My current pick mattock is starting to break down after decades of use. It's been pretty good - pretty solid fiberglass(?) / plastic handle with a pretty solid head (hasn't cracked or chipped) despite use in hard dirt filled with granite rocks. I'm not sure what the brand is.

Didn't really look but just casually in passing while in a store I didn't see what I'm using.

Based on the recent hatchet thread, I looked at what Estwing and Gransfors but they don't seem to offer mattocks. Fiskar has one and it sounds nice but kinda complicated (multiple parts: handle, head, etc). Sounds like it's great for soil but I've seen pics of it coming apart. I can see it possibly coming apart if I use it on my hard dirt and granite. But not sure.


I'll keep checking local stores to see what they've got. I guess Fiskar with their isocore (shock absorbing handle) is the default. Would like a solid USA or European/Japanese branded and manufactured mattock. Sounds like Mexican might be an acceptable alternative. But definitely, given safety concerns, nothing from PRC; mattock that has absolutely zero dependency on anything PRC.

Recommendations?

German? I looked at this one before deciding I really don't want to work that hard up at the cabin. Who knows, maybe I'll get it anyway.

https://garrettwade.com/produc...ional-german-mattock

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
German? I looked at this one before deciding I really don't want to work that hard up at the cabin. Who knows, maybe I'll get it anyway.

https://garrettwade.com/produc...ional-german-mattock

Thanks - I'll see if they have a pick version instead of the cutter version here. I need the pick end more than the axe end.

Axe & ye shall receive...

https://garrettwade.com/produc...aker-pickaxe-and-hoe

Thanks! I was just looking at that. That may be good but I'm wondering whether or not the hoe end will be okay. It's wider than the adze end I have right now. Not sure that will be indicated for the granite rock ground.

I've got a 'pulaski' going almost into it's 50th year with my firewood/home garden chores. Lots of dirt/trenches/gravelly ground chopped asunder...ok, ages past, yet it remains an incredible tool. The last handle I had to replace on it is now verging on 40 years ago. Ace still sells very similar version. Granted it's 1/2 axe rather than 1/2 pick, still a pleasing tool.

The 'hoe/pulaski' face is narrower, about 3 1/2" wide and most agile in use in trench work.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab...ki+tool+image&ia=web

Yeah, I bought a old forest service Pulaski head off ebay and put a new handle on it. I have both the Mattox and the Pulaski. They each have a place depending on conditions but I tend to favor the Mattox. (until I hit a root of course:-)

Sounds like you need 2 tools, one would be a regular pickax for the granitic dirt/rocks in your area.

Corona, will last forever, and if it doesn't -well there is the lifetime warranty

Thanks. I'll look at Corona - in the OP, I prefer USA / EU but open to Mexico if necessary.

I really don't care about lifetime warranties. Anything I buy, I'm assuming will last 10 years and that's all I ask.

I just don't want something to break unexpectedly and acutely that causes injury or death. I'm not babying these things. It takes picks, hoes, crowbars/prybars, different shovels to dig a frickin' hole in my blessed yard.

Collins. Found mine at Ace hardware.

McLeod, ProHoe and J.R. Firetools have nice digging tools. I have one of the JR Fire Tools Pulaskis (Super Pro 40 I think?) that's been MUCH better than all of my prior pulaskis. They have many differen tool head styles.

Fire Tools

Awesome. Thanks for the link.

I just bought (locally) the Fiskar 5lb mattock: https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/...-pick-36-751210-1002

Head forged in Taiwan, assembled in VN. We'll see how good it is. The head is probably fine and looks decently forged. Mostly concerned about the stem/handle - multiple pieces assembled together.

I looked at the Collins / Truper and the forging doesn't look good. And doesn't look solid - more grainy in texture (like a bunch of small particles held together). Wasn't confidence inspiring.

I'm gonna call US and German forged equally good but there may be differences. But US/German relative to India, Taiwan, Mexico, China - how would you rank them? My current mattock seems forged in India and looks pretty good and has held up well; no chips in the metal despite use w/ granite rocks. Taiwan (new one) looks pretty good. Mexico looked bad. And I don't trust PRC steel no matter what it looks like. But this is all novice opinion. Experts - any thoughts on forging quality?

Aside: I found some Razor Back branded tools - not familiar with the brand but they seemed nice.

some of those look kinda flimsy


try Lowes?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...ick-Mattock/50327105

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...ss-Handle/5001746195


then again, all the new stuff looks flimsy compared to the 50+ or more year old ones I still have,

Thanks! I was going to check those out but they seem to be out of stock locally.

That being said, I think the Kobalt line is basically Lowe's branded and made by some OEM. The OEM in this, I think, seems to be Truper / Collins as they have similar part numbers like TP-5xx-xx

Collins: TP-4FD-C
Kobalt: TP-5F-K
Truper (5lb pick mattock): TP-5xxxxx

Really disappointing again how hard it is to buy USA/EU made for these things.

Council Tool. US made forged mattocks and Pulaski axes.

Only other brand I’d consider is a Gransfors if I had the extra money to spend and they are very nice but council would be my first choice

I bought Husky brand Mattock picks and axes from Home Depot. They have composite handles and I am very happy with them. I bought my wife a smaller wood handle pick and axe from Walmart to use in her gardening. She loves them. I told her not to pry with them.

Added Council to the list for future reference.

try local used as well,

craigslist, local estate sales (lots are web based) and auction houses that do home sales,


I see random garden and yard tools in the auctions in this area

saw one at Walmart the other day for like $21. Looked like a pretty good tool for the money.