This Stubai North Wall hammer was modified in 1969 and tested on "The Runnel", Coire an t-Sneachda in December 1969 with Neil Quinn. The success of the dropped pick led to various design prototypes and eventually to MacInnes's Terrordactyl.

£5.12/6d if I remember correctly! I also had one of these hammers.

When I was at Bangor Normal College in the early 80's the OE dept had a pile of modified Stubai's. I assumed that John Brailsford had been at work as he was the Dept boss. Bloody things were soft and bent.

If the steel was tempered it was fine. It was quite obvious (but not to all) back in 1969 that this was another option. I helped design the first drop pick prototype with MacInnes which eventually became the Terrordactyl (or knuckle basher).