I am not real big on "out of the box", or "first impressions" reviews. I like to use a piece of gear at least 6 months before a review.

this is one of the first videos ive seen about this shovel that actually involve doing what a shovel was intended to do

I love this shovel and will not go anywhere without it. Great vid! Thanks! Kydex Sheaths are not that expensive if you have or know someone with a heat gun. Years ago I designed a drop down sword type sheath that hung from a belt. Total cost in materials: about $15. I had a friend cut the Kydex, mold it with a heat gun, then rivet everything together. Cost on that: One six-pack plus gas to and from store. :) Time involved: About two hours.

Excellent video, demonstration was well thought out.

Sharpening that edge was a great idea, and it works great as well. Looks like the Cold Steel shovel is next on my shopping list. Thanks.

It is called the Spetsnaz shovel, and I have had mine over 10 years so far. I have used it as an improvised paddle, a frying pan, and have thrown mine hundreds of times, as well as used it for camping, bushcrafting, and in self reliance classes.

Love this video! I'm buying one because of you. Thanks for the great info!

Terry, I have both, the cold steel shovel and the rifleman's hawk, for my camping kit. I 've learned how to make these tools more useful with your great ideas.

I love that leather sheath, it's got tons of character!!!

"Not to shabby!" good stuff Terry.

Exclelent modification and use of an already excellent tool!

That sheath is the best part, it has so much character!

LOL, Terry, you are the only one I know who chooses to dig his cat holes with his hawk and de-limp trees with his shovel :D :D :D Great video as always!

Awesome vid, once again. Thanks for posting! I will be looking into this shovel if it is still available.

Very surprising versatility. Good vid.

I like this shovel. I want one of these shovels. I have an AMES e-tool and want a Glock e-tool. One thing I’d like to see is someone actually dig a significant sized hole with this shovel. Everyone seems to think it’s an axe. If you need to chop some roots, maybe some saplings, fine. But chopping down a branch, splitting wood, just carry the right tool and get a camp axe or a hatchet.

I love mine..its a great little tool to have around

Excellent video and excellent tool.

... a shovel for chopping too - great idea, thanks! Tim

I agree that it is a great shovel. I had to REALLY get after it with some chopping to break my original handle.

I have used mine for cutting saplings to make shelters. It makes a good axe alternative.

I ordered this a few days ago and am gonna get it in a week ish I can’t wait

Man, that was nice!! 10 stars.

amazing, eye opening video.

Great video.

Love mine ! Use it every week for a decade. I upgraded the handle, video on my channel. Highly recommended

The cold steel codura sheath for that shovel works pretty well

Great vid boss. I had forgotten about you burying the mask for it. :)

Great stuff

I am a kydex maker can i ask what you think would be a good price for a kydex sheath and what options would be nice to have on the sheath

Excellent! I'll be bringing my spetznaz on more trips, only without the handle. Do you think heating up the end of the stick would help to make it stronger?

Thanks for sharing!

So what's the chopping action? I have one & have gotten it to cut things off bamboo, but no wood to try with. You're holding it diagonally? Why not make the handle octagonal so it doesn't spin in your grip?

I used it as a frying pan after spraying it w/ Pam, and used it to quickly sear fish on one side, turned it over, and then finished the sear on the 2nd side.

Have you considered getting extra screws just in case. I would hate to lose one while out in the woods.

looks like i gonna have to rethink this shovel

Did you use a file to sharpen the edge ? great video, you make me wanna remove the dust from mine and restart using it (never sharpen the edge on it)

Cold Steel offers some decent tools for reasonable prices. You can get shovels, axes, tomahawks, and machetes quite a bit cheaper than most knives, and while they may not stay sharp as long in pure cutting tasks, they're also usually tougher, i.e. better suited for chopping and other forms of rough use, and easier to sharpen. Folding shovels are neat if you only want to dig with it, but I imagine this Cold Steel shovel is stronger and a better chopper. Cheaper in many cases as well. I want one.

is it safe to cook on a shovel? i have seen videos of soldiers frying eggs on a shovel

@tallswede80 I actually prefer awls that open on the ends, easier to get a drilling motion going. Victorinox make pretty top notch stuff, and those Alox models are pretty damned hardy. I don't have the farmer, but have the cadet and the soldier. The Soldier has an awl and it works pretty damned well. Cheers, Sean.

I prefer the chinese military shovel. It cost alot more then any other backpacking shovel but the different things it can do make's up for the cost. The only weekness is the handle, so I replaced the handle with an unbreakable fiberglass handle 6 inches longer then the original. Can not be beat.

man I was issued the folding E tool back when I was in, I should've bought this one and used it instead those USGI e tools are garbage. thanks for the review man

I second that 477089 or what ever number.the army should use this one

They're selling the cordura sheath alone on the Cold Steel website for $10. FYI. Have a good day.

makes a good paddle too

I'm surprised cold steel don't make a polypropylene handle for it, that would really last for throwing.

That similar in my mind :D

OK, I'll give one a try and compare to my folder. Great Subject matter.

good video

Nice!! Subbed.

Very nice video! Your mpl50 shovel looks really hard used. A lot of great modification! I adapted the idea with the holes for my shovel shop

just wondering why I still carry a Trail Hawk, it can't dig holes as well… I mean, for a one tool option this shovel sure seems to beat it. ATB Markus

спасибо!

it could ruin the heat treating on it if you got it too hot.

Whats the grip tape

whoa

Show 'em how you YOU tie two half-hitches several "correct" ways.

i didnt know cold steel made a copy of the soviet speznaz shovel

I prefer a folding shovel, they work great in the field to hold a butt cheeck up as ya take care of #2

I think I found what I'm goint to get instead of a machete.

Shame about that mulberry tree...The berries are so delicious.

shovel hasnt ever been out 25 years

Cold steal Russian idea ! DA!

А ещё из неё можно сварить кашу...

Copied fro USSR army