MALVEN FIRE TOOL WORKS. Malven Fire Tool Works– “MalvenWorks”– is a firefighter-owned and operated designer/producer of premium fire department hand tools. There is no shortage of economical, time-tested tools available to meet the generic needs of the American fire service– but, that’s not our niche. Our goal is to offer experienced, discriminating firefighters a few carefully refined, innovative, high-performance alternatives. Our tools don’t just optimize the completion of basic “bread and butter” fireground tasks (ventilation, roof work, entry, search, overhaul, etc.), they help you prepare for the unexpected, as well. They are refined in detail, to enhance the seasoned firefighter’s skill and ingenuity when dealing with unpredictable, once-in-a-career situations– situations they don’t commonly encounter, but, are expected to handle.
Our approach is simple: 1) study the job, in-depth, 2) analyze factors that may impact future fire operations, 3) give careful, far-sighted design attention to functional details, 4) perform extensive and ongoing field testing, 5) pay attention to feedback offered by users and follow-up with appropriate refinements, 6) invest in high-performance materials and fabrication methods, 7) never stand still. In short, we build on the American fire service’s “tradition of innovation.”
The results? We offer you a narrow range of simple, straight-forward designs that mesh perfectly with the user’s experience and creativity– unique tools, devoid of gimmicks, evolved from years of experience with numerous consecutive prototypes and field testing at some of the busiest fire stations in the U.S., by some of America’s most active firefighters and fire instructors. We don’t stop there. Our tools are subjected to continuous refinement; if shortcomings are identified, we spare no time, effort, or expense in correcting them. Ours are tools that individuals can prize and depend on for the rest of their careers.
TAKE EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED– A HAWK AND AN ENTRY BAR. Our line of tools is focused on two principal products: a line of multi-functional overhaul tools– the Malven Hawk Tool family of fire hooks– and a versatile, unique collection of forcible entry tools.
HOOKS– MALVEN “HAWK” TOOLS. The Malven Hawk Tool is actually a collection of different overhaul tool options, designed and refined over the years by owner/designer Fred Malven. Each is a multi-functional overhaul, ventilation, and entry tool comprised of any two of four components– the “Hawk,” “Raptor,” “Hallux,” and “Fork” ends. Over time, the original combination of Hawk and Raptor ends– what we call the “VersaTool”– has been the most popular. Hooks are also available as combinations of Hawk and Hallux ends (“Hawk Roofman”), Hawk and Furca ( Forked) ends (“Raptor Squadman”), Raptor and Hallux ends (“Raptor Roofman”), and Raptor and Furca ends (“Raptor Squadman”), as shown below. Hawk and Raptor heads are also available as a single-ended tool, with a straight, capped handle. These are referred to as the “Hawk Basic” and the “Raptor Basic,” respectively.
The selected working ends are normally joined by a high-tech, high-strength tubular steel handle, TIG welded to the selected stainless steel ends. We normally stock the pre-cut tubing needed to assemble tools in overall lengths of 72″, 60″, 48″, and 42″. We try to keep a stock of Hawk Versa-Tools on hand in each of the above lengths– other combinations can also be delivered fairly quickly in standard lengths. However, for users with very specific dimensional requirements– and a bit more lead time– tools can be assembled in virtually any length between 24″ and 72″. By special order, all hook combinations can also be delivered with handles of solid 1″ diameter fiberglass rod, in which case an aluminum “D”-handle is offered as a fifth tool end option.
At this point, the 60″ steel-handled Hawk/Raptor VersaTool has been, by far, our most popular configuration. We try hard to keep a supply of these on the shelves, for timely delivery. However, 42″ (especially popular for interior operations) and 72″ (absolutely unbeatable for outside and roof operations) Hawk/Raptors are also popular configurations that we try to have on hand.
MALVEN ENTRY BARS. Of course, a forcible entry bar has long been the traditional and logical complement to virtually any other tool a firefighter might choose to carry. So, the MalvenWorks line also features several different forcible entry bars. They are available in 24″, 27″, 30″ (the industry standard), and 36″ lengths– additional lengths are available by special order. All of our bars are of one-piece manufacture, investment-cast of our specially formulated and processed stainless steel. Our specs are unparalleled by anything else in the industry. We stand behind them with a lifetime, “no-questions-asked” replacement policy.
