Larry Penberthy tested the strength of wood ice axe shafts and concluded that wood shafts were too weak for safety. The Thunderbird was one of the first metal-shaft ice axes to address the issue.

Many traditional climbers resisted the transition away from wood shafts. Yvonne Chouinard reportedly even went so far as to call the Thunderbird a "day-glo metal monster more suitable for assassinations than ice climbing."

Nevertheless, the advantages of metal (and later fiberglass and other composite) ice axe shafts over weak wooden shafts untimately drove the latter from the serious climbing market.

↑ 106: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [ca. 1970].
• 85x28 cm.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with scalloped edge.
• Swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip.
• Round spike.
• Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
• The Thunderbird pick was designed with a focus on self arrest. It also performs well cutting steps. Current mountaineering doctrine focuses more on self belay and modern crampons have reduced the need to cut steps.

↑ 124: MSR Thunderbird

• Made in USA [1970s].
• 85x28 cm.
• Aluminum Shaft.
• Fixed Head with carabiner hole.
• Straight adze with scalloped edge.
• Swallowtail pick with a positive-clearance chisel tip.
• Round spike.
• Glide ring with adjustable web strap.
• This version has a small hole near the end of the pick. I am not certain which version came first. I don't know what the hole accomplishes placed so far from the shaft. Perhaps it aided manufacturering.