Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel, Hardwood Handle

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.

Great shovel. It works for my garden and it also DOES fit standard rus shovel pouches. Its designed very well and its sharp. It has weight but that allows it to cut smaller trees down.

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

I ordered this shovel from Amazon via a seller by the name of Ant Online. I'm sure this shovel is a great product, however Ant Online sent me a tomahawk instead, completely the wrong product I ordered. Ant Online had no contact information whatsoever on the packing slip so I had to look up their contact information online. I then discovered how many horrible experiences buyers had from Ant Online trying to return items.I tried to contact Ant Online by email and telephone and got no where just automated machines. They have automated email and telephones with no one to help you with a RMA # so you can't return items. The only way I found to get anywhere was to formally reject acceptance of the item per the Uniform Commercial Code as a non-conforming product, by mail and protest the charge on my credit card. Then I ordered this product from another seller who delivered the shovel I purchased. This is my first experience like this with Amazon where the product was completely non-conforming and the seller treating people this way with absolutely no customer service. I hope Amazon drops companies like this one that drop ship their products for sale. I'm surprised Amazon allows this company to continue to sell products on Amazon. Amazon should ban them from selling products on their site. I also found a website setup by other customers like myself that advertises to the general public to stay away from Ant Onine.Update I got this shovel from from another seller GizmosForLife who delivered this product timely and this shovel is awesome. It is one of those amazing, rugged, simple tools the Russians are famous for designing for their soldiers for battle to dig in. The shovel is made by the Cold Steel company, who used high quality steel and copied the Russian design. This is the ak-47 of shovels. It is a small shovel with knife sharp edges, which can be used as a weapon in a close combat situation. I got it for a little survival tool and gardening tool. Excellently balanced for throwing. If you actually break the handle, the handle can be easily replaced by loosing the two screws that hold it place. You should buy the sheath holder for this shovel also otherwise the shovel may seriously damage whatever it rubs up against. The edges are very very sharp and will cut right through anything. By the way amazon helped with the credit card refund process after one telephone call and one email. Nice customer service from Amazon. So I ended up getting a free tomahawk lol.

I now, no longer consider carrying a hatchet. I can accomplish much more carrying this shovel and a larger pack axe.This shovel can do NEARLY everything a hatchet can... but also much more. I often use this shovel for carving tent stakes,And tripod legs. Wich saves the edge of my knife. I also find it great for chopping ice that builds up around a firepit. I do a lot pf winter trips. And the only thing i did not like about this shovel is that the handle came with a coating of slick laqure on it. Terrible for when you have gloves on and/or snow/wetness. But i simply sanded off all the laqure and gave the handle a few coats of tung oil. Much better grip now. But still allows your hands to move freely.All in all. I love. Very functional and affordable.