All of our entry tools build on the refinement of their ancestors. One of our Halligan options, what we call the “Classic”, has evolved from the straight adze concept that was pioneered by FDNY Chief Hugh Halligan’s original design. Ours was translated into one-piece stainless by MalvenWorks predecessor Aazel Corporation, with guidance from LAFD Captain Jim Porter and well-known LA Firefighter Jason Knight (founder of Fire Axe Incorporated, producers of a premium line of fire axes). It is currently our most popular entry tool.
A second bar, the “Monster” Halligan, incorporates the wide symmetrical adze that Aazel pioneered in support of the popular “lever” (or “cam”) method of forcing inward swinging doors– with valuable input from FDNY’s Kevin LeGacy of Squad 61, and well-known technical rescue expert Andrew Brassard of the Milton [Ontario, Canada] Fire Department. This pattern employs several features that are well-suited to the rapid defeat of inward-swinging doors: 1) When used in the cam or lever-like move, it often spreads the gap of an inward-swinging door wide enough to complete the force in one move, thereby minimizing the need for intermediate gap-holding with a wedge or axe in preparation for a second try; 2) The tip of the Monster’s adze is shaped to ensure contact with the full width of a narrow door stop; 3) the “inner” edges of the adze are sharply angle to facilitate a firm bite into the door stop; 4) the “outer” edges of the adze are smoothly rounded to that when the inner edge digs in, the outer edge is free to move. In situations where rapid consecutive “pops” are a must, this bar earns its name.
Our third, most recently released Halligan variant is the “All-American” series. It is a major redesign of a curved adze bar we tested and helped redesign for the former Iowa American Firefighting Equipment (IA-AM) Company. Like the two previous IA-AM versions, ours maintains and builds on solid, time-proven features. But, it also adds several significant functional details. It incorporates the perfect geometry of our signature forks, its bearing surfaces are buttery smooth (minimizing friction), and its edges take advantage of some of the tightest geometry in the field. It is capped off with a revolutionary evolution of the pike. No longer just a punch, the non-equilateral cross-section of its chisel tip transforms the pike’s simple round, conical shape into a working tool– a miniature (but extreme-mechanical-advantage) version of the adze.
The last of our line of entry bars is the “Hayward Claw” Tool. It is one of America’s oldest, most enduring entry tool designs and is recognized as one of two legacy fire tools (the other being the Kelly bar) that originally inspired Chief Halligan’s design. Our claw is the ultimate refinement of the Hayward, embodying a tight, narrow, but stout claw and fully integrated “Cully lugs,” used to open stubborn standpipe valves. The lugs were named for LAFD Assistant Chief Doug Cully who, with his aide, Dave Ford, originated that idea. This version of the Hayward was first introduced into production by MalvenWorks forerunner Iowa-American Fire Equipment and is standard on all LAFD Engines and Trucks.
All of the MalvenWorks bars inherit the perfect fork geometry of ancestor Iowa-American’s Phase II Halligan bars– the investment cast version. They are normally delivered in the same, gray matt bead-blasted finish as our hooks. NOTE: We can deliver our bars in an incomparable, polished mirror finish, but it is an expensive option. But, both polished and unpolished versions are made of the same special stainless steel alloy. So, if desired, owners of matt-finished bars can have them polished later, to the same permanent mirror finish.
OUR “TOOL TEAM.” At this time, that’s our line of tools– the Malven Hawk Tool family of fire hooks, and a versatile range of Malven forcible entry bars. Our production is focused on performance and quality, rather than mass-production. Each tool is a virtual work of art, the result of numerous hands-on steps and quality checks. The functionality of each has been honed to a razor edge. We believe they’re the best of their types on the market. You’ll be able to tell, the first time you handle one. But, good as they are individually, when used together, our hooks and bars amplify the performance of their counterparts, forming a new kind of high-efficiency “Tool Team.”
MALVENWORKS’ PARTNERS. The combined performance of a Hawk Tool and an entry bar always exceeds the sum of their individual potential. That’s true of MalvenWorks, as well. Our contributions as tool designers are greatly amplified by the efforts of our manufacturers, technicians, and consultants. If you want more information about the production, uses, and purchase of our tools, contact our sole distributor, the RAGE Company https://malvenworks.com/purchasing-tools/, or text MalvenWorks owner Fred Malven at 515-231-7460.
BE READY FOR ANYTHING, EVERYTHING,…AND MORE! As noted earlier, our tools aren’t going to be for everyone. But, for serious agencies, dedicated to meeting their responsibilities in detail, and hard-core firefighters who understand the endless new challenges of the job and are determined to step off the rig ready for anything, everything, and more– we feel we have something special to offer.