Chinese military shovel

Troika said:

I



I take it you not familiar with US army's three-part folding shovel.


They not as strong as Soviet shovels, which cast from one piece of metal, but you'll be surprised at how strong one is, certainly hinge compares favourably to socket.

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Ive seen a few high quality broken folding shovels over the years, I even damaged a three part folding one myself, but could'nt say offhand whether it was US military one. Thats why it would have been quite interesting to look at the condition of the shovel after those exercises, especially when used as a grappling hook.

Given a choice I think I would prefer to have strong Soviet Shovel.

Troika said:

Eat potatoe whole in field is probably best compromise.
/QUOTE]
Why would you be carrying a couple of kilos of potatoes into battle for?

Surely it would be lightweight , high energy/sustanence food

Quote Troika

Shovel should be judged by digging ability, everything else is bonus.

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So all in all in IMO its a video about nothing, However I would have associated the music with something out of the American wild West / eg 'The Magnificent Seven'

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Moved to previous post

Double posting

bladerunner said:

Why would you be carrying a couple of kilos of potatoes into battle for?

Surely it would be lightweight , high energy/sustanence food

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So as to use the potatoes as weapon, put a few kilo of them in a sack and swing it at opponent, would knock them senseless.:rofl:

How about a makeshift potato cannon? Thrust one down a grenade launcher and knock your enemies senseless with it. Hey the potato gets cooked when it is shot :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:.

bladerunner said:

Ive seen a few high quality broken folding shovels over the years, I even damaged a three part folding one myself, but could'nt say offhand whether it was US military one. Thats why it would have been quite interesting to look at the condition of the shovel after those exercises, especially when used as a grappling hook.

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Milspec makes BIG difference, shape, thickness of blade, double rivets (not bolt), locking nuts etc. It is my experience that they are probably as sturdy as socketed shovels.

Also have other factors of mechanics, shovels usually are longer which lets you swing with greater leverage. A short folding shovel force you to apply force closer to the potential failure points and so reduce stress, that probably plays a factor.

bladerunner said:

Given a choice I think I would prefer to have strong Soviet Shovel.

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As do all right-thinking persons.

bladerunner said:

Troika said:

Eat potatoe whole in field is probably best compromise.

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Why would you be carrying a couple of kilos of potatoes into battle for?

Surely it would be lightweight , high energy/sustanence food

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It is joking reference to video where they were slicing up potatoes to CORSPEC (cordon bleu specification).

bladerunner said:

Ive seen a few high quality broken folding shovels over the years, I even damaged a three part folding one myself, but could'nt say offhand whether it was US military one. Thats why it would have been quite interesting to look at the condition of the shovel after those exercises, especially when used as a grappling hook.

Milspec makes BIG difference, shape, thickness of blade, double rivets (not bolt), locking nuts etc. It is my experience that they are probably as sturdy as socketed shovels.

Also have other factors of mechanics, shovels usually are longer which lets you swing with greater leverage. A short folding shovel force you to apply force closer to the potential failure points and so reduce stress, that probably plays a factor.

bladerunner said:

Given a choice I think I would prefer to have strong Soviet Shovel.

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As do all right-thinking persons.

bladerunner said:

So all in all in IMO its a video about nothing, However I would have associated the music with something out of the American wild West / eg 'The Magnificent Seven'

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:roll: That my friend is why reading Chinese is useful. My elementary Chinese informs me that on top of screen is legend 'call number XXX to purchase'. It is late night infomercial!

In all seriousness it means in China they are beginning to pay attention to basic infantry gear (q.v. recent adoption of boots and muffs), which is a good thing, though I have no idea if this is from some company or actual military standard.

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Troika said:

:roll: That my friend is why reading Chinese is useful. My elementary Chinese informs me that on top of screen is legend 'call number XXX to purchase'. It is late night infomercial!

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I think the company has at least some connections with the military. Don't think that the PLA would be too thrilled if some random company starts using it as free advertisement.

bladerunner said:

Well now that you ask, How experienced are you with shovels?

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I have no experience with a shovel and I don't need to have any experience with the shovel to judge the efficiency a multi-tasker that is designed NOT to match a dedicated shovel, but to do multiple jobs. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but this has nothing to do with a true shovel since no ordinary foot soldier in their right mind would bring a true shovel with him to the battlefield. So you cannot compare this to a true shovel. It's a multi-tasker and it is sufficient enough to complete a few tasks that no uni-tasker can. That's it. plain and simple.

I've had some (unpleasant) experience with the shovel. Digging is hardwork. Your back aches like mad after you've been at it for a while against packed soil.

vesicles said:

I have no experience with a shovel and I don't need to have any experience with the shovel to judge the efficiency a multi-tasker that is designed NOT to match a dedicated shovel, but to do multiple jobs. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but this has nothing to do with a true shovel since no ordinary foot soldier in their right mind would bring a true shovel with him to the battlefield. So you cannot compare this to a true shovel. It's a multi-tasker and it is sufficient enough to complete a few tasks that no uni-tasker can. That's it. plain and simple.

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Perhaps you should pay more attention to the importance of the shovel to the military man during the major wars To the infrantry man it was the next important thing next to his rifle.You can forget about all the other fancy bits that could impede, its ability to dig a while the user is lying close to prone on the ground while under fire, thats gonna save ones butt. In short How do we know that its efficiency as a shovel, is'nt severely compromised from the other strenuous uses?


My issue with folding spades/shovels is that they tend to be weaker at the pivot points, hence my doubt to subjecting it to other strenous uses until "Troika" pointed out that "Milspec" would possibly make them better, though i couldn't really determine whether the Chinese made one was in the best quality category.Hopwever as you all pointed out earlier the Chinese make their products cheaply, durability being futherest from their mind.


AS a sidenote I went and checked on my temperamental/ folding Shovel l,. Its a "Kerber" I dunno whether its a military spec one but I was told at the time of purchase, THat Kerber made the finest folding military shovel to NATO Standards.