Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for a nice Titanium Stump Ripper and I've done a Google Search and can't seem to find their website.
Anybody know who sells them? Are they still in business?
Thank you,
Phil Patton

They are made by Furmont Diversified. They don't have a website you can order from, but you can order over the phone. Their website is - http://www.fieldcam.com/furmont.html

Herpsupplies dot com also sells the original stump ripper. It is probably the easiest place to get the original. Get the fabric grip, it is a lot easier in the field when your hands are wet.

A newer company called Animal Capture Equipment also makes a stump ripper. The people who started the company used to make hooks for Furhman until they went out on their own. The design is identical, but they are silver not orange or blue. I think there hooks are "double shafted" so they are heavier than the original. Their website is - http://www.ace-cap.com/ They attend quite a few expos where you could see their hooks in person.

Midwest Custom makes a knock-off of the Stump Ripper which they call their Field Hook. It is a nice hook, but it is too heavy for my tastes.

The real Stump Ripper, while more expensive, is the best hook, IMHO. I have two stump rippers, one 30" that I bought in 1995 and my original full length Stump Ripper that I bought when I drove down to their factory building in Seabrook, TX in 1981 (My hook is 25 years old this April!). Both are still going strong, of course.

I think the double shaft is a waste of money. Mine are single shafted and have done their share of "heavy lifting".
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the info Chris. I've used an Aluminum hook before that had the curved head on it and that seemed to work fine. I've never used a hook like the Stump Rippers, it comes off at a 90 degree angle. Does it work okay for carrying and pinning snakes?
Thank you,
Phil Patton

Does it work okay for carrying and pinning snakes?

Stump rippers work OK for carrying snakes, but because they don't have a curved hook end, you have to be careful not to lift them up above the horizontal or you could end up with a snake sliding down onto your arms. I once saw this happen with a 7ft Crotalus basiliscus and it made for an exciting few seconds!

Stump rippers were designed for pinning snakes. The foot has sort of an offset curve in it that allows you to pin the head as gently as pinning can ever be done.
However, I don't pin snakes. There is never really any reason to do it, unless you are milking them. A little skill with a hook can control any species.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Sounds like it would work great for what I need, mostly field herping non-venomous snakes. I can't wait for srpring!
Thank you,
Phil Patton