Bayonet shovel: characteristics and purpose of shovels made of titanium or rail steel, varieties. Rating of the best models of 2022

Types of bayonet shovels

The bayonet shovel, despite the unity of design, has several varieties, depending on the purpose of use:

Gardening. The tasks set are clear based on the name of the model. It is used for arranging the local area, in the garden and in the country. For ease of tillage, the product has a more pronounced wedge-shaped shape compared to other types.
Military. For greater possibility of manipulation over a long period of time, this shovel has an elongated handle. A variation is the sapper shovel with reduced dimensions, which makes storage and transportation easier.
Tourist. It has optimal dimensions and is used for fishing, hunting and picnics. Some models have additional options, such as serrated edges, a collapsible shape, and different attachments.

Universal. It is used to perform any work, as it has a standard shape.

Blade material

The main criterion for choosing a particular shovel is the material from which the plate is made.

In a bayonet shovel these are different types of metals:

Titanium. Household tools made of titanium alloy are the most popular and in demand on the agricultural tools market. The product is light in weight and has a durable plate. There is less soil sticking to the canvas and it does not bend. The working tool is effective, but expensive. In addition, the inflexible properties of the metal can lead to breakage of the product under intense physical impact.
Steel. Perhaps the most popular and popular option for everyday work at a summer cottage. There are no complex technical features, it performs various tasks, and the price is reasonable. Among the disadvantages are the weight of the product (quite heavy) and the possibility of breakage due to high adhesion to the ground.
Spring high-alloy steel. This model has many advantages, so its popularity is growing every year. The density of the canvas is increased, optimal flexibility, the metal wears less and is several times stronger than iron. Rail steel is slightly heavier than titanium alloy, but in many characteristics, including density, it is not inferior to this metal. The disadvantage is the difficulty of sharpening, which is compensated by the fact that the metal is less susceptible to abrasion and the shovel can be used for a long period of time. The cost of the product is much cheaper than a titanium shovel and slightly more expensive than an iron one.
Stainless steel. Also refers to common and popular materials. In terms of performance characteristics it is inferior to rail steel and titanium alloy, but in terms of physical and mechanical properties it is superior to simple iron in terms of strength and resistance to fractures, and the price is not much higher. Summer residents also value stainless steel products because it effectively resists the effects of negative environmental factors and is characterized by sufficient durability.

If a shovel is needed for intensive long-term use (for example, for construction work), then titanium alloy products are a more suitable option.

For domestic needs in the garden, ordinary steel and stainless steel are more suitable options.

Shovels: characteristics, types, types

Additional equipment for shovels, providing for expansion of their areas of application. - Saw / serration. Serrated and sawing notches are found in shovels on the side edges of the blade. They will come in handy for cutting small branches, removing weeds and cutting plant roots when digging virgin soil. In some cases, the shovel can be equipped with a removable saw attachment.

— Hoe (hoe). This feature is found only in tourist/car models that have a folding design. To work as a hoe, the blade of the shovel is rotated at an angle relative to the handle and secured in this way. Typically a 90° rotation is provided, but it may be possible to fasten at a more acute angle; The sharper the angle, the thinner the layer of earth removed upon impact. This function is useful primarily on dense, hard soils, where ordinary shovels do not penetrate well: the hoe is hit on the ground in a sweeping manner, which allows you to cope even with dense dried clay and other similar surfaces.

- Pickaxe. A constructive solution among individual examples of folding shovels of the tourist/automotive type. Such models are usually transferred to pickaxe mode by deflecting the blade at an angle of about 90° relative to the handle - a pickaxe-shaped growth is formed at the opposite end from the bayonet. It can be used, for example, to dig a drainage ditch around a tent in case of heavy rain.

- Axe. A device for use in conjunction with multifunctional folding shovels, which is an ax head with a pointed blade at one end and a flat butt on the side where it is attached to the shovel handle. It is intended mainly for tourist purposes - chopping wood for lighting a fire, hammering in tent pegs, etc. Also, if the shovel is well sharpened along the edges and its blade is capable of cutting down small trees, such a design solution is also considered to be an “axe.”

- Knife. Removable knife-shaped attachment for multifunctional shovels with detachable blade. You will need a knife if you suddenly need to cut a bunch of ripe grapes, cut a rope when gartering a tomato, and in other similar situations.

- Ice axe. A practical tool for light-traveled climbers, it turns a multifunctional shovel into an ice axe. This attachment is notable for its characteristic “beak” to ensure self-retention in the ice and form a third point of support.

— Sling cutter. A recess with sharp edges on one of the side ends of the blade for cutting slings, ropes or nets. A shovel with a built-in sling cutter can be useful for mountaineers, rock climbers, rescuers, or when untangling stubborn lumps of rope, when there is no other choice but to cut the rope.

