Got this as an xmas present from wifey and today I set about making it a little more personal!
But first, a quick run down of the tool in question. It is a variation/replicant of the Russian Spetsnaz ET (entrenching tool), it gained alot of fans due to it's sturdy build and highly versatile nature. It can dig, chop, split, slice, pry, hammer and was even used as a weapon with specialist training! A pretty damn cool tool imo.
Now, Cold Steel made one and actually beefed up the build a little more. It's heavier, thicker and I'm pretty sure tougher because of this.
Here are the specs:
It comes with a cordura sheath too for £30-£35 delivered locally.
here's mine in the winter..
It comes like that, simple and factory ready. The edge needs a little touch up, I do this with a file and it gets hair shaving sharp within no time as it's rather soft steel. It actually holds it's edge reasonabley well and performs rather well.
I used it to dig borders and light digging stuff a few times and it sdoes this as well as you'd expect. the sharpened edges will allow for ease of cutting roots or whatever else you might dig into/through. And I have used it to cut 3-4" thick seasoned plumb, something it actually did amazingly at! I compared it's cutting ability to the Gransfors Bruks sfa, something that alot of people own and can relate too.
I doesn't bust out big chunks of wood like the ace for obvious design reasons, but it hacks into the wood like a heavy machete i.e very very deep! I also test it's splitting ability with the GB axe. Smaller stuff, not a problem but on a 4" wide piece of nasty plumb was impossbile to get through! That handle tube in the centre/base of the shovel head gets stuck in the way and the freshly sawn ends of the log cannot get passed!
It split softer wood like elder in the smae thickness rather easily but it's a simple and easy to work wood. The GB flew through the plumb, as expected. But this isn't a talk about the Gb axe, or any axe for that matter. It's about a damn cool shovel that can do it all (albeit at a comprismise sometimes!)
It's got a thick handle and black paint on the carbonsteel head, both a little ugly and the handle in particular is rather fat. Too fat for my stubby sausage fingers so earlier today I got to work making it mine! I rasped the handle down to size and nitro'ed the head then wire brushed off all that paint. Some sand paper, oil and cord and this is it now..
That's more my style! looks antique/old and a bit more worn in, like my first wife!
I really like this tool, not just because it was a present but because it serves loads of useful purposes for campers! It can be your axe, your trench/hole digger and your filthy badger slayer! and like all the Cold Steel stuff I have it's cheap but good quality and a thoroughly advise getting one! Not only that but it's so much less offensive looking when strapped on your tramp bag compared to a gert big axe!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the short write up
Thanks for reading!
But first, a quick run down of the tool in question. It is a variation/replicant of the Russian Spetsnaz ET (entrenching tool), it gained alot of fans due to it's sturdy build and highly versatile nature. It can dig, chop, split, slice, pry, hammer and was even used as a weapon with specialist training! A pretty damn cool tool imo.
Now, Cold Steel made one and actually beefed up the build a little more. It's heavier, thicker and I'm pretty sure tougher because of this.
Here are the specs:
| Weight | 26.6oz | 0.75kg |
|---|---|---|
| Handle Details | Hardwood | |
| Tip Thickness | 0.08" | 2mm |
| Steel | Medium Carbon Steel | |
| Overall | 19.68" | 50.0cm |
It comes with a cordura sheath too for £30-£35 delivered locally.
here's mine in the winter..
It comes like that, simple and factory ready. The edge needs a little touch up, I do this with a file and it gets hair shaving sharp within no time as it's rather soft steel. It actually holds it's edge reasonabley well and performs rather well.
I used it to dig borders and light digging stuff a few times and it sdoes this as well as you'd expect. the sharpened edges will allow for ease of cutting roots or whatever else you might dig into/through. And I have used it to cut 3-4" thick seasoned plumb, something it actually did amazingly at! I compared it's cutting ability to the Gransfors Bruks sfa, something that alot of people own and can relate too.
I doesn't bust out big chunks of wood like the ace for obvious design reasons, but it hacks into the wood like a heavy machete i.e very very deep! I also test it's splitting ability with the GB axe. Smaller stuff, not a problem but on a 4" wide piece of nasty plumb was impossbile to get through! That handle tube in the centre/base of the shovel head gets stuck in the way and the freshly sawn ends of the log cannot get passed!
It split softer wood like elder in the smae thickness rather easily but it's a simple and easy to work wood. The GB flew through the plumb, as expected. But this isn't a talk about the Gb axe, or any axe for that matter. It's about a damn cool shovel that can do it all (albeit at a comprismise sometimes!)
It's got a thick handle and black paint on the carbonsteel head, both a little ugly and the handle in particular is rather fat. Too fat for my stubby sausage fingers so earlier today I got to work making it mine! I rasped the handle down to size and nitro'ed the head then wire brushed off all that paint. Some sand paper, oil and cord and this is it now..
That's more my style! looks antique/old and a bit more worn in, like my first wife!
I really like this tool, not just because it was a present but because it serves loads of useful purposes for campers! It can be your axe, your trench/hole digger and your filthy badger slayer! and like all the Cold Steel stuff I have it's cheap but good quality and a thoroughly advise getting one! Not only that but it's so much less offensive looking when strapped on your tramp bag compared to a gert big axe!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the short write up
Thanks for reading!
