Original German WWII 137th Gebirgsjäger Mountain Trooper Regt. Ice Axe by Stubai with Wrist Strap & Cover – Waffenamt Marked Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic service used condition World War Two “Aschenbrenner” style Führerpickel (guide pick) ice axe by the Austrian firm of STUBAI, which still exists today. It comes complete with the original wrist strap, as well as the very hard to find leather head cover. Even better, it is definitely a German military issued Axe, as it has both a German Waffenamt inspection mark, as well as a Gebirgsjäger regimental marking! We’ve never had one quite like this before!

“Himalaya” Peter Aschenbrenner was a famous Austrian mountaineer of the time, and this ice axe was named after him. Aschenbrenner was a Heeresbergführer (Army Mountain Guide) with the Gebirgsjägers (Mountain Troopers) during the war. This model of ice axe is documented as having been used by the Gebirgsjägers.

This ice axe is offered in lovely service used condition, with a great patina that is simply impossible to duplicate. This is an axe that was “really there”, used in the mountains during WWII. It measures 31 1/4″ in overall length with a 11 3/4″ head. The head has a lovely lightly oxidized and worn look, and the bottom spike definitely shows some use as well. The STUBAI logo is clearly marked on the head inside a diamond, and is the correct pre-war or wartime style logo. The haft on that side of the axe bears a faint Waffenamt WaA970 stamp, next to a regimental marking of G.J.R. 137, for the 137. Gebirgs-Jägerregiment (137th Mountain Trooper Regiment). We were not able to find any information on the inspector marking, but the marking is definitely old and original.

The leather cover for the axe head is marked OTTO SINDEL / BERLIN / 1938, a known maker of holsters and other leather goods during the war. This Ice Axe looks to have been in use for quite some time.

Condition overall is very nice, showing long use in service. The metal components are worn and a bit patinated, but still in serviceable condition. The metal ring and cloth wrist strap are still present (so often missing), still held onto the shaft by the retaining stud. There is however cut in the strap that was repaired long ago. The leather cover for the head is also in worn condition, and has been repaired in the past on the thin strap on the top, which is just about ready to tear through again. It is in very delicate condition.

A lovely service used example with some great research potential, ready to display!

Dimensions:
Overall Length: 31 1/4″
Axe Head Length: 11 3/4″
Base Spike Length: 2 5/8″

The 137th Mountain Regiment (137. Gebirgs-Jägerregiment) was a former regiment of the Wehrmacht that was part of the 2nd Mountain Division. It was formed on the 1 August 1938 in the Wehrkreis XVIII. The regiment was the result of the merger between the 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Carinthian Alpine Hunters Battalion and 3rd Austrian Alpine Hunters Battalion from the former Bundesheer. The regimental headquarters were stationed in Lienz in Wehrkreis XVIII, the 1st battalion was in Salzburg and the 2nd Battalion was in Spittal. Upon formation the regiment was subordinated to the new formed 2nd Mountain Division. Along with the movement a supplementary reserve battalion (replacement battalion) was formed known in Saalfeden.

Just after the German Mobilization in 1939 the regiment participated in the Polish Campaign. By the end of the year the regiment was stationed in the Lower Rhine Area. In 1940 the regiment was relocated along with the division to Norway where it would remain until the end of the war. Between 1941 and 1944 the regiment along with members of the Finnish Army fought against the Soviets in the Lapland War. In early 1945 the regiment moved to their home in Saarpfalz where it remained until the end of the war fighting off the Allies. Finally, In February 1945 the 201st Army Mountaineer Battalion was incorporated into the regiment.

By the end of the war each regiment was assigned a replacement battalion. The 137th Regiment had the Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon I./137 assigned to them.