The Shovel Discussion Thread!

One is a large socket-handled hand trowel that can field-convert to a full sized shovel. The other is a 24" OAL D-handled affair based around a rice shovel head pattern. rounded V bend to the blade, flat-nosed "docked" round point profile, hole triad for aiding release, and a decent amount of lift to maximize the leverage and comfort of the short design.
 
allout said:
Very cool, I think...:confused:

What is this? "affair based"

And this? "flat-nosed "docked"
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LOL no no no---"It is a D-handled affair" as in it is an example with a D-style handle rather than T-handled or with a ball end. :p

Flat-nosed or docked as in it's like a normal shovel profile but with the point trimmed off. Like the rice shovel I posted earlier. Here's a good photo of the shape (not mine)

100_4000-300x225.jpg
 
The shape of their D handles is made in such a way that I can grasp it with one hand on each arm of the D quite comfortably. If placing both hands on the straight portion I just have the arms running between my ring and pinky fingers on each hand. It's pretty much the perfect size for a wide range of grips. :)

With regard to the "docked" shape I mean it in the same sense as a docked tail on a dog. It starts off as one shape and has the tip permanently removed to result in a different configuration than the original. ;)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
With regard to the "docked" shape I mean it in the same sense as a docked tail on a dog.
Click to expand...

A docked shovel point doesn't slide off roots but rather cuts them. Pointed shovel for rocky soil. Docked shovel for roots. Forest Service shovels come to a very sharp point and consequently are virtually useless for cutting roots. They're great for rocky soil, though.
 
That design sounds pretty cool. Why a "D" over a "T"? (I looked and it seems that that option adds about $15 to the price.)
 
Greater versatility in the gripping options and less likely to snag on stuff if it's on the side of your pack. Being able to put your hand directly behind the shaft of the handle allows your muscles to work at their most efficient level when making angled plunges. A "T" handle is great for breaking ground with straight-down thrusts and levering back with both hands, but if you go to use it with one hand on the end and the other on the shaft...it's not nearly as comfortable. Given that Predator shovels are "buy it once" tools, what's $15? :)
 
So, Mom got her Little Eagle today... she LOVES it! :D She has taken to using post hole diggers for digging as she doesn't have a lot of upper body strength, and she can let the weight of them penetrate the ground. She thinks the combination of sharp blade and small lift of the Little Eagle will make it much easier for her to use, and the size is just right. Thanks again for your help!
 
I knew she'd love it! Hard not to fall in love with George's shovels as soon as you get them in hand. They're real workhorses!
 
I allowed my mother to make me pancakes on mothers day. ;)
I emailed CS earlier on an idea I have.
I like the hand trowel idea. I was thinking earlier how we could use some smaller shovels and trowels on the market. Earlier in this thread I brought up the idea of either a solid forged metal one piece shovel. It would add weight. And if using it for light chopping, would increase the shock. I though recently that they could just make the CS shovel in 1/2 scale in a one metal piece forge design.
The bad would be that this would negate it's use for light chopping and would be less efficient for digging. Not that most campers are using their CS shovel for digging fox holes and processing firewood.
The good would be that it would be as durable as their one piece bushman knives, at about the same size and weight. It could still be balanced for throwing and with it's smaller size, maybe even improved in this area. It would be great for cat holes, digging near a steam or river to use the earth as a filter for water, digging a water channel around a tent, throwing dirt over your fire pit to leave no trace, or whatever else one might use a trowel/shovel for.

What do you guys think? By the way, the predator tools trowel has such a large step and shallow sides, I wonder how it can move dirt. But hey, I don't know. :rolleyes:
But I like it and think it may be more manageable than my CS shovel. Albeit probably the same weight.
 
Hey 42, if I were to get the Predator model 75 digging tool
75.jpg

Would you have some suggestions that I can ask for to improve it?
 
