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  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Best Folding Shovel?

Anyone familiar with a "Mattax"? It is a wooden handled version of a Roman Dolbra, with an axe head on one end and a pick head on the other. The US military brought it out, IMO, as the trip-fold shovel was such a poor digger. In WWII we started with the M1910 "T" handled E-tool, and a small wooden handled Pick Axe. Later the US, again IMO copied the German 1938 folding shovel, followed by the M1951 E-tool with a shovel head and a pick on the other side. The Trip-fold came out sometime in Vietnam, not sure of the exact date, although plenty of M1951's were still in use. During our last two wars (Iraq and Afghanistan ) not much digging was done for foxholes, so no idea how well the Trip-fold E-tool performed. Might be different in our next combat situation. John
 
Gerber Gorge is meh. I somehow own a few and have had one get stuck, wouldn’t extend.

But they can be found cheap (eg $15) and Gerber warranty is fantastic.
 
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