L0S3R
Elite Member
Lesche or hori fit hand digger? Which model? I need a leather sheathe
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Lesche or hori
- Thread starter L0S3R
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Country Dirt Kid
Elite Member
The problem with a hori is the handle is tapered meaning it slips out of your hand when you pull upward on it. If the ground is at all sticky is just pulls out of your hand.
GroundSweeper
Forum Supporter
I just bought a new lesche. After 4.5 years of hard use, my old one started to crack. I’ve used the cracked one 5-6 times since the crack started unknowingly. Still worked fine. I bought a hori hori off amazon and it was a complete waste of money. I’ll dig up the model if your still interested in a hori as one to surely avoid. I love my lesche.
Edit to add: I do not recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01G8K01Z4/
Edit to add: I do not recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01G8K01Z4/
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Big Treble
Forum Supporter
Actually if you use the wood handle full tang hori, this shouldn't be an issue.
The Lesche's off set is sometimes an advantage and sometimes not. If you need to remove trash off to the side of your plug, the offset is a slight advantage. The offset can reduce leverage. And my Lesche flexes more than my Hori Hori. The downside of a Hori Hori, is the fact it looks like a huge knife if your in a park and someone sees it.
Pete e
Elite Member
I have the same model Hori Hori but not used as yet...Can you advise why you think it's a waste of time?
My main complaint is that the sheath is not fit for purpose in that the knife is so sharp the first time I withdrew it, it cut through all the stitching on one side..
I have now made a nylon sheath with a PVC liner and am looking forward to trying the knife out in the field once our lockdown is lifted..
Bill_Ace_350
Elite Member
Lesche ok, but so many gardening knives and tools will do the same job just as well for a lot less.
Oldsjunkie
Forum Supporter
I've used a Lesche exclusively for about 8 years and decided since I had to re-equip, I'd try the Hori. Got the Sensei brand Tiawanese one from Amazon. So far it's good. I miss having the guard there for leverage turning the corner on my plugs, but it just requires a different techinque to cut.
The handle on my particular model has a nice grip and is more comfortable to use compared to the bicycle grip on the lesche...
The sharper, narrower blade cuts the ground well. I haven't had to use it in hard soil yet, so we'll see how it does in those conditions. I feel like I'll miss that extra leverage, side to side, then.
The handle on my particular model has a nice grip and is more comfortable to use compared to the bicycle grip on the lesche...
The sharper, narrower blade cuts the ground well. I haven't had to use it in hard soil yet, so we'll see how it does in those conditions. I feel like I'll miss that extra leverage, side to side, then.Pete e
Elite Member
It's only a pity somebody doesn't market a reasonably priced titanium, or titanium/aluminium hybrid hand digger...I think such a tool would be very popular....
davidlhyde63366
Forum Supporter
Fiskars Hori Hori garden knife
Just picked up a Fiskars Hori Hori garden knife , haven't had the chance to try it yet but does come with a full life time warranty . In the sheath shouldn't look to much like a knife when carrying . Got it Home Depot while there getting some other items for $26.98 and decided to give it a try. A link that shows the unit I got.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-...2&wl14=fiskars hori hori garden knife&veh=sem
Just picked up a Fiskars Hori Hori garden knife , haven't had the chance to try it yet but does come with a full life time warranty . In the sheath shouldn't look to much like a knife when carrying . Got it Home Depot while there getting some other items for $26.98 and decided to give it a try. A link that shows the unit I got.https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-...2&wl14=fiskars hori hori garden knife&veh=sem
Silversmith45
Elite Member
I have used wooden handle versions of the Hori-Hori for over forty years without a problem. I have abused them that would destroy a Lesche. I won a Lesche, lost it and never did try replacing it. I made a leather sheath for my diggers that cost me under a dollar. It will fit about any of them. I have been using it for several years now and the dirt falls through.