— Glass breaker. A tactical attachment for shovels with a folding design, the purpose of which is tied to breaking glass. Installed on the tail of the handle. Using a glass breaker, you can easily break glass from the inside or outside of a car when evacuating after an accident; it can also be used in emergency situations at home or on the street, for example, in case of a fire.

- Wrench. Hexagonal slots in the working surface of the shovel blade for tightening and unscrewing nuts. They can be of different sizes and numbers, but usually there are no more than two.

- Screwdriver. Mini-screwdriver in the removable tail part of the handle of multifunctional shovels. It is often equipped with a double-sided bit with flat and cross-shaped bits for screwing in/unscrewing screws with different head shapes.

- Nail puller. An oblong cutout of a tapering shape in the canvas of individual examples of tourist/automobile shovels. This slot is used to pry up the heads of nails and other similar fasteners when they need to be removed.

- Bottle opener. A characteristically shaped cutout in the canvas for opening glass bottles closed with metal caps without threads. One edge of such a slot lifts the lid, the second rests against it from above, thus allowing it to be removed without much effort. Can also be used for preserved jars, etc.

- Flint. A device built into the handle for striking sparks, with the help of which you can create a fire and, accordingly, make a fire. It is a special rod that forms sparks upon contact with metal objects. Flint is found in the equipment of tourist-type shovels.

- Whistle. A signal whistle is usually screwed into the tail part of the handle of multifunctional shovels and is used to scare away wild animals with a shrill whistle or to attract the attention of rescuers in case of emergency situations during a hike. You can find it in the arsenal of tourist/car models.

- Compass. A built-in compass is equipped with shovels for “survivalists”, allowing you to navigate the terrain according to the cardinal directions. It is often presented in the form of a separate removable device with the ability to be attached to a handle.

— Additionally, there may be functions not listed above. For example, a hammer, a flashlight, a ruler, etc.

Bayonet Shovel Shape

The bayonet shovel traditionally has an oval plate shape, slightly tapering towards the bottom. Depending on the tasks and purposes of use, manufacturers offer other models:

Rectangular. Designed for snow removal and deep loosening of fairly soft soil.
Trapezoid. The plate has a smaller working area, while the perimeter of the blade remains the standard size. Effective for working with heavy types of soil.
Triangular. Designed to work with hard soil. Although the digging depth is small in size, when loosening the soil you don’t have to use much force. The shape of the blade resembles a wedge, which makes working with this tool easier.

A shovel must be properly stored and maintained

To ensure the durability of the shovel and ease of use, it is necessary to strive to ensure that the following requirements are met:

After finishing the work, the shovel should be thoroughly cleaned;
storage should be carried out in dry and ventilated areas;
The shovel should be stored with the blade down if the handle attachment point is open, and with the blade up if the handle is closed;
before winter storage, the shovel should be treated with either kerosene or machine oil;
the shovel must be sharpened regularly using a file, a sharpening stone or a special machine;

The process of sharpening a shovel

the cutting should always be perfectly smooth. You can use sandpaper to clean it.

So, we hope that after reading this article, you will be able to choose the right shovel and properly maintain it. Compliance with the above requirements will allow you to facilitate the process of working with it, as well as ensure its greater durability.

We will be grateful if you share with us your secrets of using this simple tool.

Below we offer a video that will help you choose the most reliable and convenient shovel handle.

Plate size

The standard dimensions of the blade blade are about 32 cm in length and the width does not exceed 23 cm. Other models and alternative options are also available.

When purchasing a shovel, it is recommended to focus on generally accepted standards to increase the comfort of working with the tool.

The optimal length is considered to be in the range of 30-32 cm, the maximum size is up to 40 cm.
In terms of width, it is preferable to choose a tight 23-25 cm, maximum 28 cm.
These dimensions allow you to avoid excessive stress on your back and arms when working with fairly dense soil.

There are specialized models of smaller sizes, for example, the length of a sapper shovel is about 18-20 cm.

Larger products with a length of more than 40 cm are ineffective for ordinary work in the garden.

Care and storage

Shovels should be stored in a dry, clean and well-ventilated place. It is best to set aside a separate place to store all garden tools. In order for the shovel to serve you for a long time, you should follow some rules of care:

Always clean your shovel after use. Moisture and organic substances that remain on the surface and act destructively on the shovel.
If the handle of your shovel is made of wood, it will need to be painted and strengthened periodically. Make sure it stays tight and doesn't wobble. If it becomes loose, reinforce it with nails or bolts.
Regularly sharpen the edge of the work plate, smooth out bends and dents. Sharpening is carried out using a grinder or rasp. If your shovel is not made of aluminum, steel or stainless steel, sharpening is not required.
When purchasing, choose shovels with a solid crown. This shovel will last you two to three times longer. The junction of the handle and the plate is the most vulnerable.

