Cold Steel - Special Forces Shovel Review

After getting fed up with entrenchment tools breaking I now use a cold steel Special Forces Shovel for camping & Bushcraft.
EXPAND FOR LINKS AND DETAILS:

Cold Steel Shovel: (currently cheaper on knives and tools)

Music - Lobo Loco - Blues Angeline:

[jamesellsworth]

ALONE Season 3 winner Zach Fowler chose exactly this as one of his 10 ITEMS. He was out there 87 days. It and a serious saw replaced an axe. He cut something like 150 steps into a hill with this shovel; kept it sharp with a multitool file; used it to limb small trees and to process firewood. And, for fun and TV flair, he threw it often and unerringly into tree trunks. Then he brought it home and used it some more.

[boomshanka]

I have had one for years, they are like the trailhawk in that once a few things are done to them they become an indispensable tool. I sanded the handle and finished it with stain and oil, and I removed the powder coat on the head and cold blued the steel. It always comes along on canoe camps.

[PetesCustomKnives]

This is my number one tool that I always take with me all year round. 95% of all my trips I take cold steel shovel, a small Finnish knife and a folding Sven saw. These are the light tools I always carry with me and it works perfectly fine. I do have few axes and also Esse 5 knife but I mostly use them for my winter car expeditions to split large chunks of wood for my stove. With time I realized that carrying an axe is not always useful. This shovel is a perfect tool. I even use it for wood carving, a lovely small hatchet.

[MHarenArt]

Well, I'm not a camper, but I can tell you I wouldn't mind having one of these for my gardening!!!

[nickhurt]

Unfortunately, cold steel decided to discontinue selling the wood replacement handles. Sucks because I need 2 of them!

[NYDRAINS]

I've seen this shovel on an advertising for the company themselves but I think 🤔 I would trust your judgment way better! Thanks 👍😎

[MistaBrown]

For anyone in the US knife center has them for 20$ and if you get the sheath with it the shipping is only ten extra instead of 15 without the sheath so you can get it with the sheath and shipped for 40 bucks out the door.

[Kathy_Is_Blessed]

Looks like a great shovel! When I need one, this is the one I will look for. Thanks Andy!

[TheWarriorsMind]

I actually own two. One with the regular handle and one with a longer handle I made. Both work great.

[bryanbadger]

Good Nz morning Andy. I shouted myself a Gerber Folding Entrenchment tool about 2 + years ago. First thing i did once i got home, run it over a grinder to sharpen the edge. On hindsight a visit to our local Army Surplus Store would have been useful.
However this one you've reviewed looks a gutsy one eh. Thankyou for taking the time to review it for us. Take care and stay safe.

[CHUNKYNUGGET]

Gotta be up there with the greatest of tools! I luv mine it has so many uses, mine is worn and painted and worn again😙👌

[ARAW-__-]

Love that Shovel ! I upgraded the handle and blade, video is on my channel

[MrMann]

Can’t wait for mine to arrive, i have a few cold steel products and I can’t complain about any of them

[brandweerquest]

As always, a good and interesting video. De shovel looks to me a sturdy one. Swedish and German army use to have a similar shovel. With a leather pouch and a rair alluminium axtention for snow digging. The best tool is the tool you have on you. I choose for the Dutch foldeble shovel. Lighter, compact, portable and often in use as a place to sit on....in L-shape. :-) OK, I admit, the soil is sand here. It never failed on me.

[twsbibanghorn]

Was at a friends place and they had some saplings and branches that needed removing, I had my CS Shovel in the car and was pleasantly surprised how well it worked. Another plus is that I don't think I would have done such a good job with my axe as I Wouldn't want to ruin my Gransfors, but no worries with the CS shovel.

[marjiecleveland]

A much better shovel than the folding one that can break. I have the folding one and when it does break some day, I'm going to replace it with the wood handle one. Love wood anyway! Thanks for the review. Great shovel.

[andrewforrest]

Awesome video Andy, I'm going to buy one good piece of kit for camping, thank you Andy for the info.

[sdsi]

Thanks Andy, I saw another YouTuber using it and he definitely liked it, been waiting awhile for someone else to do a review, going to buy it in the near future 🤙🤙🤙

[Flexaret]

I have the genuine Russian version, about £18 off ebay, the screws holding the handle on are really small but I replaced them with bigger screws, it'll split logs within reason. Regarding the folding entrenching tool, the only one worth getting is the all steel Army/NATO issue one with the NATO stock number stamped on the blade, there are plenty of lookalikes, even all steel ones but they're garbage. One benefit of the folding one apart from it being compact is that you can use it as a seat by folding the blade and the handle at 90 degrees. That said I do prefer the Russian version in general.

p.s. Just recently found your channel, very good, I'm slowly working my way through your previous uploads having subscribed.

[utahjohnnymontana]

I've looked at these but ended up with a surplus Swiss e-tool. Its got the straight wooden handle but the head folds and can lock at 90 degrees like a mattock. Its a handy camp shovel.