Digging Knife

T. Erdelyi said:
I'm with you but ya ever see what an idiot can do with an excavator if he get's it runnin'?
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Oh yeah. I used to do quality control inspection for the construction of landfill liner systems. These guys would warm up the excavators in the winter by putting a pallet underneath and setting it on fire. I've seen all kinds of jackassery with heavy equipment.
 
What is the actual depth to water in the various regions of the world? Where I'm at, it's 3-6 feet depending on the season.
 
I get around a bit , some places water is running out of the sides of hills at 500 mtrs above sea level , other places , gotta dig for 70 -150 feet down or more to get to it , and all kinds of variations in between thats just in my area in my state ... varies around the country more so
 
morrowj_98 said:
I never thought about that......small....light weight......hmmm.
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They're handy. I bought one years ago at Sears, very hard plastic but lightweight, good for backpacking. My wife the gardener has since absconded with it. A metal trowel might be best for digging hard pan.
 
All the people who are suggesting wooden sticks and garden trowels have clearly never tried digging through dry, hardened clay. A pickax is more useful than a shovel, and a knife isn't half bad for tearing up clay for that last 3 feet to precious, precious water.
 
Clearly, I never have. Your point is well taken. But in other circumstances, where I live in the northeast where we're walking on water, the trowel serves most times.
 
I really don't understand why we are even entertaining this silliness. If you need water so bad you are willing to use your knife to dig for it whatever you have on you is what you will use, I certainly am not going to pick my carry knife on it's digging ability. :rolleyes: Chris
 
Hmmm.....

I live in Arizona (and have my whole life on and off), and have packpacked some pretty remote area's. Some of which are brutal. (Organ Pipe and the like) Obviously prior planning is your number ONE priority. In some of these area's there is NO water. Discounting that, I have dug at the bends in river beds for signs of water and have been secessful in certain area's at certain times of the years with procurring it. Kind of like a fun exercise. I would in absolutely no way count on this with my life though. There is simply no way to tell.

When I dug I used a piece of Mesquite wood which is hardwood (usually was my walking stick), and the soil was sandy with rocks. The hole that I had to dig was deep enough to make it good sweaty work. Maybe 1' X 3'. It took me a good hour.

Now I'm no expert but these are my experiences. Personally I would be opposed to carring a knife for digging, I think there are better tools for the job. If I couldn't improvise a stick, and my life depended on it, then I guess I would have too. Then I guess, your tool had better be a good one. :)

Frankly, if you have the prior vision to have a tool to dig for water with you, you should have enough water. Prior planning is KEY in remote desert area's.
 
aersixb9 said:
All the people who are suggesting wooden sticks and garden trowels have clearly never tried digging through dry, hardened clay. A pickax is more useful than a shovel, and a knife isn't half bad for tearing up clay for that last 3 feet to precious, precious water.
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well....actually I have dug through dry...hardened clay. I knew it was there and had the right tools on hand to get the job done. Where I camp....I know the soil and it's not overly difficult to dig.

Who is digging for water? I'm digging pits for cooking......bass wrapped in foil with butter and onions....beer..salt and pepper....on top of hot rocks covered in dirt for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours...yummmmmy.
 
runningboar said:
I really don't understand why we are even entertaining this silliness. If you need water so bad you are willing to use your knife to dig for it whatever you have on you is what you will use, I certainly am not going to pick my carry knife on it's digging ability. :rolleyes: Chris
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i think this thread got off track.....i don't think the intent was digging for water....just digging...small scale stuff......latrines....maybe an ash pit.
 
Cliff I am offering you the job too. Let's say a hole 4' in diameter and 12' deep. You can use any knife you guys want or I'll provide one. The soil will not be rocky or unusually hard. I'll provide a backhoe for safety sake. If you want to do this in the Nevada desert that's fine too. I will even throw in pizza and beer. My wife will video the project and post it one Youtube. Any takers?
 
2dogs said:
Cliff I am offering you the job too. Let's say a hole 4' in diameter and 12' deep. You can use any knife you guys want or I'll provide one. The soil will not be rocky or unusually hard. I'll provide a backhoe for safety sake. If you want to do this in the Nevada desert that's fine too. I will even throw in pizza and beer. My wife will video the project and post it one Youtube. Any takers?
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What pizza and beer! How about airfair and you keep bringing beer till the holes dug!:p
 
If you buy the plane ticket, I will totally do that! I like Nevada. I plan to screw around digging for five minutes, give up, then go play in the desert.
 
morrowj_98 said:
i think this thread got off track.....i don't think the intent was digging for water....just digging...small scale stuff......latrines....maybe an ash pit.
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Nope, digging for water was specified in the original post:

aersixb9 said:
Does anyone make a knife that's good for digging through tough clay when digging for water in the wilderness?
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I can't see myself ever needing to dig for water. There are plenty of streams and lakes around where I normally hike. If I need water it's usually just a matter of heading to the bottom of a valley or ravine and even if there is no running water there are at least usually some pools left.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Digging in the ground even in rocky soil is not that hard on a knife. I have done it many times. With proper technique to resist focus overloading of the edge then it would just take a few minutes to sharpen on a medium/coarse stone. Digging sticks do not work well on really tough ground.

-Cliff
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It should be noted one should only use 420hc series stainless steel for the digging of holes. S30v and other 'hype' steel is inferior for hole digging.
 
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