[Democracyman]

Backcountry Access Traverse Avalanche Shovel at REI.com

and

Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel w/Hardwood Handle 92SF

The military shovel takes a six ounce hit over the snow shovel.

Of course the snow shovel is much better for shoveling snow.

At this point I don't know if I will carry it or not, have to see, the
wave Leathermen tool is good enough to get by with. Of course
in a real live survival situation the cold steel shovel would help a lot.

To be light you would carry this instead of a shovel,
http://www.rei.com/product/650213

weight is six ounces

I have one I carry it quite often. Never used
it except to dig a flat spot for a tent.

The question is the wave leathermen weights eight ounces, could I use
the shovel in place of the leathermen or not? If so I could make up the
weight by leaving the leathermen behind.

Can one shave chips with a shovel? Make a feather stick?
That may take some shovel skills.



Dan

[Slade N. Illinois]

not bad! A little too heavy for me just because I like to carry and axe. But yeah, not bad.

[Democracyman]

The next question , is there another shovel out there that is lighter
and sturdy enough to act as a hatchet as well? Maybe the Gerber?

Dan

[b.c.]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

The next question , is there another shovel out there that is lighter and sturdy enough to act as a hatchet as well? Maybe the Gerber?

Not that I have heard of.

I have used a lot of folding camp shovels before, and pretty much have broken every one I have used so far. Even the "military" folding shovels are no better, this is the best shovel bar none on the market unless your shoveling cat litter/sand. The only thing that may eventually break is the handle, where as the folding mechanism is the first to go (besides bending the blade a lot too). Russians made there shovels out of armor plate, yours is thicker and with a better handle.

You can use it for personal defense, cooking, chopping, breaking ice, and shoveling and would work well as a improvised paddle. This would be very useful in any sort of survival / SHTF situation.

[Democracyman]

Not that I have heard of.

I have used a lot of folding camp shovels before, and pretty much have broken every one I have used so far. Even the "military" folding shovels are no better, this is the best shovel bar none on the market unless your shoveling cat litter/sand. The only thing that may eventually break is the handle, where as the folding mechanism is the first to go (besides bending the blade a lot too). Russians made there shovels out of armor plate, yours is thicker and with a better handle.

You can use it for personal defense, cooking, chopping, breaking ice, and shoveling and would work well as a improvised paddle. This would be very useful in any sort of survival / SHTF situation.

Thanks for the information, most likely saved me a lot of money, I did
search for a carbon fiber replacement handle, but didn't come with
anything.

Dan

[kevin]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

To be light you would carry this instead of a shovel,Snow Claw SnowClaw Guide Snow Shovel at REI.com

The question is the wave leathermen weights eight ounces, could I use
the shovel in place of the leathermen or not? If so I could make up the
weight by leaving the leathermen behind.

Dan

I've seen that claw before, cool idea. regarding ditching the leatherman for a shovel; are you talking above tree line stuff? if so fine, but in the woods you can dig snow w/ your snowshoes in a pinch. I understand weight concern, but you gotta have what you need in an emergency. If you don't, your just lightening the load of the SAR personnel who'll be carrying out your body.

[Democracyman]

I've seen that claw before, cool idea. regarding ditching the leatherman for a shovel; are you talking above tree line stuff? if so fine, but in the woods you can dig snow w/ your snowshoes in a pinch. I understand weight concern, but you gotta have what you need in an emergency. If you don't, your just lightening the load of the SAR personnel who'll be carrying out your body.
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Most likely at some point in the future I will pick up a lighter pocket knife.

I took a look at this Swiss knife, wonder how good it will be? How good is the
steel?

: Trekker

Weight at 4.5oz so I can cut my knife weight in half, very likely to get
this for my wife and I can borrow it when I want to be lighter on a
solo trip.

I found that on trips, that me and the wife go together so no reason
for us to have identical equipment anyway.

By the way I sharpened my shovel, it sharpens up pretty well, I bet I could
make a feather stick with it , until I dull it out on the rocks digging. May
could sharpen it with a rock, heck it may work, I have to try it.

[hudtrufu]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

The next question , is there another shovel out there that is lighter
and sturdy enough to act as a hatchet as well? Maybe the Gerber?

Dan

Good work !
Very cool, looking great so far. Keep going, I wanna see it finished!
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[Democracyman]

Ok, I got a few days of usage with the shovel. I took a file and sharpened it
up, got it fairly sharp, but not knife sharp.

I did some hacking and whacking and cutting.

I do not have a huge amount of experience with hatchets, but I think
this thing cuts better than a hatchet. Also the pointed front shovel end
works well as a pry bar and a jabber to get into punk wood of a stump.
I went out today and was able to dig out inside of a old stump, got some
fairly dry punk would doing this.

I am sure I can cut down a small tree, I was able to cut down a 3inch
diameter tree in a minute or two. You can swing it two handed or one
handed and it fits in a pack well. I have seen other shovels with longer
handles that may work better as a wood cutting item. But this one
works well.

You can choke up on the handle and it works pretty well for scraping off
outside bark, I was also able to some feathering of wood with it. One thing,
watch it as you do the back swing as both ends are sharp

I think this is a better survival tool than a hatchet and it cuts good enough
to take the place of a axe for light work. Also you can dig with it, It would
be hard to find a single item better than this for cutting wood as it can
also dig. I think would rather carry this in most survival situations than a axe,
as it can also dig in snow and dirt and it cuts pretty well. I want to get one
of those neat hiker axes and try them out and compare someday.



Dan

[kevin]

sounds like you found a good solution for yourself as a climber. you can also dig a quick dakota fire hole with that thing, cool.