Knives as digging tools?

D

damib

Joined
Jul 7, 2021
Messages
119
Hello,
I've first heard about this concept of knife as "all in one" tool that can be used for digging back in the day when I found out the Ka-Bar Heavy Duty Warthog which was advertised this way (at least in my country). Today, I found out abou the Tops Tracker Digger which was apparently even designed with such use in mind. What do you think of such designu? Do you have some experience with using such knives as digging tools? Please don't crucify me. I know that knives are not primarily digging tools, but I think that this is quite interesting concept for some heavy duty knife.
 
First thing that entered my mind was a Japanese Hori Hori digging knife.

Second thing to enter my mind was digging a fox hole with a KA-BAR. When you really need a hole and you only have a knife.

I have no problem with digging with a knife if you need too. Or a dedicated digger in the garden. But you mentioned “All in one” tool.

The longer you dig with a knife, the less knife like it will become. You aren’t going to fillet a fish with a HoriHori. So not “All in one” for long.
 
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Okay, now I've got that done, I'll agree with the essential message that everybody else has been saying: there are some that can, but they're not the best at either digging, or cutting.

And in this case, the Smatchet is a practical answer.

I'm a Town Boy, and I have never had to dig a spontaneous hole. I've always had my shovel and digging bar with me, because that is what I came there to do. So I can't speak from experience.
 
You could certainly dig with a broad fixed blade but it wouldn't be my first choice because digging is going to trash your edge, along with any finish you might have on your blade. It can certainly do it in a pinch if needed in an emergency. Actually if I am not mistaken some knife manufacturers call the serrations on the back of their blades a root saw with this purpose in mind I suppose.
 
You use what you got in a pinch. US Soldiers pursuing the Nez Perce at the Battle of the Big Hole in Montana in 1877 used their issue tin cups to dig foxholes when they were pinned down. There's a museum worth visiting at the Big Hole National Battlefield monument.
 
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I have one on order from a maker here, might get it next week....
farid. farid.
He Just released a batch. An expedition digging tool. Made from a tough stainless.
He might have extras?
 
Digging doesn’t always mean a hole in the ground. Sometimes soldiers need to dig a loophole in a wall. The tool you have with you is what you use you.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I have one on order from a maker here, might get it next week....
farid. farid.
He Just released a batch. An expedition digging tool. Made from a tough stainless.
He might have extras?
Click to expand...
Very interesting design!

Thanks for all the answers. I think that I might buy Hori Hori knife as it is quite cheap and it is the kind of tool that I need for the job. I didn't know that something like that exists.
 
damib said:
Very interesting design!

Thanks for all the answers. I think that I might buy Hori Hori knife as it is quite cheap and it is the kind of tool that I need for the job. I didn't know that something like that exists.
Click to expand...
I think you will be well served with a HoriHori.

My Dad had a tool similar to a HoriHori he used when metal detecting.
 
About five decades ago when I was in college, I took a botany taxonomy course. It called for a fair number of field trips to collect plant specimens. The field trips always involved hiking; and many plant specimens had to be dug out of the ground. I used an M7 bayonet, which I purchased pretty cheap at the local Army Surplus store. (Think I paid less than $10 for it. Lot of good stuff to be had for cheap at surplus stores in the 70's.) It was perfect for digging down to get at the roots, and the sheath made for easy carrying as we hiked around.
 
I did some hardcore knife digging years ago leveling out my yard. I used an Ontario Spec Plus dagger to till and a 2X4 to drag the dirt. Certainly had some negative effects on finish but at the end of a long day, you surely wouldn’t want to be cut by that edge! It was still plenty sharp to do the job!!! Now I try to use either a shovel or cut a digging stick if I’m not pressed for time.
 
I think it is an idiotic idea - unless you are in the middle of nowhere, and there is some lifesaving need to dig a hole, and all you have is a knife. If you are packing, you can get a cheap polymer garden trowel that weighs a few ounces for digging a hole.
 
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