...I'm searching for some Italian grape Hoe's now
Two good sources I've used, one has them from Germany, and the other gets them from South America.
Source 1:
If you Google "SHW chopper" the first result should take you to a company in Kentucky that sells quality forged garden tools, including eye hoes and chopping hoes made in Germany.
Some info about these SHW tools:
"The differences between these Eye hoes and others you will find on the market are:
The SHAPE of the handle
most have round handles, while these German ones all have Oval handles: like an axe, sledgehammer, pickaxe or any well-designed striking tool. This is very important, because the way the human hand is shaped, holding an oval handle naturally aims the tool head properly, and is much more ergonomic when using the tool for long periods (resulting in less hand fatigue). Also, note that all the handles in the chopping series are actually LARGER toward the head for extra strength
you simply dont see this design on the lower cost hoes; its more expensive to produce a handle this strong. Of course, tightening or replacing a handle is easy - just like a hammer or axe with a wooden handle; just drive a wedge into the top to spread the handle out into the eye. We stock replacement handles.
HEAD ANGLES AND BALANCE. The Germans have spent a tremendously long time perfecting these tools
the foundry location where SHW currently resides in the Black Forest has been forging tools since the year 1267! The head angles and balance of these eye hoes is unparalleled, meaning more work done with less fatigue.
STEEL QUALITY. We probably dont need to say more here
what kind of quality would you expect from an old German company? I can tell you this: when I hit one of our Kentucky limestone rocks with an SHW hoe, its usually the rock that gets the chip out of it!!"
Source 2:
Google "easydigging" and this should take you to a company in Missouri which sources most of their products from Brazil, IIRC.
