Not crazy about the expoxy idea. Since you may want to change the handle at some point if it breaks without alot of frustration removing the old handle. I think replacing the screws with a bolt and nuts then synching them down would get rid of slop.

And that sir, is why JB Weld should be in everyone’s toolbox. Nice job!

A little lineseed oil goes a long way. Use it to seal the horse drawn wagons every spring. Also great to mix with rust flakes and paint canvas tarps to make old school oil skin.

I recently bought a Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel and it was absolutely perfect, right out of the box! Fit and finish were perfect, three sides were razor sharp and the solid handle was secured by two large screws which were rock solid! I could not be happier with my purchase and would highly recommend them to potential buyers. Seeing how good my SF Shovel was, I then bought their larger, Spetznaz Trench Shovel, which is a whole order of magnitude greater in capability than its little brother! Once again the Shovel was absolutely perfect right out of the box. I have a Fiskars/Gerber NATO Folding Shovel which is excellent, but I specifically wanted the Cold Steel SF Shovel for a different project. However, upon receiving it and sering just how good it is, I just had to get the larger version because of its greater capabilities. I also have an original Russian Military titanium shovel which is rather nice, but my preference is now for the SF Shovel for most applications.

Glock make an excellent entrenching tool, shovel, for the Austrian military, very sturdy bit of kit, telescoping folding handle with a good wood saw built into it, had mine for probably 20 years now. Linseed oil will penetrate warm wood better than cold wood, better still if left to soak in oil overnight.

I took a 1x30/120 grit belt sander to one side edge of mine (East German issue). It makes a wicked hatchet. 😁

Great work John, looks fantastic. In Soviet Russia, shovel dig YOU.

Cold Steel has a version with a longer handle, it's handy if you're ever doing semi-serious digging. Real serious digging needs a d-handle or other bigger one, like the limeys carried in WWI.

Wow that's nice, you did a great job on that!!👍

Good video as always John have a good week

Nice work!

My personal favorite diggalator. A very versatile piece of kit.

Another good option for pinning the handle in is to use copper ground wire from old power poles that have been taken out of service- it makes great soft rivets for handles.

I used to box as a young man. I regard self-defense as a must learn skill for every individual, even at the age of 72. Because I do not avoid confrontational situations with an aggressor I have cancelled my carry-conceal handgun permit because I do not trust myself in a street situation with a firearm. I now carry a Cold Steel Spetsnaz shovel in a back pack. I prefer a two-handed grip in that it is less likely to be grabbed by an opponent and if I am behind the attacker on the ground I can place the handle at the front of his throat, hook the handle in the crook of my left elbow, place my left hand behind his head and then lock the blade of the shovel behind his right upper shoulder leaving my right hand free to gouge eyes, smash nose etc. This is from a left-hand perspective. --mike

Nice job 👍

It’s a Jack of all trades. With cordura sheath on it’s a defensive baton. With sheath off a deadly weapon. And legal to carry most places. It’s a light weight light chopper and splitter of green and smaller diameter dead wood like a machete yet smaller, and a good enough shovel for shallow holes, moving coals, removing pots with bails, and for prying out rocks . It can also kill snakes. The handle can be removed and a branch can be added to make a long handled shovel for deeper holes. I decided to remove the handle and made it shorter at where it connects into the head of the shovel. So I can still place one hand on the wood handle and the other hand on the metal collar. It’s more convenient now to carry and chop with. And I’m already on my knees to dig with a short handle shovel anyways. So a shorter handle doesn’t seem to change the effort required. Last I dulled the right or top edge so I can scrape with it. I recommend carrying a small fine edged file as a stone will not work to well to maintain an edge. That steel is tough. I do not throw mine at trees. I don’t want to brake the handle. Last I spray painted it and the sheath camo colors. I slip it in my day pack or belt. Last I tapered the belt loop on the back of the sheath and added tape. So I can use it as a shield if objects are being thrown at me. Mine never did rattle. Oh and I’m my walking stick I predrilled two holes to accept the head of the shovel and it’s screws rather than searching for and preparing a long branch handle.

Takes multiple times oiling to get it good.like the green its better than black. Good on the measurements. Serate one side for cutting through roots

back in the day me and my brother had a handful of these things we used to throw at a log end, its one of those handy tools that serves multiple purposes but none particular well other than throwing which its excellent at. but you will break handles on your journey to becoming proficient. i got a old school ww2 shovel with a solid wood handle that i restored that's great at digging i really do like. in a pinch i could throw it at something but not nearly as effective as these Russian shovels.