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Pen

Due to the design feature of the handle, many summer residents prefer a triangular shape, which does not allow the handle to rotate around its axis. Therefore, such a handle is convenient when digging holes and trenches, requiring the ejection of soil from the recesses.

The ergonomic design increases the grip of a portion of the earth and reduces the load on the hands. In general, the shape of the handle is chosen taking into account the preferences of the worker. It can be T-shaped or D-shaped.

Tips for choosing

Experts recommend taking shovels made of forged steel or titanium; they are the strongest, most durable and reliable. On top of the canvas there must be a special coating that protects the metal from mechanical stress or corrosion.

It’s good if the handle is located at an angle, so it’s more convenient to work with the tool. At the same time, the design distributes the load evenly, rather than concentrating it exclusively on the back muscles.

The shovel, which is for sale on the website, is an important tool not only in the construction industry, but also in the military industry, everyday life, for cleaning areas adjacent to buildings, and park areas. The shovel is often used by rescuers, archaeologists and representatives of other specialties. Until now, no technology has been able to fully replace the shovel.

Material

For the handle, you should choose a material that gives comfort to work. For example, metal will be heavier. And in sub-zero weather, such material can “stick” to the skin of the hands.

Plastic is light in weight and inexpensive, but this material is more fragile and can break when handled or dropped. The best option is wood. For better grip and reduced slipping, products with rubber on top are more comfortable.
The handle of a bayonet shovel is usually made of wood or metal. Wooden ones are made from different species: pine, acacia, oak, larch. These are quite durable materials, low in cost, do not corrode, and have a long service life. The disadvantage is considered heavy weight, some types of wood are brittle.
Steel is stronger than wood, but this option is more expensive. Recently, plastic cuttings have been spreading. Fiberglass products are light in weight, quite durable, and at a price higher than budget options.

When choosing a garden tool, proceed from what work it is intended for and with what intensity it will be used.

You should also take into account the height of the person and the length of the shovel, so that work efficiency does not decrease, there is no heavy load on individual muscle groups, so as not to cause harm to health.

The equipment should be thoroughly cleaned, stored in a dry place and the blade should be periodically lubricated with machine oil. A bayonet shovel that is suitable in size, weight and material saves time, facilitates effort and brings joy from the results of the work performed.

Ranking table of the best shovels

The table below shows the most popular models of sharp shovels for excavation work and clearing snow from a car:

Place	Tool	average price	Main feature of the model	Rating	Manufacturer
The best bayonet shovels
1	Solid 1026667	816 rubles	Small stalk	9,6	FISKARS
2	Solid 1026686	894 rubles	Long stalk	9,6	FISKARS
3	Ergonomic 1001568	2094 rubles	Comfortable handle	9,6	FISKARS
4	BISON Favorite Master 4-39504	730 rubles	Short and compact	9,6	Bison
5	Tsentroinstrument Kuzbass 1446	1058 rubles	Sharp and long	9,6	Kuzbass
The best shovels
1	Solid 1026649 78 cm	821 ruble	Rounded corner is good for clearing snow from your car	9,6	FISKARS
2	Classic 61480 115 cm	1009 rubles	A light weight	9,6	Sibrtech
3	Solid 1026682 120 cm	1100 rubles	Wide canvas, heavy weight	9,6	FISKARS
4	28103 without stem	442 rubles	Square canvas	8	SCRAB
5	Solid 1026685 127 cm	1210 rubles	Curved and roomy	9,4	FISKARS
The best mining shovels
1	Xiaomi Nextool Shovel 100 cm	2380 rubles	Foldable, thick metal	9,8	Xiaomi
2	PALISAD 61428 62 cm	1019 rubles	Light weight, carbon steel	9,8	Palisad
3	BOYSCOUT 61045, 48 cm	1475 rubles	Folds, has a jagged side	9	Boyscout
4	Airline AB-S-02 46 cm	559 rubles	Tiny size, convenient case	9	Airline
5	BISON 4-39441 55 cm	830 rubles	Compact size	9	Bison
The best budget models
1	Master 39412 without handle	200 rubles	Sharp corner	9	Bison
2	28124 without stem	293 rubles	Classic bayonet shovel design	8,6	SKRAB
3	Tourist shovel (mini)	479 rubles	Folds up	8,6	Grinda
4	Sibrteh 61461 125 cm	long length	8,6	Sibrtech
5	Sibrtech 61414	519 rubles	long length	8	Sibrtech
The best expensive models
1	Quality 1000621 59 cm	5830 rubles	Short length and strength	10	FISKARS
2	SmartFit 1001567 105-125 cm	3858 rubles	Telescopic	10	FISKARS
3	Professional Titan 4-39416 144 cm	2850 rubles	Titanium base	9,4	Bison
4	Gardena ErgoLine	3909 rubles	Long warranty	8	GARDENA
5	Titan Expert 39418 120 cm	3130 rubles	Titanium working part 28 cm	7,6	Bison