The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·19180·Announced 2019-08-07

Seattle Manufacturing Recalls Kobah Ice Axes Due to Detachment Hazards

Seattle Manufacturing Corporation is recalling Kobah Ice Axes because the spike or head can detach from the handle, posing serious injury and fall risks.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (ice axe detachment) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Seattle Manufacturing Corporation (SMC) is recalling approximately 165 Kobah Ice Axes due to a safety hazard where the spike and/or head of the axe can detach from the handle during use. This defect poses serious injury and fall hazards to climbers. The recall involves Kobah Ice Axes of lengths 60, 65, 70, and 75 centimeters, which feature a steel pick and adze joined at the top of an orange aluminum handle shaft by a black polyamide resin head, with a steel spike in the bottom of the handle shaft. The words "Kobah," "SMC," and Manufacturer's Lot Number (MLN) 10864 are printed on the handle shaft.

The firm has received one report of the axe's spike detaching from the handle, but no injuries have been reported. The recalled axes were sold at specialty climbing shops along the West coast and online at www.smcgear.com from March 2019 through June 2019 for about $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ice axes and return them to Seattle Manufacturing Corporation for a full refund. SMC is contacting all known purchasers directly. For more information, consumers can contact SMC at 800-426-6251 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email [email protected], or visit www.smcgear.com and click on “recall notifications.”

The recalled product

Product
Kobah Ice Axes
Category
Consumer Product — Climbing Equipment
Hazard
Affected units
165

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · fall hazard

See all →