Custom Diggers!

[Dirtfishergabe]

Hey guys, I have been working with a local company here for a little while. We are trying to figure out what kind of a hand digger (lesche type) to make and offer up to club members. This would be intended to make some profits for the club, while offering what we hope is a pretty cool digger. We are currently looking to start costs per digger at less than the price of a Lesche standard digging tool ( $39.95 ). 

The current layout for a basic digger is something along the lines of:

A 6-7 inch blade with serations on only 1 side. ( You get the choice of which side you would like them on. )
A bicycle grip on the handle. ( hopefully 2-3 basic choices.)
*optional Engraving is available too.* This can be anything from initials, to a full name, etc.
*also, the digger can be made to a custom size if needed.*
As of right now, there is not an official sheath that would be used. So that may have to be aquired else where. ( ideas are greatly appreciated.)
Now, I need something from YOU. I need to know: What would you want in a digger, as in what makes it better than buying a standard digger? How much would you want to pay to make it "worth buying" and how much is too much? Any other thoughts or oppions are welcomed!

Thanks. Gabe.

[Crevias SE]

u cant really beat the Lesche digger.

[Boaz]

root cut on both side of it not just one

[RELICUS MAXIMUS]

Here's my 2 cents on what a Cadillac digging tool would be...

#1)  The blade should be strong.  Cheapies bend over time.  Use 304 stainless steel.
#2)  Guards to prevent hand slip.
#3)  I don't like the handle being offset on the Lesche diggers.  It's clumsy.
#4)  The blade needs to be thick to make cutting easier.  I'm talking 3/16" thick at the back of the blade.  Bevel on one side only.  Don't make it sharp.
#5)  The blade needs to extend all the way through to the end of the handle.
#6)  The grip should bolt to the blade and be hard rubber or strong plastic with non-slip grooves in it.  A bicycle grip will tear up.
#7)  Evenly balanced.
#8)  The root cutter damages coins.

I use a sawed off US 1943 bayonet (dated 1943) and it is indestructible and perfectly balanced.  The guard really hurts the hands in dry ground, however.  I don't need a root cutter as I use the side of the bayonet to force the target out from under the root.  My bayonet makes almost invisible deep holes which would be perfect for a coin hunter.  The grooves on the sides help too.  See pic for inspiration.  Except for the guard, it's the best digging tool on earth!

[Dirtdigger]

I agree with most of what RELICUS is suggesting. But I would like to keep the trowel look and feel and have the option for a serrated edge. I like the price (under $40) it would make it competitive with others. When would they be available to look at? Buy? On Monday at the meeting?

[Silver Dollar]

David.....the key to this is buy a Lesche and they make money,buy from the club and we make money........

[Boaz]

look MR.V but some place around with that in thepic you be talk to the man in blue I know it happen had to stop lost a day of hunting had 6 car there to they seen what I was doing they I need to come back to the house two week later they stop and to talk again this tiime I had the right tool so to watch what it look like my two cent or is that four cent

[Scruch]

I LOVE ALL THE NEGATIVE VIBE WE GOT AROUND HERE!!

    May a thousand "CLICKS" be upon you!!!!

[MikeW]

I am in need of a digger since I only got my military bayonet and trowel...lol

[Dustin Mills]

I've been night hunting for the past couple weeks with permission. No way I'm going out in the day time with this heat. You're crazy.

I know club members night hunt also....because I've went with them. I also know two local dealers who night hunt.

Night hunting and Nighthawking are two different things.

Put away your pitch forks.

[Boaz]

right now it the only way I can hunt but I do it with permission to I get to hunt some parks because they know me I always tell them when I going to do it nighthawking need to stop I tell if I see someone doing it I had to stop hunting a woman house that go back to the 1830 because a guy did not cover his hole up she call me back two day ago and said in a month or two she let me hunt again she had to paid for the guy lawn mower $ 2000.00 she is now suing the guy who did it he has been stop from hunting in four parks so far we do not need guy like that it hurt all of us so if I see someone not do what they should be do I tell get mad at me for it  so what I love this hobby so should you when the find is all that you are for and you going do anything to get that find you need to stay home that my dime on the post AND I WIIL STOP THEM IF I CAN

[CoinHunter]

Amen Boaz

[Treasurehound]

Do you know what this guy looks like in case we see him somewhere else? I was in a park a few weeks ago and came across some massive holes with the dried dirt pile next to them. I filled the holes back. It really irked me off to see things like that.

[Homegrown]

I just ordered one of these  http://www.amazon.com/Good-Grips-Garden-Knife-Sheath/dp/B002LTUFN0    this is a modified Japanese Hori Hori garden knife.  I'll give a full review once I use it this weekend. 