AirmetTango
Forum Supporter
I agree with GroundSweeper, and here’s why:
First one snapped on March 10, 2019 (top two pictures). To the distributor’s credit they replaced it free of charge. Second one snapped on June 18, 2019 (bottom two pictures). At that point, I considered myself lucky to have avoided injury, and didn’t bother for asking for a replacement. Both knives were from “Truly Garden” on Amazon, but it’s actually the exact same knife design as GroundSweeper posted - the knife is manufactured somewhere in China, and distributed to be rebranded by various sellers:
Flora-Guard Hori Hori on Amazon
CIELCERA Hori Hori on Amazon
Mtn Tree Hori Hori on Amazon
Truly Garden Hori Hori on Amazon
There are several more, but you get the idea - mass produced junk knives rebranded and resold by multiple sellers. Stay away from these knives!
All that said, I absolutely love a good Hori Hori knife for use on private property, grassy areas in parks, or any other well manicured space - they cut absolutely immaculate plugs effortlessly, leaving no trace behind. I’m currently using an A.M. Leonard version of a Hori Hori knife, which has held up nicely so far.
GroundSweeper
Forum Supporter
I only dug a hunt or two with it and the hilt broke free from the blade. It had no balance in the hand, an awkward blade curve, really thick - both making it difficult out to cut plugs, sharp - as in cut you sharp, and looked like a Rambo knife. I still have it, I think, probably in a thrift pile... I think one from a garden shop might be better, but this one off amazon sucked.
GroundSweeper
Forum Supporter
Super well stated. I never ventured past the crummy one off amazon to find a good one. Good to know a name for a good one.
I just paid $37 for a lesche I know will last me more than 4.5 years.
L0S3R
Elite Member
Thanks everyone, looks like I’ll be going with the lesche.
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Hope you don't mind if I jump into your thread, but is a Lesche really a Lesche?
Not being cute, I'm really confused. Many love the Lesche, but from what I understand George Lesche designed the original Lesche and his company now is Predator Tools. So I can buy a Lesche most anywhere that seems to say something about MCI Products (manufacture or distributor?) and then Predator sells the Models 85(b) which they call "The Original".
So is Lesche now just a type/style of digging tool? Or is it the name of a digging tool from George Lesche's original design? Any real difference between the Lesche sold by most detector shops and Predator Tools Model 75/85?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in. I've been looking at buying a digger and I found the "Lesche" to be somewhat confusing.
Not being cute, I'm really confused. Many love the Lesche, but from what I understand George Lesche designed the original Lesche and his company now is Predator Tools. So I can buy a Lesche most anywhere that seems to say something about MCI Products (manufacture or distributor?) and then Predator sells the Models 85(b) which they call "The Original".
So is Lesche now just a type/style of digging tool? Or is it the name of a digging tool from George Lesche's original design? Any real difference between the Lesche sold by most detector shops and Predator Tools Model 75/85?
Hope you don't mind me jumping in. I've been looking at buying a digger and I found the "Lesche" to be somewhat confusing.
L0S3R
Elite Member
As I understand it he got divorced and she took the original company over. I could be wrong but that’s what I read. And it’s the brand not a style
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Ah, and since he can't use his own name he calls his the Model 85(B) "The Original"?
They sell within a few bucks of each other, is there a preference between Lesche and Predator Model 85?
L0S3R
Elite Member
Pete e
Elite Member
Thanks for that, even if it's not what I wanted to hear. I choose that model because the blade looked substantial and unlike many, is a full tang design so it's a bit of a downer to learn the steel used is only one step up from cheese...
Although we don't get Predator or Lesche over here, we do have a small company called Evolution that makes some excellent digging tools in stainless steel, they are just a bit on heavy side but they are farmer strong....
cubanroots
Junior Member
+1 - I got the same Fiskars Hori Hori at the Depot for $27 plus tax. Stainless steel, full tang, rugged sheath, and lifetime warranty.
https://shop.familyhardware.com/pro...tnQs1B9vnGSyNqR5BdH2XQ4J_9zr0fnMaAsHyEALw_wcB
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