The Shovel Discussion Thread!

Just a guess, but is that an irrigation shovel? With IR2 being the model number, and 47 being the date of manufacture?
 
Yeah that looks like it's possibly an irrigation shovel. They typically don't have steps of any sort and a particularly rounded form to them. That one's not as rounded as some are, but it's also not your typical "round-point" either (which, ironically, are the conventional sort with a definite point.)

Hickory n steel said:
Not a shovel expert, does this look like an irrigation shovel to you ?

It's 9" wide, 22" long, with a 10" socket.
Yes it's downturned, without a foot lip.
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Hickory n steel said:
Can anyone tell me anything they know about this stamp that I don't ?

Anyone know what the 4 star 7 means IR2 means ?
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From this old catalog from Union Fork and Hoe Co. (with Razorback shovels on page 57), it looks like IR refers to Irrigation, and 2 refers to size (either 1 or 2).

BookReaderImages.php

https://archive.org/stream/UnionForkAndHoeCatalog18/Union Fork and Hoe Catalog 18#page/n57/mode/2up
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Yeah that looks like it's possibly an irrigation shovel. They typically don't have steps of any sort and a particularly rounded form to them. That one's not as rounded as some are, but it's also not your typical "round-point" either (which, ironically, are the conventional sort with a definite point.)
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Good to know, so you think the n
47 could be year of manufacture ?
I had initially thought this could be the case, but it's usually my luck to end up with tools that are on the newer side.
This came from my grandfather btw along with some " TEMPERED USA " shovels I assumed were newer true temper stuff.
 
I could be totally wrong about the 47--it's just a guess. But that's recent enough for the construction and markings not to seem entirely out of place.
 
droppoint1 said:
A closed back, solid shank shovel with the flatter point, and turned forward steps sounds good to me. I want to try one.
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One of my current favorites is a Forest Service shovel on which I have flattened the point a little. FS shovels typically come to a very sharp point which easily slides off roots and won't sever them. I like to be able to sever the smaller roots with the shovel. I've also put a longer (60") handle on it. The FS shovels have the blades set at a little more angle to the handle than a typical shovel. It makes them less effective for trenching work but better for scraping with the edge of the shovel. Wildland fire fighters and trail builders appreciate the better scraping.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Awesome, thanks :thumbsup:
Any idea if that 47 would in fact be a year ?
Since there's a star in the middle could that actually be July 4th and the star being the simbol used for a particular year ?
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I don't know, but here's another example (from an old auction listing) with a 2 + 1, which seems to rule out the year of production (1921), since the Razor-Backs were first made in 1937, according to http://www.razor-back.com/razor-back-news/razor-back-great-ideas-are-made-by-hand/

wwii-original-union-fork-hoe-co-army_1_b5a017b7472d2ef506b28cd0895fc981.jpg
 
Steve Tall said:
I don't know, but here's another example (from an old auction listing) with a 2 + 1, which seems to rule out the year of production (1921), since the Razor-Backs were first made in 1937, according to http://www.razor-back.com/razor-back-news/razor-back-great-ideas-are-made-by-hand/

wwii-original-union-fork-hoe-co-army_1_b5a017b7472d2ef506b28cd0895fc981.jpg
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Hmm, well this example is obviously of a different age.
It's marked " heat treated " when mine is " tempered ", plus it has their advertising slogan for the " razor-back " shovels.
It's probably an earlier example than mine because it's stamped " pat pend " while mine has the R.
So for now it's looking like my year simbol theory is probably the most likely.
If it is then it would mean my shovel was made on the 4th of July.
Too bad there's no chart of year symbols like there is for Snap-on tools.
 
Miller '72 said:
I like there is a shovel thread...
Here is a little reading I came across while searching out my Oliver Ames, .

https://www.farmcollector.com/farm-life/ames-shovel-works-zmlz14novzkel
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Some interesting history where Collins (axe maker) clashed with Ames (shovel maker). It seems that Ames was stamping some shovels "Collins & Co." to take advantage of the Collins trademark. Ames apparently lost the 1909 court case:

content


In Collins v Ames 18 Fed 561 Justice Blatchford restrained the use by the Ames Company of the trade mark Collins & Co on shovels, notwithstanding that up to that time Collins & Company had made no shovels but were engaged in the manufacture of edge tools. The Court said it appears that the axes and other articles made by the plaintiff and which before that time were known and used in Australia were stamped Collins & Co. Therefore although the shovels made by Ames & Sons under this order and subsequently and stamped Collins & Co and sent to Australia and elsewhere may intrinsically have been of high quality, yet the only object of the defendant in putting the stamp Collins & Co upon them must have been to avail himself of the credit and reputation and market which the plaintiff had established for the articles it made and sold with the stamp Collins & Co upon them. There was no other purpose in this. Clearly those who purchased shovels made by Ames & Sons and stamped Collins & Co would believe that such shovels were made by the plaintiff. This was an unlawful appropriation of the plaintiff's trade mark. It is true that the plaintiff up to that time had made no shovels. It is also true that Ames & Sons and the defendant have built up a business in shovels stamped Collins & Co. But the plaintiff had a right to make shovels and it had made kindred articles of metal and its good name and reputation in its business were wholly connected with the use in its trade of the mark Collins & Co.

from DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, AND OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS, IN PATENT AND TRADE MARK AND COPYRIGHT CASES, 1909 (published 1910)
 
Square_peg said:
The FS shovels have the blades set at a little more angle to the handle than a typical shovel.
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FortyTwoBlades said:
To be clear, do you mean the amount of lift?
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Yes, that's right.

A couple of interesting shovel websites:

https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/shovels/how-is-a-shovel-blade-attached-to-the-shaft
https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/shovels/is-shovel-blade-angle-important
See the other questions/links on the left side of the page.

Another site of interest.
https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/307/

Read down to the 'ergonomics' section.
 
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