Cold Steel’s Soviet Special Forces Shovel?

By Randall Chaney

Posted in
#Gear

In today’s article, Randall Chaney examines the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel and the history that influenced its development. The Special Forces Shovel shown here is the author’s own and not a review sample.

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel shown with its nylon case, edges sharpened on all sides for cutting and chopping. A compact, durable tool designed for both field use and emergency situations.

Entrenching tools have been around since the first men-at-arms needed to dig a hole to hide from harm’s way. In Denmark, the Fodfolksspade was patented by army Capt. Mads Linnemann in 1869. This square-shaped spade, the first modern E-tool, became popular among soldiers across pre-20th-century Europe. It would also be the grandfather of the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel — the subject of our article today.

Digging Deep

I decided I wanted a small shovel for my pick-up truck. Hey, you never know when you or one of your Rhodes Scholar buddies might get their rig stuck and need to dig out. For many years, I had seen the Cold Steel shovel on the market. Intrigued, I bought one along with its Special Forces Shovel Sheath. Both items set me back an entire 35 bucks.

The Linnemann-type infantry shovel was built from two parts: the steel blade and the wooden handle. Image: King Ferdinand National Military Museum/CC BY-SA 4.0

If the Linnemann Model was the grandfather of the Cold Steel shovel, a Russian shovel was its “отец” or father. The Russian Army (pre-Soviet Union) purchased 60,000 of Linnemann’s shovels. The design was perfect for its intended purpose and would evolve into the Soviet Sapper’s Shovel, the MPL-50. MPL means small infantry shovel (Malaya Pekhotnaya Lopata). The dash 50 denotes a full length in centimeters, or 20 inches.

Cold Steel, Inc.’s founder, Lynn Thompson, and his crew encountered the MPL-50, which was at that time known as the Soviet Spetsnaz Shovel. The Spetsnaz are special forces troops from former Soviet countries that differ from regular army units. Spetsnaz translates to “Special Designation.” These soldiers and sailors range from security specialists to quick reaction forces to Tier One-style counterinsurgency and hostage rescue special forces. Trained in all manners of hand-to-hand and weapons combat, interestingly, the Spetsnaz taught its soldiers to throw the MLP-50, if necessary.

Scanned page from a Soviet military training manual featuring illustrated instructions on using an infantry shovel in close combat. The drawing shows a soldier holding an MPL-50 shovel in an overhand grip, poised to strike an opponent. Additional diagrams depict defensive blocks and thrusting motions. The manual emphasizes the shovel’s potential as both an entrenching tool and a weapon. The images are in black and white, with simple line art to convey the techniques. The training reflects the Spetsnaz doctrine of improvising weapons from standard-issue gear. — Translated as “Infantry Shovel Strike from Above”, the illustration from a Soviet military training manual showing a soldier demonstrating shovel combat techniques. Image: Public Domain

Cold Steel enthusiastically added this shovel design to the company’s roster in 2003 as a hearty, useful tool. It joined other products Cold Steel advertised as throwing weapons, such as the Sure Strike Star, Torpedo, Throwing Hatchet, True Flight Throwing Knife and others.

Thowing It Out There

Okay, I am the first to yell at the TV when a “hero” chucks his weapon at a bad guy. T.J. Hooker is a prime example. At best, you might inflict superficial damage; at worst, you would merely rearm the subject. Unless your escape strategy is to throw something, then run like hell, I see this move as a big fat nope.

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel leaning upright against the side panel of a pickup truck. The shovel has a coated carbon steel blade with sharpened edges on all three sides. Its hickory wood handle is fixed securely into the socket with two large screws. The blade’s compact, slightly concave shape mirrors the Soviet MPL-50 design. The truck provides scale, showing that the shovel’s overall length is around 20 inches, making it portable for transport. The image suggests the tool’s role as part of a vehicle emergency kit or for use during off-road trips. — The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel, ready for use in the field or on the road. It’s a practical piece of gear for emergencies or outdoor work.

