light shovel for my pack

dbltap45acp

dbltap45acp

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Dec 19, 2008
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I have been looking for a light shovel to throw in my pack. Anyone ever use the Glock entrenching tool. The shovel head itself is made of polymer, so I dont know how strong it would be. Will it shovel out frozen earth if needed? Any opinions would be great.
 
The Glock is an excellent tool but frozen earth ? Not very many tools do well on that not even a pickax.
 
Elliot-

Digging frozen ground requires a backhoe! Pick axe at a minimum. Got bodies to bury??? No reason to dig in winter around here otherwise.

Mark
 
I was thinking more along the lines of digging a fire pit while on the mountain. Now that I think about it though, if you or your brother dont give up one of your Yost BHP's, I might need to dig a hole
 
The CS isn't bad, depends on your carry options. The military issue ones are decent, but hacking frozen earth is going to best be done with a hawk or a short handled [ick mattock. Japanese tool sites on the web sell those, I've got a few and they are nice and handy for garden work, certain camp chores, and kids. Don't get the stainless version.
 
My older Glock shovel has a steel blade. I also have the CS copy of the Russian military shovel. Very sturdy and likely stronger than the Glock (simpler and no moving parts). I sharpened one edge and it even hacks brush reasonably well.

DancesWithKnives
 
If the ground is devoid of snow, I guess you could scrape away the fuel, but I have a hard time imagining the need for a full blown fire pit in the winter, in Wyoming.
 
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I have a CS shovel that I like but I keep it in the car. For backpacking I usually go with a trowel for basic stuff but recently I've been fooling with the Gerber Gorge. It's slick. Not as big as a full E-Tool but works the same way and gives you better power than a trowel. That ones my current favorite.
 
The CS shovel is a great tool and very sturdy. I keep one in each of my vehicles and one just around the house. For backpacking it may be a little heavy/bulky, but if you really need to have a shovel, it's a worth a look.

FWIW, I just took a look at the Gorge via the link provided by TStetz and it looks pretty interesting if you are interested in something more compact.
 
Unless they've drastically changed something on the Glock took, it has a steel blade. It's a very well built tool. I have both it and the Cold Steel shovel. Love the CS but it is heavier and bulker. It would likely hold up a bit better, and yes it does throw nicely. But for occasional use the Glock tool is hard to beat. Plus it has a very nice saw stored in the handle. Bonus in my opinion.

Charles
 
i have the Gerber tri-fold, NATO issue shovel and the little Gorge shovel. both are seriously good diggers for bigger or smaller jobs respectively.

----- Eric
 
I was trying to give a worst situation kind of thing with the frozen earth. Most of the time it will be moving snow from a camp site. The Glock tool does have a polymer head, it is not steel like everyone keeps saying though. I read about in a few rags, then saw one at a gun show a couple weeks ago. It is plastic, light, and would be great as an emergency shovel I think, for light chores atleast.

BTW, the CS is not a bad shovel, but I was hoping that I could find a lighter alternative if possible, and one that was a litttle more compact. The Glock tool is small and wieghs only 24 oz. If I need to go with another I will. I have learned to trust your guys judgment, but I liked the concept of that small Glock tool.
 
Specs say the Glock has a steel head. That's what I had thought on it although I haven't handled one.

Material:Hardened Steel Blade With High Impact Polymer Handle

Features:

4 Position Lockable

Steel Saw Blade/Screwdriver Stores in Handle

Telescoping Handle

Folded Length 10"

Weight: 24oz.
Click to expand...
 
Then they must have changed it since I got my old version with the steel shovel blade. I'd like to see that polymer blade---sounds a lot lighter.

Thanks for the update.

DancesWithKnives
 
I received one for fathers day last year and they were still steel. I work for a shooting sports wholesaler that sells them. I'll go out to the warehouse and take a look. If they did change it, then they messed up big time.

Charlie
 
I have a Cold Steel shovel and am very happy with it. It's light and it's sharpened all around the edge so it can double as a machette. We used something similar during a two week canoe trip through the Northern Tier - worked like a charm.
 
Okay, I went out and checked all 4 we have in stock and they all have metal blades to them.

Are we describing the same thing when you're refering to the "head." I'm meaning the actual blade.

Charlie
 
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