On spadeis a special form of shovelwith a flat, mostly rectangular sheet. For this ToolFor the soil cultivation and the digging of holes, the short variant of the feldspar with a likewise fixed leaf as well as the Folding Spade , At the Folding Spade are originally the spade handle made of metal and the sheet connected by a hinge. Thanks to this mobile connection, the implement can be folded and therefore requires little space. Earlier one designated the Folding Spade also as Pioneer Schanzzeug. Folding Spade are also often provided with a tip. Historically speaking, the spade itself replaced the gravevine that was previously used to work the soil. In large-scale agriculture, the spade was later even replaced by the plow. In horticulture and other areas of the spade is still used today. With the construction of the folding blade, further fields of application resulted.

From the tomb to the modern spade

For manual tillage, the spade has remained one of our most important tools. The spade was developed from the gravestone at the latest after the sedentary condition of man. There were spade-like tillage equipment made of wood or stone more than 7,000 years ago, as finds of so-called wooden half-spade and stone spade leaves from the Neolithic show. In the Bronze and Iron Age quite specialized spade shapes were developed. Even today, there are many special forms of spade such as drainage spade, Rodespaten, peat cutter spade, tree spade, perforated spade or forked spade. In Roman antiquity we used iron spades, which were very similar to our spade today. Of the Folding Spade after all, it’s a pretty young invention. First copies were probably only in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Broad deployment in the military field

Field and folding spades found and still find use in the military. Already in the First World War, the soldiers of various armies used field spades for digging the trenches. In close combat and in the so-called Grabenkrieg, the spades were also used as melee weapons. In 1938, the folding spade was used by the German Wehrmacht. He was called „Little Schanzzeug“. The originally used feldspar had a length of 50 centimeters. The folding spades were folded as long as folded, but had a length of 70 centimeters and were thus easier to handle. The leaf could be fixed in different positions. So this device with a tip on the blade could also be used as a hoebe used. The German Army Folding Spade was finally copied by the Americans under the name „M1943“ and later developed further. The further developed version of 1951, called „intrenching tool, combination“, had another chopping tip. 1967 followed the again improved version called „lightweight intrenching tool“. This folding spade is still used by the Bundeswehr today.

Applications for modern folding spades

Many modern folding spades have two hinges. The second hinge is now on the handle of the folding blade, so that the device can be folded to one third of its working size. A folding spade is a very practical tool and finds many uses outside the military. When camping around or at various outdoor activities a folding spade is indispensable. With a folding spade in the trunk you are always well prepared, if there is no progress in the snow or mud. To get away from the military use of folding spades, these are now also called camping spades. In the folding spade comparison & comparison, the model of Inet-Trades scored the best. The olive-green folding spade was attested a high stability. In second place is Fobachi’s military folding spade, which has an additional hoe and as well Multifunction Toolis ideal for outdoor use. Both models include a carrying case.

Other, well-tested folding spade models

Other well-tested folding spade models include the Uvistar Mini Scoop Light Set and the CON: P Folding Spade with Belt Pouch. This is followed by the AOS Outdoor folding spade and the Relaxdays folding spade, shovel and hoe set. Also good marks received the model of Timetop, a multifunctional device with folding spade and hoe for garden and camping. The folding spades of the Xclou and Explorer brands achieved similarly good ratings.