Not really! It's about as good as I think it can get! The relic hunting community apparently swears by them!:thumbup:
 
euroross said:
Anyone use the Cold Steel shovel?
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I own 2 of them.

Bought them after a campout/hog hunt in Albany Ga. a few years back as one of the guys brought his along and we used it to throw AND to walk outback for the 'personal' visits we all NEED.

The area was WILD and the threat of all sorts of critters,AND needing a tool to make a cat hole - made us all appreciate the shovel.

He also demonstrated throwing it and that was amazing.

I have used mine to cut a 5" tree on my property as it was handy and I was curious as to how it would do = did fine.

There is one in my vehicle at all times.
 
Ack! The computer unplugged! :grumpy:
I better sum this up. Predator has another digging tool model I didn't know about. The Nato:
85BC.jpg

That's it. Maybe. I emailed and was told this was it, but the sheath is different on the Nato.
85BN.jpg

So I was thinking of getting this instead. I was told it was sharper and had a better sheath, which it does. Sorta. I don't like the Camo, but I suppose I could paint it or something. But I like that I could carry it tip down. It also has a stonewash finish. But it doesn't have a hollow handle that can hold stuff inside.
So, I was thinking of asking him to make me the one with the hollow handle, but grind it down thinner like the Nato version , a stone wash finish, and give me the Nato sheath for it, though it's meant for the Nato which has a 1 1/2" shorter handle.
Also, why the serrations on the right side? I am right handed. I wonder if I should leave them as is or ask him to grind the left side instead. Or both?
Your thoughts and opinions are most welcome and appreciated.
I don't want this to be like my Leatherman Wave. Which is alright, but damn, I should have payed a little more and got what I really wanted, the Charge TTI.
I want one cool tool. A dirt slinging, root cutting, zombie slashing (I'm getting carried away now) tool.
You dig?
 
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You'll find that the serrations are an "occasional use" feature typically, and that cutting a hole is usually done from right to left. This is why the serrations are on that side. I'd just straight up go with the Nato one personally, but either is fine. Remember that customization cost extra so the more complicated you make it the more expensive it'll be. :)
 
I'd be concerned that the serrations would hang up on small roots and make it a less efficient digger. It would be a problem up here in the damp Northwest where roots are prevalent near the surface.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
I allowed my mother to make me pancakes on mothers day. ;)
I emailed CS earlier on an idea I have.
I like the hand trowel idea. I was thinking earlier how we could use some smaller shovels and trowels on the market. Earlier in this thread I brought up the idea of either a solid forged metal one piece shovel. It would add weight. And if using it for light chopping, would increase the shock. I though recently that they could just make the CS shovel in 1/2 scale in a one metal piece forge design.
The bad would be that this would negate it's use for light chopping and would be less efficient for digging. Not that most campers are using their CS shovel for digging fox holes and processing firewood.
The good would be that it would be as durable as their one piece bushman knives, at about the same size and weight. It could still be balanced for throwing and with it's smaller size, maybe even improved in this area. It would be great for cat holes, digging near a steam or river to use the earth as a filter for water, digging a water channel around a tent, throwing dirt over your fire pit to leave no trace, or whatever else one might use a trowel/shovel for.

What do you guys think? By the way, the predator tools trowel has such a large step and shallow sides, I wonder how it can move dirt. But hey, I don't know. :rolleyes:
But I like it and think it may be more manageable than my CS shovel. Albeit probably the same weight.
Click to expand...

Sounds like what I use my Smatchet or Khukuri for. :thumbup:
 
Square_peg said:
I'd be concerned that the serrations would hang up on small roots and make it a less efficient digger. It would be a problem up here in the damp Northwest where roots are prevalent near the surface.
Click to expand...

If the roots you're worried about are the specific size that could get hung up, just take a round file to the interior of the serrations. Then if anything slides up into the slots between the teeth it'll get cut like it was a guthook. I've never had an issue with the serrations on my Predator shovel, though. Maybe you could ask for one that's serration-free? :)
 
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