff (IE not piolet traction), they do the job.

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:48 am
by KathyW
Jim:

If you're 5'2" tall 60cm works great. :)

Kathy

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:16 pm
by simonov
You can pry my vintage Italian teak-shafted Camp axe from my cold, dead fingers.

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:41 pm
by Taco
You have no idea how much I want an old-school axe!

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:05 am
by Travis
TacoDelRio wrote:You have no idea how much I want an old-school axe!
Check out ebay, they have loads of ice axes: Here is a vintage one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stubai-Nang ... dZViewItem

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:59 am
by He219
Nice Travis, look at the level of detail on this vintage model ...
Image
Image
Same model with original strap for $99

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:08 am
by Hikin_Jim
Nice! Looks like it's in good shape too.

Maybe I should post a photo of my old 70's A16 workhorse. :)

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:55 pm
by Taco
Tom Frost still makes stuff:
http://frostworksclimbing.com/

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:27 pm
by Rick M
Outstanding...I have a brand new Chouinard shaft bamboo axe that I never got around to using that I can list on ebay instead of using it for gardening...never thought anything but metal shafted axes are used anymore.

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:03 am
by Taco
What would you like for it? Got any photos?

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:08 pm
by Rick M
Hey Kathy, I'm 6'2" and I use a 60 cm axe too. Sometimes a bit short on not real steep stuff but hey, I don't need a walking stick on low angle snow (my first axe was 85cm)...dealers at that time said it should touch level ground from your hand. More like an alpinstock! :lol: Anyway, with a shorter axe I can get into arrest position quicker and more effective and works a lot better on steep stuff. Fits on my pack better too. I do have a 70cm axe or two.

Taco, I just found my bamboo shaft axe, it's post Chouinard (after Black Diamond took over) and so unfortunately doesn't have Chounard stamped on it...talk about depreciation! It's now over my fireplace...home defense! :roll:

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:58 pm
by 135driver
Still using my ol 90's model Camp Axe. It's the ugly green one, saved me from a for sure broken leg on s.e. face of Cucamonga. :shock:

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:23 pm
by Taco
That requires a photo. :wink:

Re: Cheap OP Axes

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:39 am
by kgw
He219 wrote:Nice Travis, look at the level of detail on this vintage model ...
Image
Image
Same model with original strap for $99
Man, that hurts! I had one of those back in the younger days, 35 years ago :shock: