Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel with Hardwood Hickory Handle, Medium Carbon Steel

This is the kind of thing you buy twice. In my case, I saved some time on my part and bought two for some strange reason. But anyway, despite being thoroughly canvassed by others as a multi tool, I cannot help but rhapsodize about its uses as well. It came out of the box sharp, though scuffed a bit and a little ragged on the edges. But man, or woman, those steely edges are strong! I immediately hopped away from the scene of opening with my new shovels, and started digging happily at the ice and snow on our patio, when I struck stone. And while the stone was damaged, to say the least, I slit my skin on the edge, though not hard enough to draw blood. I then went over to our local bamboo grove and started hammering at a fallen stand of bamboo. Boy is it loud, but man, does it work! I would suggest any special forces commandos out there, to purchase it, but not for covert operations, because loud noises tend to attract enemy fire, so I am told, though I could be wrong... anyway, this baby, or babies in my case, can be used for anything, virtually anything. The steel will fulfill all but your wildest destructive or constructive fantasies (in other words, no trying to split diamond). I would recommend getting a shovel blade bag for it, because the edges are factory sharpened to be relatively keen. Beware, though, this most likely qualifies as a weapon in the eyes of law enforcement, my dear mother will not let me leave the house with it even though I am a nearly full grown nineteen year old, and despite what my preceding reviewers said, it would probably be bad if you were caught with a razor edged shovel in your possession without a weapons license of some kind. So, be warned, this is more functional as an all around machete than as a shovel, though I admit it does dig well. If you are buying it because you want to dig holes, I recommend the inteletool system on amazon. If you are buying it because it looks, smells, and feels like it would beat the zombie apocalypse back single handled-ly, than this is well worth your money. Sturdily built, expertly tempered, rather inexpertly sharpened, this tool will nonetheless make you feel like a genuine one man army, if only for a moment before reality sets in. Just remember, once again, this kind of entrenching tool was used to decapitate the enemy in the army, use great caution when swinging it around people, because harmless, this tool is not. EDIT: I just chopped a fair sized branch in half with one of my two shovels, and it is a more than decent chopper. I spend every day honing the edges on one my shovels, so it works with a vengeance. But, in the end, a good kukri will still outdo the cold steel shovel in chopping, unfortunately. But a kukri cannot dig well, and a kukri can't slice like this shovel can. Peace.

OK- when you order a shovel, you figure it's going to be made in china and pretty cheap espcially for the under $20 price tag. I didn't expect much. Wow- Surprised! they arrived packed very well. Bubble-wrapped and everything. The shovel is actually pretty good sized. A little over 2 ft long and a little under a foot wide. The steel is actually quite thick and rugged. What's quite nice, is that the side edges and spade end are sharpened! The steel is strong enough we were able to tear through an old door easily and cut wood in the field. Amazing! the edge held very well! Handle is sturdy wood. Smoothed quite well and laquered. Overall, i very durable and alot higher quality that we expected! You CAN throw this thing and yes, we were able to get it to stick in wood. You'd have to practice alot to be good at it. Overall- Very sturdy wood and steel, well made, durable, and i'm happy with the purchase. Alot better than the commercial versions of the e-tool you and easily bend/break. Worth the money? Yup! Without a doubt! Oh- Also fits in an old Military E-tool bag, just the cover doesn't close because the handle sticks out. Throw it in your trunk for a snowy day or for extraction while 4x4-ing.

Yes indeedy, this shovel will dig holes, clear brush and decapitate zombies like a champ. I have one in my truck, one in my wife's car, and one in the goat house (shovels, not zombies). The one in the goat house gets the most use. I use deep litter in the goats' loafing pen; a mixture of pine shavings and peat moss (which helps to neutralize the ammonia in the goat pee). The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel is the right size, shape, weight and balance to dig out the pee spots one-handed and scoop them onto the aluminum grain scoop barn shovel that I wield like a big dustpan, and thence into the wheelbarrow and out to the compost heap. Then I use the Special Forces Shovel to slice open the peat moss and pine shavings packages to put down fresh litter. As other reviewers mention, the glossy urethane varnish on the handles can be slippery in wet hands. I stripped the factory varnish and refinished them with boiled linseed oil, which gives more of an old school non-slip matte finish. Check the sharpened edges for grinding burrs; have had to take a file and touch up the edges on all of these shovels. Made sheaths out of cardboard and duct tape for the vehicle and bug out bag shovels. The Goat house shovel hangs unsheathed on the tool rack in the goat house. Also, be advised that the uncoated, sharpened edges of the carbon steel shovel blade WILL rust, especially when exposed to ammoniated bedding litter and humid Mount Goatmore Texas summertime weather. Not a problem and no surprise, just be advised. That said, I use the goat barn shovel every day. It's one of the most useful barn tools I have. UPDATE 03JUL15 - just bought two more which arrived today. UPDATE 22OCT15 - Texas-sized moles (they're not quite as large as a bunny rabbit, but they are darn big and dig tunnels that tear up the lawn something fierce, and then when it rains they wash through, and it's like watching a time-lapse animation of the Colorado River carving the Grand Canyon)) are one of the many banes of my good lady wife's existence. You can actually see the ground heave and crack when they tunnel, so you get a pretty good idea of where they are. The CSSFS is my wife's new implement of choice for mole dispatchage - she's got four to the cat's three (moles, not shovels).

