Cold steel special forces shovel mod question

[Broch]

You have the Cold Steel Shovel so, I would modify it more in keeping with the original. Get a strip of steel and rivet it across the back of the shovel to tie the handle in. Properly peened over rivets will not be too obtrusive and it will be a stronger fix.

If you were closer I would do it for you but you'll have workshops near you that could do that if you don't have the materials/tools/skills.

(as far as mechanics go, I am an apprenticed craftsman and a UK & European Chartered Mechanical Engineer - solving mechanical problems was my Métier)

 

[JonathanD]

I guess it’s a screw then. Personally I’d go for Brochs idea of a bolt or preferably the plate. If the plate is too much trouble for you, bolt it and just grind down the part that sticks out the most as much as possible. But with either option, going in at the side adds the most strength and is less likely to pull out under leverage.

It’ll serve you well I’d of thought for a long time until you can afford the Boker

 

[Nice65]

I just had to investigate further. I’m bored.

Really bored.

 

[ninjas]

Yeh, sorry, I was really just showing how a shovel is bade with a stronger handle attachment. That one stays permanently in my Land Rover Defender. This one stays permanently in my Land Rover Series III, it's a 1965 Folding German Entrenchment Shovel.

View attachment 105196

 

[ninjas]

Yo guys, I did it, if it broke up its ok i will make a new handle but i don't think it will broke. https://ibb.co/cfhQJ4T https://ibb.co/5hXhFGWJ https://ibb.co/9mTrSWxP https://ibb.co/90PvpdT that cord make the handle have better grip and the lack i used gives grip even in wet conditions especially if you use gloves. Btw the cord is half inside wood and half outside so it will not move for any reason. Thanks for advices

 

[JonathanD]

Well Ok. Looks good. Let us know how it goes. Good luck and good health in your shovel chopping endeavours.

 

[Aristotle]

I have a Russian one that is very like the Cold Steel one:

A

Thread 'Russian Army Trench Shovel'

Aug 24, 2024

Having seen these shovels pop up in various articles and videos, I bought one. It is a well-used Russian army example, rather than a new Cold Steel one.

The handle was removed, coated with raw linseed oil (along with the head) a couple of times and left it a week to cure. The handle was re-fitted, shimmed a little to get a tight fit and using new, longer, wood screws.

The edge was tidied up with a flap wheel and file.

It may come in useful!

• Aristotle
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Kit Chatter

• 

 

[shaggystu]

I'm not 100% certain what defines an entrenching tool, so I call this my "War Shovel". I found an old broken spade somewhere, and I had a spare handle in the shed, so I took the grinder to the spade, removed some rust, added some paint, cut the handle down and riveted it in place, slathered the whole lot in oil. Et voila "War Shovel". Yes, you can chop (small) trees down with this, no, It's not as good as an axe.

 

[Herman30]

I'm not 100% certain what defines an entrenching tool.

As I see it; lenghth of the shaft and how easy it is to carry in the webbing.

 

[Aristotle]

I'm not 100% certain what defines an entrenching tool, so I call this my "War Shovel". I found an old broken spade somewhere, and I had a spare handle in the shed, so I took the grinder to the spade, removed some rust, added some paint, cut the handle down and riveted it in place, slathered the whole lot in oil. Et voila "War Shovel". Yes, you can chop (small) trees down with this, no, It's not as good as an axe.

View attachment 105354

Good stuff.

 

[Falstaff]

I saw a explanation once of the size and length of an entrenching shovel - Short enough and small enough that a man can frantically dig a shell scrape/hole on his knees while under fire.

Seems like a good enough definition for me!

 

[shaggystu]

Well thanks for the differing suggestions for definitions of "entrenching tool", it would seem that I'm not the only one who isn't 100% certain. I'm not sure if I could carry my "war shovel" on my webbing, I don't have any webbing, because I'm not in the military. I do know that I can use it to dig holes when I'm on my knees though, because I've used it for exactly that, although for full disclosure I wasn't under fire at the time, because I'm not in the military. So yeah, "war shovel" is what I'm gonna stick with, I feel that it's a name that takes the subject as seriously as it deserves to be taken.

 

[Pattree]

I call it a small spade.

Unless you have a sentimental attachment or a reenactment attachment to your portable spade I’d recommend the Roughneck.

About 640mm 680long.


There are only a few specific reasons that I need a spade and no reason to shovel anything when camping but to have an hygienic fibreglass (and very strong) handle seems to me to be appropriate.

Edited length coz I failed in my attempt to add metric dimensions to imperial!

 

[HorseGuy]

I call it a small spade.

Unless you have a sentimental attachment or a reenactment attachment to your portable spade I’d recommend the Roughneck.

About 640mm long.

View attachment 105388
There are only a few specific reasons that I need a spade and no reason to shovel anything when camping but to have an hygienic fibreglass (and very strong) handle seems to me to be appropriate.

I'm in the market for a new small spade at the moment and this seems to fit the bill perfectly.

 

[Pattree]

This is about half price right now.

In bushcraft terms it’s a dunny digger most of the time but it is also a brilliant post hole digger.

 

[JonathanD]

Oooh look. A serrated version…. I don’t need one of these and I’ll never use it. But…

 

[Pattree]

But it’s TACTICAL. Look it’s not Just serrated, it’s black!

To be fair, I think those serrations might be useful on some roots.
I don’t like cutting roots when digging planting holes. I suspect that it can introduce infection.

 

[Aristotle]

I call mine my Russian Poo Shovel

 

[Aristotle]

Folding Screwfix tactical poo shovel

 

[Aristotle]

Oooh look. A serrated version…. I don’t need one of these and I’ll never use it. But…

View attachment 105391

Could that be used to throw at a raging bear (ok, a badger)?