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Your choice of digging tool for hardpack

X

xwyokid

Well-known member
Just wondering what other folks are using for digging in hard soil. Years ago my brother and I started using old US military bayonets. When the ground starts getting hard, the sharp point of the bayonet will break through. It's a little hard on the hand but, it works. Also when sharpened, the bayonet will slice through grass roots like butter. I feel this thin quick cut also does less damage to the roots. We use old filet knife sheaths to carry them. But, old WWll bayonets are hard to find and expensive.My brother bought 8 of them about 20 years ago from Kellyco so we were able to use 2 of them for metal detecting. You can really put a lot of sideways pressure on these things. We have tried, "foreign" made bayonets and they don't give you the feeling that you can put a ton of sidways pressure on them. If you ever get a chance to use a bayonet get a sheath! Don't carry it with the handle in your back pocket. You are bound to cut yourself when reaching for it. Don't ask how I know that!
 
Great idea. Just be careful where you use it. On public land you might get charged with carrying a weapon. I have heard of guys getting tickets for even regular diggers as being considered a knife and got a ticket for it. I remember one guy was charged and had to go to court for illegal/dangerous weapon charges.

Biggest advice I can give to guys with diggers is to sharpen the edge of them. Makes breaking through thick grass or hard ground a lot easier after a long day.
 
Nothing usually like a bayonet (cool idea), just the trusty Predator Tools Model 75 Digging Tool and the Predator Tools Raven Model 25 Shovel. Both are build like a tank and when sharpened correctly, will cut through anything.
 
John,I always thought a bayonet,would make a great digging tool,but worry about if this could be considered by law enforcement as carrying a weapon.I have a concealed weapons permit to carry a handgun,but doesn't include a knife and could get me into trouble.At this point I use a Treasure wise knife for turf and the harder ground use a Lesche hand digger.I think the bayonet would be better, but have to watch for legal problems or consequences carrying this tool.Thanks Ron
 
I use my Lesche digger and a very large/long regular screwdriver to get me thru the hardpack/gravel I am hunting in. Also have used a small crowbar type tool called a 'cat's paw'. I prefer the screwdriver to the cat's paw because the screwdriver is much longer and thinner and can really pop those rocks out of the way. HH. Matt
 
I always carry a Lesche digger on my belt when field hunting with a 11" x 5" Predator field shovel great in the woods to , a few years ago i had a 14" Rambo knife in a sheath nasty looking weapon i forgot it was on my belt and went in a 7-11 for a coffee at 5am in the morning lol , well the girl working there FREAKED !! I said oppps and explained why she felt better after i did that . :detecting: Jim
 
Wow! I bet you were freaked too that she might call the cops to a potential robbery or something. I remember a friend telling me that his friend at a high school punk went into a bank and handed the tellar that he knew a note saying this was a robbery as a joke. The police came, and luckily they believed him that he was just playing a prank. Stupid joke.
 
Ron from Michigan said:
John,I always thought a bayonet,would make a great digging tool,but worry about if this could be considered by law enforcement as carrying a weapon.I have a concealed weapons permit to carry a handgun,but doesn't include a knife and could get me into trouble.At this point I use a Treasure wise knife for turf and the harder ground use a leesch hand digger.I think the bayonet would be better, but have to watch for legal problems or consequences carrying this tool.Thanks Ron
Click to expand...

Ron and Critter are right on the weapon thing. Until now I have always lived in smalll towns and the weapon thing was never a problem. Although any knife is a weapon the bayonet could present a different line of thinking. Thinking back I remember a cousin that lives in the Los Angeles area that said he would probably get in trouble if he carried a bayonet in that city. I guess as everything, depending on where we live, common sense is the best tool.
 
I know what you mean. Out in the country when hunting it's not uncommon for us to walk down a road holding a shot gun in our hand (unloaded of course until you get off the road), but in the city where I live if you did that you'd have the SWAT team being called on you.
 
John I can carry a handgun concealed in a lot of places,to carry a knife could become a felony and get me five yrs because I carry a handgun, even though it 's legal.Be careful,just the way the law works.HH Ron
 
Several charges i used to use.... concealed weapon, knife with a blade over 6 inches, dangerious weapon at a gathering.... like park. That said i use a old hickery butcher knife.... it makes a thin deep clean cut FAST. Then pop it out with a digger. Ive used a bayonet before... believe it or not they are harder to use to cut with than you think.

Dew
 
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