I've used a Mini 18 shovel for years and recently went to a 31" Sampson. Both cut neater plugs than a Lesche, plus it's the devil to pierce Texas dirt with a Lesche. I'm not alone here, and that's in various parks and schools too. I'd say it's at least 80-20 shovel use for several of us. It just takes discretion for the locale of the day's hunt. I love my small shovels. Private yards is one place I usually use the Lesche.
I don't mean to imply that 80% of the folks I detect with use shovels, but the ones who do, predominetly use one. If I was in a state where you could saw out a sweet soil plug with a Lesche, I might get me a Model 31 Raptor. They wouldn't hold up for entire digs most days of the year here.
Everyone has addressed the same things that were on my mind. Carrying a a shovel, even a small one, causes people to become worried about you trenching out the park. But also as mentioned earlier, some Texas soil is a nightmare. There are places I stand on the shovel and it won't take a dig in. I appreciate the comments on the lesche. I think I will have to give one a try and see how it works out. I saw a thread that talked about adding a T handle to it. That might help with the tougher soil.
Jeepers I use my 31" Sampson every time I go out. Schools, parks, public properties, ball fields. I don't do much door knocking. But I've never had an issue with anyone. I've been kicked out of a park for detecting but the shovel was never brought up. Anywho now that I think about it I should use my hand digger as much as possible good topic!
One looks like a Bowie knife, the other looks like a baby shovel..
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I was detecting a City Park in Nc. One of the employees came up to me and said that due to folks digging in their soccer fields with SHOVELS the city had passed an ordnance banning any digging in any of the city parks.
I was detecting a City Park in Nc. One of the employees came up to me and said that due to folks digging in their soccer fields with SHOVELS the city had passed an ordnance banning any digging in any of the city parks. He had no problem with me working the tot lots as I could not hurt the wood chips but no digging in the dirt.
Shovels in a park convey the completely wrong impression regardless of how well one cuts and replaces the plug.
I use y hori-hori in the parks. Looks a little knife like so I tend not to flash it too much. Just like it too much to leave it at home. I do have plans this winter to make a Kydex sheath for it. Also considered making one that carrys in the waistband like the way I conceal carry. Only concern with that is it being considered a knife and not a digger and getting charged for a concealed weapon.