Cold Steel Spetsnaz Special Forces Shovel mods

The Cold Steel Spetsnaz Special Forces Shovel is well designed, sturdy, and lightweight. That doesn't mean it can't be improved. Here is my version; I'd love to see yours. I filed down imperfections on the blade, then I narrowed the end of the handle. I used a card scraper to remove the finish from the handle, burned it to harden and darken the wood, and finished it with raw linseed oil.
I got mine on Amazon (affiliate link): amzn.to/34bGKrX
I also bought the sheath, it's OK: amzn.to/3l7t0oq
Here's the flaxseed oil I used: amzn.to/2Q5zNAx
And the torches:
Bernzomatic TS8000: amzn.to/31YX7FK
I used a little Bernozmatic refillable butane torch that isn't available anymore and doesn't have a built-in igniter. Here's the one I'd probably buy now: amzn.to/31YX7FK

[@Sigge2013]

Thank's for showing how you did yours. I just got one. I live in Sweden. Found a shop in the Netherlands. The total cost with the sheath and shipping was about 50$. I've lived in the states three times over the years. Last time was 89-90's. I was 14 back then. My dad used to work at IBM. I can just say i miss the low cost of everything!! 😁 And back then, even Walmart was still a good store with a lot of cool stuff we didn't have here in Sweden. Again, thank's for sharing!

[@sealrock9404]

Yes, we are lucky in the US. No VAT, very light tariffs on imports. Still, after buying the sheath and my state's almost 10% sales tax I probably spent over $35. So you didn't do too badly. Thank you for commenting.

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

Love the mods! The handle looks beautiful

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

Beautiful mods! Love the handle

[@randycisneros4111]

Hello Seal Rock nice informative review modification. I have two of these shovels that I keep in my truck and car for emergency's.. I'm going to take the clear coating off also but instead of burning the handle to darken it I'm going use a light brown stain to darken it and then use the linseed oil. I like to show the grain on the wood, I also cleaned up the rough edges and bought two sheath covers for the shovels. Thank you for sharing your mods.

[@sealrock9404]

Thank you! Stain sounds like a good option, I didn't have any handy so I decided to burn it instead.

[@CurtisEWipe]

I sanded my handle down and stained it a darker shade. I forget exactly what stain I used...everything that you stated that you weren't really happy with can easily be fixed. I absolutely love my shovel. Great video. 🍻

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks! You are right, it's a fine little shovel with just a little work.

[@thedepartedmack1284]

Great job! I really like your work

[@sealrock9404]

Thank you very much!

[@EricDaMAJ]

I bought the sheath, which is a good addition. I also put a screw eye in the handle base so I can run a lanyard through it.

[@jonathanrogers9961]

I use a 3 part mix. 1 part boiled linseed, 1 part turpentine, 1 part pine tar. Seals nicely. Gives a bit of a darker finish. And the pine tar adds a touch of grip to the handle.

[@sealrock9404]

That's a cool idea. I got a darker handle by burning, but the pine tar sounds grippy!

[@Roscoe_B]

Perfect mix...turpentine helps to penetrate deeper.

[@biciklisjani8066]

Thanks for your videó! Awesome idea! Greeting from Hungary...👋

[@jeffr7752]

Hey, my friend. Great video! My sons and I have also been planning to modify ours, but everyone is having fun throwing theirs that they don't really want to take the time. However! Here's some interesting history to share. I know they always refer to this as a "Spetsnaz Shovel", but the truth is that entrenching tools similar to this have been in service in the Russian army since WWII and also WWI with flat faces. Spetsnaz units were actually not formed until 1952. The Russian "frontoviks" (front line soldiers) were said to have an uncanny ability to drop when ordered and to immediately start "digging in" for cover and make incredible progress in a very short time. Also, the Russian term for their entrenching tool is actually "Lopata". Just something interesting I thought I'd share. Take care and thanks again!

[@sealrock9404]

Hey Jeff, thank you for the awesome history! It's true, many countries issued similar spades back to WWI and before.

[@felixcat9318]

I recently bought one of these and was extremely impressed with the quality, fit and finish and that the three sides were literally razor sharp right out of the box. Although these are pricey in the UK, it was worth every penny. Once in the hand, I could see what the fuss was all about as its a phenomenally capable tool that feels just right. On the basis of just how really good it was, I immediately ordered the larger Cold Steel Spetznaz Trench Shovel. The same excellent quality, fit and finish, and those razor sharp edges, too, but this is an order of magnitude more capable that the compact SF model, its something else indeed! I use mine with leather gloves, so don't mind the varnished handle, though I have some lengths of self adhesive anti-slip material intended for stairs and wonder it it'd be useful to put on the handles or if it'd be too rough.