[Dirtfishergabe]

I just ordered one of these  http://www.amazon.com/Good-Grips-Garden-Knife-Sheath/dp/B002LTUFN0    this is a modified Japanese Hori Hori garden knife.  I'll give a full review once I use it this weekend. 

Awsome! A review sounds good.

[HRife]

Yep.....nice looking Oxo, but once again.....if it looks like a weapon, it could give unneeded attention. 

[4-H]

root cut on both side of it not just one

Root cut on both sides will weaken the blade buddy.   I folded one over recently that had the double cutter. 

[Dustin Mills]

Harold's right about the look.  You go hunting in public looking like rambo you're going to get some unwanted attention sooner or later.

[Homegrown]

Here is the review of the OXO version of the Japanese Hori Hori garden tool.
 
1. When I received it I thought to myself... This thing looks mean.  You guys are right, it is most definitely looks like a weapon.
2. It has a thick blade with one side serrated and the back  side of the blade is concaved for scooping.  Very sturdy, no need to worry about bending or breaking it.
3. It digs great but has a hard time with roots because the serrations are not big enough.  (to close together and not deep enough).
4. the handle should be round instead of flat on both sides ( they do make one with a round handle).
5. the sheath that comes with it has a lame slide over the belt type clasp that bends easy and tends to fall off the belt when bending down.  other than that it looks cool and the blade fits snug inside it.

In summary...
A well balanced good digging tool that would be nice in the garden and not so much in public.  This was an impulse buy for me and I will be getting a Lesche digging tool in the near future.

Jason
 

[Dustin Mills]

Hello I am George Lesche and I would like to thank all my customs and supporters who have helped me and my family though these trying times. There has been a number of peolpe wanting to know what happened. At this time the only thing I can say about it is that I can no longer use my own name on the digging tools I designed or even use the same names, colors or even our web page address that we had since 1998. That is the reason that my wife and myself started predatortools.com . One thing that I can say
is this is very personal to me now that each and every tool are the Highest Quality digging tool that you can purchase made on the original tooling that made the tools what they once were. Each and every one that I build will be 100% or it will not leave here. Unlike some other companies, I could have taken the tools overseas and had it made and then given it a American name. I didn't do that, I waited till I could rebuild using all American made products and saving American jobs. This is the only place you'll find the original quality tools please check out my web page at www.predatortools.com Email address predatortools@earthlink.net On a personal note I would like to thank Pam for believing in me and the tools and giving me the green light to move forward. Thank you very much Sincerely George and Pam Lesche

Local Inventor Aids U.S. Troops

Rosenhayn, New Jersey, May 16, 2005 - George Lesche invented something that looks like nothing more than a gardening tool. In fact, it is a digging tool, but its strength and design, he says, makes it perfect for digging up landmines.
He believes it can save a soldier or Marine's life, so, he's been sending them to troops in Iraq.
Action News caught up with Lesche at the Post Office in Rosenhayn, Cumberland County where he was shipping about 60 of the digging tools to troops- he's already sent about 40. He invented the tool in 1996 and sells it on the Internet, however, he's actually received "Thank You" notes from soldiers whose parents sent them one.
Lesche says they are perfect for the dangerous and delicate work of extracting explosives.
Lesche, who lives near Bridgeton, is a pipefitter at a local refinery and says many of his Union brothers and sisters have contributed money to pay for producing and sending the tools, which he simply calls "a digging tool" - no fancy name here. His online company is called Predator Tools.
For his work, George Lesche has been honored by local lawmakers, but he says the real thanks comes in the letters from troops.

In Rosenhayn, Cumberland Co. New Jersey, Cathy Gandolfo, Channel 6 Action News.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/51605-homeland-landminetool.html

George Lesche now owns predator tools online. I’d buy predator instead of Lesche from now on. I already have two Lesche diggers and a Sampson ball handle Lesche shovel. When I have to replace I’ll be buying predator tools though. …if I ever have to replace.

[Scruch]

Yep.....nice looking Oxo, but once again.....if it looks like a weapon, it could give unneeded attention. 

Some of the area's and places that I hunt, it needs to look like a weapon!   

[HRife]

Yep.....nice looking Oxo, but once again.....if it looks like a weapon, it could give unneeded attention. 

Some of the area's and places that I hunt, it needs to look like a weapon!   

Yes......very true! Sometimes it is a "delicate" balance. I know that a few times my "digger" has most likely kept me from undesirable circumstances. That............. and my crooked nose and scarred face... "rustic" ... appearance!!!

[BEATNGU]

I just ordered one of these  http://www.amazon.com/Good-Grips-Garden-Knife-Sheath/dp/B002LTUFN0    this is a modified Japanese Hori Hori garden knife.  I'll give a full review once I use it this weekend. 

So what was the verdict on the digger

[BEATNGU]

  IT SUCKED