German Folding Shovel/Pick?

[Racerx2oo3]

Has anyone used one of these Surplus German Military Folding Shovel/Picks?

While out in the snow with the kids this weekend, my brother in law managed to high side his dodge 4x4 in deep snow. :grumpy: Not a survival situation by any means, there where lots of other people around, just no one had any equipment to unstick the darn truck. Getting a ride back down the mountain summoned reinforcements with shovels and a tow rope and popped us out of there.

Anyhow the entire experience hit home that I really need a good tow strap and shovel in my Pathfinder 4x4 for the same reasons. The German folding shovel looks nice and solid, and the pick would have been useful for digging through the thick ice layer that formed in sections of the snowbanks.

Does anyone have any experience with this shovel, or can you recommend a different shovel and explain what you like better about it?

Sean

 

[Fonly]

I suspect that wold be very useful, I've bought many "cheapies" like that from canadian tire, as in like 7.99. And they have held up well. I cant see any reason why one of thouse would not.

 

[bulgron]

I bought one of those a month of so back, but the Army Surplus store I got it from had it marked as coming from India, not Germany. It cost me $15. Can't decide if I got ripped off or not, but for $15 who cares? The only difference that I can see between what's in your picture and my shovel is that the "sheath" over the blade in your picture looks like it's leather and canvas, whereas mine is 100% leather, including the straps.

It's a good, solid shovel and pick that I like to take with me when I go driving around on dirt roads. I'd say it's too heavy for backpacking use, however.

I like it that you can lock both the pick and the shovel in either a "normal" 180 degree orientation from the handle, or a 90 degree orientation for use as if it's a hoe. It seems like the perfect thing for digging a trench.

I haven't had to actually use the thing for digging a car out of anything, including snow, but my guess is that the short handle and the small shovel blade will make digging harder work than if you carried a full-sized shovel. You'll definitely give your back a bit of workout using this thing. On the other hand, it's definitely better than nothing, the price is right, and given the size there's no reason not to have one in your vehicle.

 

[shecky]

I have one. It's fairly sturdy for a folding shovel. Mostly sits in my car, has seen use in camping trips. One side of the shovel was sharpened enough to split wood, which it did well. The button operated locking mechanism seems sturdier than the twist types I've seen on others. The pick is stout and really comes in handy. I'd say the biggest downside is that it's heavier than most I've come across, so it'd be less suitable for things like backpacking.

 

[2dogs]

I've had one for more than 10 years. It used to live under the backseat of the Suburban but since I sold that it now lives in the garage. It is a heavy duty beast but for use digging out a vehicle it is on the small side. You can't beat a full size or at least a d-handle shovel when it comes to moving mud or soil or snow from under a truck. None the less it makes a good extra shovel. I now have a Cold Steel shovel but I don't know if it is any better, haven't had it a long enough time. If you didn't have any sort of shovel in your vehicle before this then you are alot better off now.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I gave away my US Army folding shovel in favor of the model you have. It's more rugged and useful with the pick. Also, the sheath is handy. Mine lives in the pickup along with other 'survival' gear: nylon tow strap, flares, chains, breaker bar for those stubborn lug nuts, 6-ton jack, fire making material, flask of Irish whisky (for 'after'), Mora, various sockets, matches, tarp, jumper cables, etc.

 

[kr1]

I have a standard army entrenching tool just like the one I used in the army. It is the all metal version the tri fold type. It stays at all time in the truck. It can be used to dig or scoop mud or snow out of the way. I see no advantage to the German version.

KR

 

[Pritch]

I have the US version of that folding shovel/pick that is in my camping gear. (It probably should go in the truck!) It is probably about equivilent to the one you have. The weak spot is the neck of the wood handle. I have seen them broken or loosened here by overenthusiastic picking action.

A nylon tow strap is always in the truck. These should be standard equipment.

This time of year I keep a collapsible snow shovel similar to thisone in the truck. Usually, it is there for impromtu visits to the mountains, but has come in really handy over the past several days!

-- FLIX

 

[45-70]

I have two of the german ones, and a newer product from Glock.

I really like the german models, sturdy and tough. You have to remember that it is a compromise, short handle, small... hey what do you call the working end of a shovel?

Anyway, not as efficent of a digger in my opinion as a spade.

 

[kr1]

I have the US version of that folding shovel/pick that is in my camping gear. (It probably should go in the truck!) It is probably about equivilent to the one you have. The weak spot is the neck of the wood handle. I have seen them broken or loosened here by overenthusiastic picking action.

-- FLIX

No, I have this one. All steel. No weak spots.

Like I said. I used the one you bought when I was in the Army. I know its weak spots.

KR