Great improvements! I have the CS version and the Russian. The CS is better steel and handle in my opoinion as well as a bit more beefier. I epoxied in a cut down hex head nut on the butt end of my handle as a crusher. Works well!

Looks damn good man, much improved! Those are sweet tools. I can’t stand those folding shovels, I’ve got one, but I hate it lol.

Nice job.

I stuck with the screws. Replacing an epoxied handle would be a bitch. I added a small eye screw in the butt and a leather wrist strap. If I have to use it in defense, I don't want to lose it. Don't get me started on the stupidity of throwing away your weapon. I found a recipe for a Finnish military stock finish---1/3 linseed oil, 1/3 turpentine, 1/3 beeswax. Very durable.

Cool idea, I have fixed up a couple of these myself over the years by my own idea but you lost me with the epoxy. It does nothing but make it more difficult to replace the haft later.

Yes, I think the US GI shovel is probably a lot heavier than that one. I like the epoxy on the blade to handle idea.

Looks good , much improved , thanks for sharing , God bless !

Nice mods, I somehow missed this video. Gonna order the cold steel one with the long handle myself because a good shovel in the new area that we are in is more important than an axe it seems.

When I use the shovel to scrape I place one hand on the edge that has been dulled and the other hand on the shortened handle.

They are a half a meter long Blades are 15 centimeters long and if I remember correctly 8 cm wide. Just for measuring purposes. They weren’t epoxied so the handles could be replaced in the field.

I have the cold steel one it’s built like a tank and Isn’t that pricey

I got three of them with case their cheap 25.00 One in each vehicle. Good tool if you get stuck .

Cool

Great video brother question would it been better to just put long nut and bolt thru the handle in case the handle broke you can replace the handle you thoughts brother thanks

Yours looked much better than mine was. Mine has a horribly shaped socket and oversized rivet head protruding inside that would just not allow a good fit. I keep mine strapped to my minibike and vibrations caused one of the chintzy little wood screws to break off so I had to replace the handle. I decided to cut the overlap off mine and make the socket smaller, then I attached a new handle ( section of proper hickory shovel handle ) with rivets peened all the way through. The handles on these are a terrible soft wood that isn't very strong. I've heard that the cold steel is much higher quality and I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.

I might have missed it. Did you clean all the varnish off the handle before coating it?

You saw the story about my Russian etool.. i have an East German one now. Very similar and it uses the Russian etool carry pouch..

i got one coming in the mail, i don't normally buy cheap shit but i think this could work with a little TLC. i would however stick with some sort of larger bolts with maybe lock nuts of some sort. also, i don't believe epoxy on the handle is a good idea. i keep a small draw knife with me in case i have to make a new handle in the field. Ive had to do it a few times over the years.

you forgot the most important thing! make it razor-sharp all around!

They make a Titanium Version of that shovel now . I also carry a Gerber Tri Fold.

On shovels i repair on the farm. I drill and drive through long roll pins and trim them up. Garden hoes i repair. I put long and heavy cotter pins. So idiots can repair them. My axes, i drill a very small in the but of the handle and fill it with boiled linseed oil.

@Alpha Charlie Concepts Thanks for sharing! Could you post a link to where you bought the shovel?

Real bad mod for ever having to repair and not a good mod. But ideas like this lead to better ideas

Looks great but isn’t the epoxy going to be a pain in the A$$ if the handle ever needs replaced?

Good luck changing the handle... its designed to be able to replace the handle in the field when it fails.

A shovel can also bury human waste.

Cold Steel by a LANDSLIDE for function. Fitment better, longer life can be expected due to superior construction. But dammit, Russian E tool wins hands down on cool factor! So…. How much is your time worth? That’s the question my friends. CS for immediate use. Zombie dispatcher it is out of the box! But, time and say $25 gets you a much cooler conversation piece. Have em’ both, use em’ both. Love em’. Tell you what, just get them both! You shouldn’t be disappointed. Except in the sheaths. Only one one the market and it costs more than the frikken E tool. You can find.

Good vid bro. I'm not strong like Russian..so I need a real shovel. Least thsts what my back says lol. But that's a nice zombie commie shit hole excavator type 800 for sure

Plot twist he stole it and beat up a Russian soldier jk I got a east German one

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Epoxy 👎

I bought the cold steel version , saves lots of mucking around