December 17th I was at a condo in Vermont with friends. We decided to have a fire but lacked kindling. After a slow start I decided to march out to my car and get my Cold Steel shovel to see how it might split wood. With the caveat that the wood was reasonably well seasoned, I was impressed by how well the shovel split wood.

I know the shovels have been discussed by me and others here before so I thought I'd share a positive use experience.

R

They were just on sale at Cold Steel. Down to something like $25 apiece (that's a rough figure). They might still be on sale if you move quickly.

Pete2

I see them on eBay now and then for <$20 shipped.

There is one there now with free shipping on buy it now for $17.29. No takers yet.

This thread reminds me of a survival tool that was used in the show ( Man, woman and wild). The guy had something like a hatchet, but he used it as a small shovel, and even as a flat pan for baking something over fire.

Cold steel shovel may be able to do that too, but have you seen something a bit smaller and stronger ??

Have you seen Chinese Shovel video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzpRh-ZE9Mo

It digs, it chops, it dices, it slices .... it even makes julienne fries!! No, really, it does!

I'd be concerned about destroying the edge hardness/temper of a hatchet using it in a fire. A shovel would not concern me as much.

How about the Chinese military novel? Has anyone used one of these? I hear you can open beer bottles with them. That seems like a functionality I definitely want in my shovel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60OZhrTB6o

BTW, the REAL reason I bought a Cold Steel shovel ... when I go camping, its perfect for managing charcoal for the dutch oven.

No plans to split wood with it.

Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ha! Great minds.

I like Cold Steel just fine and rave about the 12" Kukri machete, but the shovel turned me off. I'm glad to hear about this positive experience.

I think I will buy a surplus US E-tool & case from CTD today.

Happy New Year!

http://www.woodmanspal.com

How about the Woodsmans Pal? A short "machete" with a brush hook and a shovel end. A great general purpose tool, but I would NEVER use it for cooking on except in the most extreme. It would loose temper and not be useful again for all the more important purposes (like keeping the fire going).

Respectfully,

Jerry

Well ... that Chinese shovel is piece of work, isn't it?
I may have to buy one ... just so I can use it to dice vegetables in the kitchen for an omelette. I'd love to see my kids faces. Hahaha ! But the background music in the Chinese video has really GOT to go. It's like the official media in China are still living in the era of "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke".

Slightly more seriously ... I'll stick with my Cold Steel shovels. But I might try using them to dice potatoes for French fries :-)

Pete2

Without a hinge, I'd expect the Cold Steel shovel to be stronger. I'm willing to carry a separate knife, saw, bottle opener, wire cutter etc. to have a good shovel that won't break easily.

Me too. I don't carry it most of the time, unlike my ax which comes on most winter journeys.

Hey, I like the epic music! It makes me want to mount up and ride out into the sunset, armed with nothing more than the veggie-chopping, potato-dicing, wire-cutting, earth-measuring, wall-grappeling, wood-sawing Chinese military shovel.

By the way, did anyone check whether the Chinese military actually uses it? I have the suspicion it's just the invention of some clever civilian fellow over there, and he knows how to market the shovel.