The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: philw on July 06, 2009, 08:51:47 AM

Title: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: philw on July 06, 2009, 08:51:47 AM
these look very cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIlceAZBRdA
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: ericire12 on July 06, 2009, 08:56:01 AM
He'd probably be better of using a chop saw on that 2x4 ;D
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: Pathfinder on July 06, 2009, 09:01:28 AM
He'd probably be better of using a chop saw on that 2x4 ;D

Hey, when your only tool is a shovel . . .

I think they would sell more if the put a black synthetic handle on it and sold it as a "Tactical Shovel"!!!  :P  ::)
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: tombogan03884 on July 06, 2009, 09:01:53 AM
 Only problem is that with the short handle it would suck for digging, with the non folding head you lose the only virtue of standard E-tools which can also be used effectively as a weapon. Given the choice, I'll stick to carrying an effective digging tool and my camp ax for the chopping.
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: 1911 Junkie on July 06, 2009, 09:16:10 AM
They also invented the hatchet.  ::)
Cuts as well as the shovel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPQ4ctxjuNo&NR=1
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: ericire12 on July 06, 2009, 11:17:38 AM
Hey, when your only tool is a shovel . . .

I think they would sell more if the put a black synthetic handle on it and sold it as a "Tactical Shovel"!!!  :P  ::)

Whats that old saying..... Dont bring a shovel to a gun fight!
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: Badgersmilk on July 06, 2009, 04:07:48 PM
Looks like one durrable shovel!  I like the military one we were issued because you could lock the spade part of the shovel at a 90 degree angle to the handle and use it like a hoe to dig hard packed dirt much easier.

Hoe - the garden tool, not the girl. ;D

Cold Steel makes about the most indestructable pocket knives I've ever seen.  Good stuff!
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: Kid Shelleen on July 06, 2009, 04:23:16 PM
Someone at Cold steel has been watching Deadliest Warrior.

They have made this shovel for a while but the testing video looks very much like a Deadliest Warrior test.

Check out the Green Berets use of his entrenching tool.

http://www.spike.com/full-episode/green-beret-vs/32039


Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: warhawke on July 06, 2009, 05:07:06 PM
I've owned one of these since CS came out with them in the late '80's or early '90's and they are about the best small shovel I have ever owned. Years ago I hacked my way through 4 inches of ice to free my car tires.  After moving here to MT, I had no hatchet or large knife to make kindling so I used my shovel. Yes the short handle is a bit of a pain but it is easier to work with than the US triangle folding style and stronger than the old straight handled e-tool.

I plan to buy several more of these in the near future, sharpen the blades (which makes it much easier to chop and cut with, but don try to make it razor sharp, just a utility edge) and keep one in each car as well as on with my camping and hunting supplies. The coating CS uses on the blade is pretty good too, but I spray mine with flat green Rust-o-liem.

I would add that I hate Cold Steal and only own the shovel and a trailmaster which is fine for chopping wood if you don't have an axe. CS knives are cheap Chinese copies of stolen designs at premium prices.

PS. the deadliest warrior show is run by idiots, the Spatnez are legendary for their shovel fighting techniques but they skipped the fighting shovel (which Cold Steal stole from the Russians ironically) for the ballistic knife and let the Green Beanies trot out that POS triangle folder.
Title: Re: Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
Post by: Badgersmilk on July 06, 2009, 10:02:11 PM
http://www.coldsteel.com/tilite.html

I have the 4" model shown here with the Zytel handle (whatever the heck that is), and two other models with a 3" blades.  Watch the video.  This guy has serios anger issues ;D, but the knives REALLY ARE THAT TOUGH!  Impresses me all the time how well they hold an edge.  I paid less than $40 for each.

I also own a few Camillus knifes that are great too, and American made.  But they went bankrupt years ago.  NOT buying Chinese these days is pretty much not buying.  Taiwan doesnt count either, and I cant afford $200 bucks for something custom made that HONESTLY came from this country, and would only be a Cold Steel equivlant at best, and certainly no more durrable.

Cold Steel has several nice tools available.  

Just my thoughts.