Mjoilner Hammer

Original Vintage Mjoilner Hammer

The Mjollnir Hammer, the first hammer ever designed with interchangeable picks, has the distinction of having been selected for exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute. The interchangeable pick concept was developed by Forrest in 1974. Since then, Mjollnirs have become the favorite among climbers as an all-around snow-ice-rock climbing tool. The Mjollnir (named for the hammer used by Thor, the Norse God of Thunder) gives the climber, in a single tool, the choice of using a curved, drooped, or nut pick. No matter which pick is used, the Mjollnir always maintains it’s excellent balance.

Forrest originally developed the interchangeable pick concept to produce hammer picks that would not break. Heat treating the thick chrome-molybdenum head and the picks separately solved the pick reliability problem, and also resulted in a versatile tool uniquely adjustable to varying alpine conditions. The  Mjollnir is now standard equipment on climbs ranging from local ice falls to Himalayan expeditions.

The Mjollnir comes with either a straight or a hatchet handle made of solid fiberglass, wich is unequalled for shock absorption and durability. We recommend the straight handle for use where many pitons will be driven, and the hatchet handle when the Mjollnir will be used mostly for ice climbing. Five Mjollnir picks are available.

From the 1983 Forrest Mountaineering Catalog

1968- Bill Forrest starts business in basement in Denver, Colorado producing one of the first commercial sewn harnesses, a combination of Swami belt and leg loops.
1969- develops the Copperhead, a nut of malleable copper (or aluminium) swaged onto a single steel cable. Ray Jardlne rents a room in Bill Forrest's house and does some design work for Forrest Mountaineering.
1970- develops the Foxhead,a pyramidal nut in either aluminium or plastic.
Daisy Chain - adjustable anchor line
1971- Single Anchor Hammock - supsenslon bivouac shelter.
1972- first use of solid flbreglass in handle of a mountaineering tool.
1973- Ray Jardlne uses the Forrest workshop to prototype his 'Friends' spring loaded camming device.
Develops the Titon with Kris Walker, a T shaped nut (steel in small sizes and aluminium in larger sizes)
1974- develops the Arrowhead, a very slim copper-based nut.
Forrest Haul Bags
1975- the famed Mjoilner Hammer, with interchangeable picks.
Ice Axes with twisted adze for greater strength.
1976- Rabbit Runner - first runner sling with sewn end loops
1977- Bam Nut tool
1978- Gaiters - first with neoprene arch strap
1980- Llfeline Ice Axe - interchangeable picks and warranties.
First womens specific harness ?
1981- Ultimate Sit Harness-first adjustable sit harness with singles pass buckles and elastisized butt bands
1982- develops P-Nuts, a wire swaged half moon of steel
1983- Fall-Arrest - shock absorbing runner said to offer 300% increase in margin of safety.
1985- releases the Triton, a combination nut, belay plate and abseil/rappel device
Bill Forrest sells company to Olsen Industries and
sets up business, ForrestSmith (with partner) to develop a new snowshoe design.
After unveiling the design, MS-R offer to buy the rights to the design, and hire him to work on their snowshoe line.
1995- MSR release a new snowshoe in moulded plastic that was conceived by Bill Forrest. Bill Forrest works as R&D manager for MSR

Length: 37.5 cm
Width:  16 cm

Vintgageclimbing.com catalog No. 049