Chouinard hammer/pick ice tool

Has anyone here seen one of these before? I can't find much on them... Would anyone mind appraising it even?

Its a Northwall X. Came out as a replacement to the Northwall and Zero tools.

Replaceable picks. A number of years ago, BD did a run on the picks, but, they're not as common anymore.

On the bottom of the tool, stamped into the aluminum, above the steel spike, do you see a number? If so, what is it?

Had a hammer I bought in 84 and, an axe I bought in '85.

Not super collectable. Fairly common on eBay for maybe 40 bucks or so, depending on condition. You're looks good. Dented the shaft on mine.

Cheers.

If it had a wooden handle it'd be worth 10X more.

Actually the wooden handle tools didn't have modular picks...

I've got one that I found in the woods once that has the wood handle without the modular pick.. Is it really worth quite a bit?

Northwall X tools have a dodgy pick attachment system. The tolerances on the picks and heads were not that good, and pick wobble was a common issue, unless you carefully matched the individual picks to your individual tool.

As for the value of a wooden handled tool, if it's a Chouinard tool with a wood or bamboo shaft, then yes, it's likely worth north of $100 (could be quite a bit more than that if it's in good condition, depending on which specific model it is.)

Follow-up to Kai...

And if it's not a Chouinard, it's worth about $40. Less if the wood is damaged or weathered.

Hey Nico!
Would you be interested in selling this axe?

Is this a tool that one would primarily use for general mountaineering or could it be used for vertical ice climbing? Just bought a set for super cheap but am too new to ice climbing to know if I should be using them to climb. 

Johnny Sanchez wrote: Is this a tool that one would primarily use for general mountaineering or could it be used for vertical ice climbing? Just bought a set for super cheap but am too new to ice climbing to know if I should be using them to climb. 

Sell them and purchase a used pair of modern tools for actual ice climbing. I just saw a used pair of Black Diamond Fuels for under $200 with good picks. If you sell the pair of these Chouinards you would be most of the way there. Climbing vertical ice with a pair of these Chouinards would be an absolutely miserable experience and would likely be cause to decide you dislike ice climbing.

Johnny Sanchez wrote: Is this a tool that one would primarily use for general mountaineering or could it be used for vertical ice climbing? Just bought a set for super cheap but am too new to ice climbing to know if I should be using them to climb. 

BITD they, like most other straight shafted tools, were used for vertical ice. Today, such tools are pretty much used in the mountaineering/alpine realm where the need to plunge the shaft would be of use. I still use a similar set now and then on routes where there is more steep neve than ice. If they are what you can afford go use them, the vast majority ice climbs in the world were done with similar tools. Newer tools make things more efficient at the WI4-5 grade but not so much at the lower grades. Oh and FWIW the picks for these tools are no longer made.

Gunkiemike wrote: If it had a wooden handle it'd be worth 10X more. Actually the wooden handle tools didn't have modular picks...

I have a wooden handle Chouinard/Frost in great condition. I haven't really seen another one.