My digging knife

[No gold in NY]

The upper knife use to be a Fiskars big grip garden knife. Before I bought it, I read the reviews. Nearly every one complained of the handle snapping off. I bought one and first thing out of the box the handle snapped off with little effort. I returned it and the replacement did the same thing.
I really liked the design of the stainless blade and wasn't about to give up.
I went to a machine shop and met with the owner. We went to his storage area and went through his bits and pieces. Found this short piece of one inch o.d. stainless tubing. He had his man weld it on my blade. Best part, no charge.

The lower knife is my wife's. Newer model and probably better built except the hilt is only welded to the blade on one side. If she breaks it, I know what to do.

Thanks for looking.

 

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[releventchair]

View attachment 1551050

The upper knife use to be a Fiskars big grip garden knife. Before I bought it, I read the reviews. Nearly every one complained of the handle snapping off. I bought one and first thing out of the box the handle snapped off with little effort. I returned it and the replacement did the same thing.
I really liked the design of the stainless blade and wasn't about to give up.
I went to a machine shop and met with the owner. We went to his storage area and went through his bits and pieces. Found this short piece of one inch o.d. stainless tubing. He had his man weld it on my blade. Best part, no charge.

The lower knife is my wife's. Newer model and probably better built except the hilt is only welded to the blade on one side. If she breaks it, I know what to do.

Thanks for looking.

Put my pair aside when a Lesche was acquired.
Never broke one though. Not from lack of leaning on them...
Still plan to remove the V at the tips though. They snag a pebble now and then and make for poor cuts.

 

[Drew32215]

One year I picked up this Black & Decker garden trowel and I wasn’t looking to spend a whole lot of money down to pay for a digger. Since then I’ve gotten a Lesche and Whites digger, but if your going on a park hunt and the soil isn’t too hard this will work. I don’t think it will break under normal use.

 

[Drew32215]

So OK, Fiskars plastic trowel and Black & Decker trowel. I always take this Fiskars trowel with me even on the beach just in case I’ve gotta go deep and it gets gravely this trowel hasn’t failed me yet. It’s not ideal for plugs but once you get a plug opened up and use this plastic dude it clears out the hole better than using your hands or a thin digging tool. It’s plastic and less likely to damage your finds.

 

[halfstep]

I'm not a big fan of those split point diggers. I've tried them and find it takes a lot more effort to penetrate the ground. Especially if the ground is rocky or hard dry summer dirt.

 

[against the wind]

Nice repair,, everyone in this hobby eventually settles on a favorite. I use a Lesche and a predator. I'm amazed when I see somone digging with a carbide trowel. Hard ground or a rock will eat them up in a heartbeat.