Expedition Shovels

[GCRad1]

OK, so no one has shown the difference between the open back and closed back, so I and trying to figure it out... no pictures yet, but I ran across this description:

source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5310230.html

"Closed back shovel and method of assembly United States Patent 5310230


A closed back shovel is fabricated by placing a frog within a back-side cavity of a standard open back shovel head. The frog is configured to fill the back-side cavity of the shovel blade. A tang element interconnects the frog and a forward end of a tool handle positioned within a tool receiving socket of the blade, within a handle receiving socket, to secure the tool handle to the shovel head. A process for assembling a closed back shovel includes the steps of securing the tang element to the frog, heating the tang element and placing the frog within the back-side cavity of the shovel blade so that the tang element extends into the handle receiving socket, and aligning a tool handle with the tang element by inserting the handle front end into the handle receiving socket. The tool handle includes a thermoplastic section in proximity into the front end thereof, having an elongate tang receiving channel. The heated tang element is driven into the tang receiving channel such that as the tang element engages the tool handle, the thermoplastic section surrounding the tang receiving channel is softened and flows into intimate contact around the tang element and then hardens as the heat of the tang element is dissipated to hold the tang element in place."

Hey, I grew up in the south and it was just a shovel, axe, chain-saw and come-a-long. And I know a bit about using those tools!

 

[tdesanto]

I found this. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[southpier]

Again, it's a SHOVEL!

If one is that pressed for space your packing wrong.

ouch!

 

[Dave Bennett]

I carry one of these. Surprisingly good qualty. Adjustable angle head, heavy duty metal construction, very compact:

GERBER Folding Spade w/ Sheath - Model 5940

Folds down for ease of carrying and storing
NATO-approved
Ballistic nylon sheath
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Overall Length: 23.39"
Weight: 2.5375 lbs.
Handle Material: Glass filled Nylon

Blade Material: Boron Steel
Sheath Material: Ballistic Nylon

Good kit and quite an improvement over the older 1970's vintage E-tool!

Current USMC issue item for infantry, made by Gerber in Oregon, US of A

.02

 

[burn_e]

Here's my Swiss Army Snow shovel..

or it's a box of them.. Mines dated 1938.. works great.

I am using a modern day copy from Fiskars - lightweight and durable. Perfect to move a lot of sand in hot conditions:

Additional I am also carrying a regular garden shovel from the DIY market. Better for rocky stuff or re-arranging the bonfire.

 

[crusader]

OK, so no one has shown the difference between the open back and closed back.

From the strangely interesting brochure on shovelman's company's website www.richardcarterltd.co.uk :

 

[StumpXJ]

I bought a Fiskars shovel while in Germany. All steel construction except for the handle.

Couldnt find it on the US fiskars site, not sure if it was available over here or not.

(The right one obviously)

 

[dockrat14]

I saw a shovel the other day on a jeep that was all steel and had like a saw blade on the side any idea what it was?

 

[cactusjk]

Just ordered one from Rovers North. Should fit perfectly on my rack.

I know that just having a shovel is good enough, but I really like how this one has metal much further up from the spade. I currently have the short D handled Home Depot Special.

Does anyone have any experience with this shovel? What is everyone else using?

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/popup.aspx?src=images/Product/large/RNA691.JPG

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-6092-shovel-rovers-north-expedition.aspx

 

[Corey]

I saw a shovel the other day on a jeep that was all steel and had like a saw blade on the side any idea what it was?

This shovel has an aluminum head, not steel, but it has a saw built into the handle that comes out of it.
Saw it in a catalog that arrived at my place earlier in the week.
Arsenal Shovel with Companion Blade

 

[18seeds]

This shovel has an aluminum head, not steel, but it has a saw built into the handle that comes out of it.
Saw it in a catalog that arrived at my place earlier in the week.
Arsenal Shovel with Companion Blade

that's the shovel i use for backcountry ski/snowmobiling. Mine is made by Dakine.

 

[Corey]

Is the head tough enough for any dirt work, or would it bend?
Kind of a cool shovel though.

Not sure how I got on their mailing list, many Cabelas or some other outdoor shop shared my info

 

[Ace Brown]

I had to laugh about all the comments on how many pages were devoted to choosing a shovel, but here I go adding my 2 cents. I currently carry a USFS combi tool, basically a long handled E-tool. Pros: shovel and pick and can be set at 90 degrees to work as a large hoe. Cons: too small to shovel much dirt (or just shovel faster!), shovel blade angle is too shallow for efficent digging, locking ring is often frozen in place due to rust even though I try to oil it after each use and its not very rugged.

Just a couple of days ago I saw a new shovel on A/Ts website that looked pretty good. It has a 2 piece handle that can be configured as a short d-handle or a regular long handle model. Quite expensive at $129 and it appears to have a straight shovel blade. Anyone had any experience with this shovel? Do the joints fit tight and easy to change? Is it worth the cost as compared to dozens of other shovels noted in this thread?

Alan

 

[cactusjk]

Also interested in any feedback. Probably my next shovel.

I had to laugh about all the comments on how many pages were devoted to choosing a shovel, but here I go adding my 2 cents. I currently carry a USFS combi tool, basically a long handled E-tool. Pros: shovel and pick and can be set at 90 degrees to work as a large hoe. Cons: too small to shovel much dirt (or just shovel faster!), shovel blade angle is too shallow for efficent digging, locking ring is often frozen in place due to rust even though I try to oil it after each use and its not very rugged.

Just a couple of days ago I saw a new shovel on A/Ts website that looked pretty good. It has a 2 piece handle that can be configured as a short d-handle or a regular long handle model. Quite expensive at $129 and it appears to have a straight shovel blade. Anyone had any experience with this shovel? Do the joints fit tight and easy to change? Is it worth the cost as compared to dozens of other shovels noted in this thread?

Alan

 

[18seeds]

Is the head tough enough for any dirt work, or would

i would say very light dirt work and my saw is more of an ice saw and not a wood saw.

I would not recommend it unless it's a winter expedition