You can’t go wrong with this shovel. It is sharp and useful. I have 2 of them and I really like them.

Solid small but sturdy shovel for camping or work requiring a tool of this size. Sharp edges cut roots well and can even make kindling if you want. This is my third purchase, I always strip the finish of the handles, smooth the transition from wood to metal and reseal handle with BLO. Great tool to have at camp or in the back of you rig.

For every reason imaginable you should have one of these in your car. It’s not a full size shovel but it beats the crap out of digging with your hands, a spade, some board you find, etc. It’s a great small camp shovel. It’s not for planting bushes or shoveling snow. It’s really good for a travel tool within easy reach. It appears reasonably indestructible. Unless you abuse it. Much is made of it being sharpened. It’s sort of sharp. It can be made really sharp. That makes it a better digging tool for a small shovel that you have to use with only your hands. You’ll never put a foot on this. It is an effective hatchet for limbs. It will not split wood. The handle on mine seems solid enough. A spare is not a bad idea which they sell. Need to get the cover to safely store it. No brainer emergency tool. It’s a great tool for its intended design - portability

Heavy duty multi use can even chip through ice

It seemed a little expensive for a tiny entrenching tool but appears strong and is kind of a perfect space saver in my truck. I hope I dont have to dig myself out with very often but its a nice piece of helpful kit to have on hand.

Poderia vir com a bainha. Tive que comprar separadamente. Por isso 4 estrelas .

仕上げの粗さと耐久性の高さが気に入りました。無骨な感じが最高です。

Es una pala muy sencilla, prácticamente servirá para defensa, y trabajos sencillos de supervivenvia

米国の刃物会社、コールドスチール社製。 自治会の植木仕事や、小学校植木ボランティアで使用。頑丈な収納ケース付きで、安全に配慮されている。 30年以上の高齢の 元気のない低木や、温暖化で 冬季 日照時間の減少で 重傷な低木を、移動する時に使用 (春に場所を変える)。 画像参照 : 3回 使用の裏面。石に当たり キズだらけ。土の付着を 清掃する時に、短縮できるように、パテを塗装。清掃時間 50% 短縮。 先端は、サビやすい中炭素鋼で、横幅14.7cm、縦19cm、厚さ 2mm。使用後は 刃の部分に注油する。 先端は、昔の米軍やイギリス軍の ３つ折りシャベルと 同じ大きさ。掘削性能が良く、軽い。 左部分は 刃先で、根切りができる。右部分の刃先は、切れない。キャンプ たき火の木を、折る時に使用。 本体は、全長52cm、柄の長さ24cm。柄は 木製で 直径4.2cmの円形.頑丈。柄は 持ちやすく、操作性が良い。 ーーーーーーーーー 落葉を分解させる為の、穴掘りに使用。 穴は 1m x 3m 深さ0.5m。１年に18カ所、掘る。桜の花ビラ·ガク·実·葉。 サツキとツツジの花·葉を埋める。雑草も。 穴を掘ると、1年に 燃えるゴミ袋 200個 削減。ゴミ収集車の燃えるゴミを削減。 1年で分解して、土に変わる。3年行うと、土中の吸水が 良くなる。 本品は 軽いので、穴掘り作業時間が、30% 短縮可能。軽いので、高齢者向き。 注意、粘土質の土、石のように硬い土は、穴掘り不可。 ーーーーーーーーーーー 毎週 使用、2年目。非常に頑丈。 2個目を購入。2個目は 両側と底側を、アマゾン店で購入した ダイヤモンドヤスリで研ぎ、小石が多い庭の部分を、草刈りに使用。電動草刈機のような、小石は飛ばない。小型の鎌よりも強力。性能が良い草刈道具。

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