Myers Depot Metal Detectors

What's the best digging tool?

I use and like my Kellyco Razor Edge digger, very tough and narrower than the Lesche. Penetrates very well, although they do need sharpening on a belt sander when new. I used a plain old 1950s-60s Imperial hunting knife (rounded off tip) for years, it too worked well and still rides in my car as a backup or loaner. Folks who use shovels of any kind in parks or on private lawns are going to ruin it for everybody. Learn to pinpoint well people, there is no need for spades or shovels when coin and jewelry hunting!! A screwdriver is the best tool for shallow coins, pops 'em right out with no plug or mess if you take the time to pinpoint well. Gotta have a rounded off tip though!!
 
I have a Lesche and use this instead http://www.ames.com/products/detail.aspx?ProductId=1328&FamilyId=111&LineId=106

My next buy is a Predator Model 31, check out DirtFishing's videos on youtube if you want to see it in action.

I'll add that Lesche makes my index finger raw against the guard even through gloves, and it has basically no scooping ability, and plug cutting is harder than the Ames. Not to mention the Ames is $9.
 
lesche sampson 31 t serrated

In the pick its the 2 that look the same,Earl
 

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Killer combo

IMO the best digging tools to carry ( and I do ) are the Lesche digger, Predator Raptor model 31, and the Sampson mini 18. With this arsonal you can dig like a mole!!! I would not be without this combo:yes:.
 
roadapple said:
IMO the best digging tools to carry ( and I do ) are the Lesche digger, Predator Raptor model 31, and the Sampson mini 18. With this arsonal you can dig like a mole!!! I would not be without this combo:yes:.
Click to expand...

Road apple thats exactly my same set up. I have a digger for every type of soil.:digginahole:
 
" Best of the best "

Well now! Dirt Lizard knows first hand that he can tackle any situation that he may come across just short of TNT. The killer combo strikes again and again to retrieve the goods !! Happy Hunting !:D
 
I have a Harbor Freight Mini Shovel and can't imagine going back to a digger. Lightweight, strong and 28" long with a 6" wide blade. Cuts beautiful plugs and scrapes great. I can dig stooped, kneeling or sitting. Handles sand, dirt, mud, gravel, grass and rocks. Best of all: $7.99
 
If you take anything with a long handle into a park or other public property you deserve any negative attention you may recieve.


You will get more than one answer to this question , sometimes many. The "best" digging tool is just the one you feel the most comfortable with. I use one like is in my avatar picture. Digs easy , cuts a very neat plug , and is impossible to break. All that for around $12. Why would I even consider anything else ? But thats just my opinion.
 
Old school

Here is a thought. How about a tool that cuts into the ground and if the soil is not too dry then you swing it once and you are done. For some reason if people are watching and see you hit once , recover the target then it seems to put them at ease instead of you digging and scratching around all day which makes them nervous.
Before all of the fancy diggers this is what we used.... and still do..A U.S. Army World War II ( 1945 ) Entrenching Tool turned on a 90 and carried in a hostler. It swings from a pistol belt . The blade is sharpend , you take a 4 inch piece of radiator hose , cut two slits to slide the pistol belt through , and simply drop the shovel turned on a 90 down into your homemade holster. They are sharp , You make one very hard blow a few inches out in from of the target , push back on the handle and many times the target will pop right out. Also you have only cut a semi circle and not harming the grass roots. When you have extracted your target , you tamp with the end of the shovel. We used that method 30 years and I dont see anything any better. I do use a Leesh and try to use that first, But if its deep. go to your big guns and get it out of the ground quickly and dont dig all day.
 
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Fox Hole Shovel

Let us know how you do in your next park hunt, when you break out that fox hole shovel and police officer Sargent Jones, ask what platoon your in, then decides to enlist you in his... LOL :laughing:
 
ohiochris said:
I use one like is in my avatar picture. Digs easy , cuts a very neat plug , and is impossible to break. All that for around $12. Why would I even consider anything else ? But thats just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Ohiochris, where did you pick up your digger?
 
ohiochris said:
I use one like is in my avatar picture. Digs easy , cuts a very neat plug , and is impossible to break. All that for around $12. Why would I even consider anything else ? But thats just my opinion.
Click to expand...

That is the same one I use too, also USA made, I have tried my friend's Lesche and Garrett, no way... A Lesche would break long before one like that, also scoops better... I only use it for really shallow plugs though, deeper targets, I cut a nice big deep plug with my monstrously huge 31 inch grave digging, ditch digging shovel, AKA Sampson... Once the plug is open, I switch to my smaller digger....

YMMV...

<*)))>{
 
Diggum said:
Ohiochris, where did you pick up your digger?
Click to expand...



Got it at a local detector shop , most of them sell this type. Even kellyco has a few different variations/shapes of it. Look for them to be stainless steel and pretty thick , and all one piece except for the rubber handle slipped over one end. Price can vary depending on who you get them from but most are all under $20. Ive had a couple of them over the years but never broke or bent any , just used to have a habit of losing diggers until I got firmly in the habit of not walking off and leaving them laying somewhere.
 
ohiochris said:
Got it at a local detector shop , most of them sell this type. Even kellyco has a few different variations/shapes of it. Look for them to be stainless steel and pretty thick , and all one piece except for the rubber handle slipped over one end. Price can vary depending on who you get them from but most are all under $20. Ive had a couple of them over the years but never broke or bent any , just used to have a habit of losing diggers until I got firmly in the habit of not walking off and leaving them laying somewhere.
Click to expand...

Cool. Thank you for the advice!
 
I'm considering getting a hori hori in addition to the full scale shovel and trowel that I have. Worth it?
 
curiosussira said:
I'm considering getting a hori hori in addition to the full scale shovel and trowel that I have. Worth it?
Click to expand...

The Hori-Hori is about the closest thing to my 30+ year old 3-in-1 knife that I've seen. I have never once felt like it might break. It's a little shorter after years of sharpening. I have even pounded it into rock hard summer baked clay. I have yet to see any other hand held digger that you can do that with. With a little padding it should last until you lose it.
GT_Hori-Hori.jpg
KF3.gif
 
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