Comments on: Cold Steel’s Throwing Shovel http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:43:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Paul N. http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032636 Paul N. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:14:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032636 Oh yeah, the worst part about the actual shovel is the thick, super slick finish they put on the handles. No hand tool should have a handle that slippery and I had to sand it off and put a thinner finish on it. Oh yeah, the worst part about the actual shovel is the thick, super slick finish they put on the handles. No hand tool should have a handle that slippery and I had to sand it off and put a thinner finish on it.

]]> By: Paul N. http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032632 Paul N. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:06:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032632 It's a shame that Cold Steel has to advertise everything with such outrageous amounts of cheese. This is one product that they make that actually functions well and is affordable. I've heard that you should order an extra handle when you buy one, but I missed the memo and so far the handle has held help well. I'm not cool enough to be a Mall Ninja, but I have carried mine in my truck, used it in the yard a little, and carried it camping. It's a crappy hatchet, full of merde as a shovel, but it's a compromise tool. It splits wood way better than it chops it, if you sharpen one or both edges. I can throw it and stick, though I don't make a habit of it. It's not as easy to throw as a tomahawk but much easier than a knife, at least in my experience. I do encourage people to watch the Cold Steel Proof stuff though. It's some of the funniest, "Coney Island carnival barker meets Ronco" ads/infomercials out there. The company truly reflects the owner. I was at a large knife show in Atlanta one year and the owner came in with two obvious "bodyguards." Later in the day, as I stopped at the Cold Steel booth, one of the pitch-dudes tried to impress me with their synthetic Sjambok's toughness by smacking the table with it, at which point the product snapped cleanly a couple of inches down from the handle. I try to be polite but I couldn't control my laughter until I walked out of the booth area. LOL indeed. Anyway, sometimes there are some good products out there hidden by bad marketing. It’s a shame that Cold Steel has to advertise everything with such outrageous amounts of cheese. This is one product that they make that actually functions well and is affordable. I’ve heard that you should order an extra handle when you buy one, but I missed the memo and so far the handle has held help well. I’m not cool enough to be a Mall Ninja, but I have carried mine in my truck, used it in the yard a little, and carried it camping. It’s a crappy hatchet, full of merde as a shovel, but it’s a compromise tool. It splits wood way better than it chops it, if you sharpen one or both edges. I can throw it and stick, though I don’t make a habit of it. It’s not as easy to throw as a tomahawk but much easier than a knife, at least in my experience.

I do encourage people to watch the Cold Steel Proof stuff though. It’s some of the funniest, “Coney Island carnival barker meets Ronco” ads/infomercials out there. The company truly reflects the owner. I was at a large knife show in Atlanta one year and the owner came in with two obvious “bodyguards.” Later in the day, as I stopped at the Cold Steel booth, one of the pitch-dudes tried to impress me with their synthetic Sjambok’s toughness by smacking the table with it, at which point the product snapped cleanly a couple of inches down from the handle. I try to be polite but I couldn’t control my laughter until I walked out of the booth area. LOL indeed.

Anyway, sometimes there are some good products out there hidden by bad marketing.

]]> By: Alex M. http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032399 Alex M. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:32:48 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032399 I agree; I get mocked by people for my EDC reverse-osmosis water purification system (olive drab, of course) and penecillin synthesis precursor compounds, but likewise - when society collapses and you're thirsty and have an ear infection, I'm going to be sitting pretty. I agree; I get mocked by people for my EDC reverse-osmosis water purification system (olive drab, of course) and penecillin synthesis precursor compounds, but likewise - when society collapses and you’re thirsty and have an ear infection, I’m going to be sitting pretty.

]]> By: gecko45 http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032281 gecko45 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:30:47 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032281 This is the one piece of equipment that will literally save your life one day. I own three of these shovels, one of which I carry on my person. My EDC "shuv" has been covered in matte black paint, a practical consideration for my line of work, which I cannot discuss. My friends laugh at me for carrying this shovel around, but when it hits the fan I will be the one laughing as I stand guard over the lives of others like a God. This is the one piece of equipment that will literally save your life one day. I own three of these shovels, one of which I carry on my person. My EDC “shuv” has been covered in matte black paint, a practical consideration for my line of work, which I cannot discuss. My friends laugh at me for carrying this shovel around, but when it hits the fan I will be the one laughing as I stand guard over the lives of others like a God.

]]> By: Aleksejs http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032144 Aleksejs Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:51:24 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032144 Speaking of Specnaz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtaaYeJZrTI - Starting from 1:00 technique in use. In most training situations they do not use actual showel, but an imitation (only gandle with little metal edge at the end for weight). Starting 3:40 technique for fight with gun as a cold wepon (when you've run out of ammo or can/must not fire) Keywords in russian: Малая саперская лопатка - small sapeur shovel - this is the most popular term or Малая пехотная лопатка - small infantry shovel - this is the correct term Speaking of Specnaz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtaaYeJZrTI - Starting from 1:00 technique in use. In most training situations they do not use actual showel, but an imitation (only gandle with little metal edge at the end for weight). Starting 3:40 technique for fight with gun as a cold wepon (when you’ve run out of ammo or can/must not fire)
Keywords in russian:
Малая саперская лопатка - small sapeur shovel - this is the most popular term
or
Малая пехотная лопатка - small infantry shovel - this is the correct term

]]> By: JH http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032114 JH Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:35:49 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032114 In the army, I used to sharpen my Fiskars folding shovel. That way it worked as a decent axe for chopping wood. In the army, I used to sharpen my Fiskars folding shovel. That way it worked as a decent axe for chopping wood.

]]> By: John http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032108 John Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:56:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032108 I think the Spetnaz or someother group use something like this, I remember seeing it on "Deadliest warrior". I think the Spetnaz or someother group use something like this, I remember seeing it on “Deadliest warrior”.

]]> By: Blatz http://toolmonger.com/2009/09/24/cold-steels-throwing-shovel/#comment-1032087 Blatz Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:16:24 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=32044#comment-1032087 Didja watch the video at the Cold Steel site? They've got a guy chopping through a 2x4 with it. Looks like it's a pretty dismal hatchet. That flat blade keeps getting stuck. Does better on breezeblock (indispensible, if concrete makes good kindling on your planet) and meat. So... definitely a must-have for the wilderness mall ninja. Didja watch the video at the Cold Steel site? They’ve got a guy chopping through a 2×4 with it. Looks like it’s a pretty dismal hatchet. That flat blade keeps getting stuck. Does better on breezeblock (indispensible, if concrete makes good kindling on your planet) and meat. So… definitely a must-have for the wilderness mall ninja.

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