[@mightylaidlow1]

I just got mine in and it's butter knife sharp

[@My-Nickel]

Great job thank you sir!

[@davidr6585]

Must have been a quality control issue at the time. I just received one of these, brand new and just a bit over a year after your video, and the edge around the shovel blade was clean and sharp, obviously sharpened at the factory after it had been powder coated(?). The ONLY burr on mine was either a bit of flashing from the drilling of one of the screw holes, may have been a hardened point of paint or powder coat as the file of my Leatherman knocked it right down.

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad to hear that everyone doesn't get the big burrs. I don't feel like the quality I got was out of line with the price though. On a Gerber or a Glock E-tool I would be mad, but the price is two or three times higher. Funny thing is, I find I'm using the Cold Steel more than my "better" E-tools.

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks!

[@charlies9085]

Nice👍👍

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks!

[@ARAW-__-]

Cool mods !! I also modded mine ten years ago, and did it again recently for a new one. Video is on my channel

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks for watching. I'll check your video!

[@ARAW-__-]

@sealrock9404 you got a unique style, I hope you'll make other videos ! See ya !

[@ARAW-__-]

Oh, and raw linseed oil will turn rancid, for wood handles boiled linseed oil is better suited as far as I know🫡

[@goodboi4939]

What’s the diameter of the shovel attachment and handle? I have a shillelagh maker I know in Ireland I’ll ask about getting a piece of blackthorn to replace handle with.

[@mdog1615]

I’m Late to the party here but if you like the look of a burnt finish next time try using pine tar and that propane torch in the background. Rub straight pine tar onto sanded and prepped wood then use the propane flame to run over the tar and heat it up to bubbling then rub it in with a rag. Do this a few times and you’ll see the tar soaking into the wood and the wood will darken from the flame as well. I usually do half a dozen coats like this in a row then let it dry and knock it down with 4 “O” steel wool. Then a half dozen coats of hand rubbed linseed oil (I use boiled not raw) , then finish with a coat of beeswax. Works a treat !

[@sealrock9404]

That sounds like a lot of work but I bet it looks great! Too bad you can't post pix in comments. Maybe you should do a video to show how it comes out.

[@mdog1615]

@@sealrock9404 it’s pretty much the same technique as old school Scandinavian cross country ski prepping was done , could probably find a vid on that to get a look at the process

[@mdog1615]

@@sealrock9404 jump ahead on this vid to the 15 minute mark 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpbXZKqnp9uErM0

[@davelynoutdoors6654]

Nice mod, looks better and more practical. Typical of cold steel, not bad quality for the money but poor finish. I have two of their hawks which I had to strip the black paint off the head and varnish off the handle then sharpen.

[@sealrock9404]

Thanks for your insight. This Cold Steel shovel has good bones, and it doesn't take much to improve it.

[@donoberloh]

Why such a short handle? Looks like a CS SF handle, shorter than the Spetsnaz model

[@sealrock9404]

You are right, it's the short handle version. On the Cold Steel site they call this the Special Forces Shovel and the Spetsnaz shovel, depending. They call the long handle version is the Spetsnaz Special Forces Trench Shovel. Thanks for watching.

[@liam3044]

Cold steel is always like this. They use good quality materials and are relatively well built except for the final finish so that it's cheaper. Love their stuff but you always need to just refine their stuff a bit.

[@sealrock9404]

I think you have nailed Cold Steel's value proposition. That's why I'm satisfied despite the crappy grinding on my shovel. A few minutes work and you have a highly functional and robust tool.

[@escapetherace1943]

I really wouldn't complain about a single point when you're getting an excellent shovel with good steel and treatment I already abused mine hard and it barely took a small burr in it

[@raphlvlogs271]

another problem with the handle: it is totally round.

[@sealrock9404]

You are right. I have not tried to address any design issues here. That could be an interesting project.

[@gymleaderjake1579]

It appears you bought the one made with lower quality steel.

[@sealrock9404]

I hadn't heard there was a difference in the steel ... the steel on mine seems OK to me, there were just some burrs on the edge.

[@gymleaderjake1579]

@@sealrock9404 After further research, I think that the sellers on Amazon were making things up. I think I just paid more for the same item... annoying.

[@user-ms2mk2rm3t]

Cold Steel only uses 1 type of steel on both their shovels

[@arturoaaguilarperez1200]

TOO BAD. NOT GOOD IDEA.

[@geico1975]

Looks great, I hope the screws went back as tight, did you add any Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 or anything similar? Just curious.

[@sealrock9404]

The screws went in tight. I did not use any glue or threadlocker. If they were loose, I'd use the old trick of a cut-off toothpick or two with some epoxy or other waterproof glue.