Rattlehead
Forum Supporter
So I received my new Sampson 31" a couple of weeks ago which is just awesome! But after taking it detecting a couple of times I wanted to find a comfortable way to carry it on my belt.
The first thing I looked at was the "Ready Shovel" holster like the one sold here:
http://www.colonialmetaldetectors.com/ReadyShovel--Leather-Shovel-Holster_p_463.html
While it looks very nice, I tend to take spur of the moment detecting trips (lunch breaks at work, etc) and I don't like the idea of having to take my belt half way off to mount a holster or sheath. I'd much rather have something that can quickly clip on and off. Speaking of sheathes, I also considered one of those (I saw one for the small Sampson I think), but then I remembered that they tend to fill up with dirt if you don't clean your shovel between digs. Plus the handle of a 31" Sampson would be sticking up way too high.
Anyway, I have access to a CNC Plasma here at work so I decided to make myself a belt "clip" similar to ones I've seen posted here, so that I could just quickly clip it onto my belt, and then hang the T-handle on it.. It worked great except for one minor thing.. With the T mounted at belt level, the digging end of the shovel tends to swing and bang into my legs as I'm walking.. Ouch! Back to the drawing board.
I was trying to figure out a way to hang the shovel so that the T would be 4-6 inches above my belt line.. This way, not so much of the length of the shovel is swinging as I walk. So I'm sitting there drawing out some designs on paper and as I was looking at my ink pen it hit me! Why not mount a clip on the T-Handle itself, just like the one on my ink pen. This way I can mount it anywhere on the shovel that I want. So I cut a shape out on the plasma and made a few bends. Turned out great and works like a champ. Simple but effective!
The first thing I looked at was the "Ready Shovel" holster like the one sold here:
http://www.colonialmetaldetectors.com/ReadyShovel--Leather-Shovel-Holster_p_463.html
While it looks very nice, I tend to take spur of the moment detecting trips (lunch breaks at work, etc) and I don't like the idea of having to take my belt half way off to mount a holster or sheath. I'd much rather have something that can quickly clip on and off. Speaking of sheathes, I also considered one of those (I saw one for the small Sampson I think), but then I remembered that they tend to fill up with dirt if you don't clean your shovel between digs. Plus the handle of a 31" Sampson would be sticking up way too high.
Anyway, I have access to a CNC Plasma here at work so I decided to make myself a belt "clip" similar to ones I've seen posted here, so that I could just quickly clip it onto my belt, and then hang the T-handle on it.. It worked great except for one minor thing.. With the T mounted at belt level, the digging end of the shovel tends to swing and bang into my legs as I'm walking.. Ouch! Back to the drawing board.
I was trying to figure out a way to hang the shovel so that the T would be 4-6 inches above my belt line.. This way, not so much of the length of the shovel is swinging as I walk. So I'm sitting there drawing out some designs on paper and as I was looking at my ink pen it hit me! Why not mount a clip on the T-Handle itself, just like the one on my ink pen. This way I can mount it anywhere on the shovel that I want. So I cut a shape out on the plasma and made a few bends. Turned out great and works like a champ. Simple but effective!
So I told him I would make a hanger for him that would last as long as his 31. 