However, the Spetsnaz demonstrate it as a viable strategy. So, having doubts, I took the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel into the yard for a flight. Like an axe, all the weight is up front. I backed up to what I thought would be one rotation of the shovel and spun it at multiple layers of cardboard backed by my archery target.

After a few tries, it landed with a thunk and stuck. Once I had the distance down, I could repeat strikes with the blade. Cold Steel sharpens fully three sides of the shovel’s head, so it has a remarkably good chance of penetration. I was impressed with how easily the shovel cut through the air and into the intended target. Given its weight and edginess, I would have to rethink characterizing this situation as “superficial damage.”

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel secured inside a pickup truck, positioned between seats for quick access. The black nylon sheath covers the sharpened blade, with two snap closures keeping it in place. A loop of paracord is attached to the sheath’s webbing strap, allowing it to hang from a latch or hook in the truck cab. The hickory wood handle is visible extending from the sheath, showing the tool’s compact size. The image illustrates how the shovel can be kept as part of a vehicle emergency kit. Its placement makes it easy to retrieve in off-road or roadside situations. — The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel stowed in a truck, positioned for quick access during roadside or off-road emergencies. Compact enough to keep as part of a vehicle preparedness kit.

Another intended use for the MPL-50, and by like design, the Cold Steel shovel, is a close-quarters weapon. Overhand strikes and thrusts are intuitive. The shovel can block attacks. Spetsnaz troopers can be seen on the internet demonstrating some fairly complicated disarms and joint locks. What I observed were obviously well-practiced maneuvers. Again, it comes down to repetition.

The Details

Fun things out of the way, the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel has a coated carbon steel blade. The footsteps are just wide enough to generate force when digging. The neck socket is welded shut along the seam, which aids in its durability. Two large Phillips screws anchor the hickory handle into the socket. There were still lathe spindle marks on both ends of the handle, similar to the MPL.

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel lying horizontally on top of a pile of freshly cut tree branches. The carbon steel blade, coated black with sharpened edges, is visible in contrast to the wood. The smooth hickory handle runs across the greenery, showing the tool’s compact 20-inch length. The cut ends of the branches suggest the shovel was used as a chopping tool during field testing. The pile is dense, with mixed twig and limb sizes, demonstrating its ability to handle light to medium woodcutting. The scene emphasizes the shovel’s versatility beyond digging. — The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel resting on a pile of freshly cut branches after a chopping test. The sharpened edges make it capable of handling light woodcutting tasks.

Honestly, the SF Shovel was bigger than I had imagined when it arrived. Like the MPL-50, it is 20 inches in length. At 25.7 ounces, or just over a pound and a half, it feels sturdy. The edges on the blade were sharp, but not too fine, so as not to chip under hard use. I suppose I will keep the keen edges on the sides for chopping and let the front of the blade dull with use.

Close-up image of the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel blade, focusing on the sharpened edges. The carbon steel head has a matte black protective coating, with the bevels ground to a bright silver finish. The grind runs along both side edges and the top, giving the tool three cutting surfaces. The edge is not razor thin but fine enough for chopping brush or penetrating targets. The hickory handle is partially visible, securely seated into the welded steel socket. The detail shows craftsmanship and the practical sharpening Cold Steel applies to enhance versatility. — A tight shot of the Cold Steel shovel blade, with clear contrast between the painted surface and sharpened edge bevel. Built for both digging and cutting tasks.

Using the Cold Steel shovel as a hand axe, I cut at some pesky shrubbery and downed branches. It definitely handles like a large hatchet, with nearly all the heft transferring down on the cut material. As a field-expedient paddle I tested it in my pool, pulling the concave head through the water. Yes, it would generate forward motion.

Another quirky use I saw in research for the MPL-50 was as a cooking implement. It seems Soviet soldiers could use the shovel head to roast wild-caught game over an open flame (if the fire did not attract enemy attention). That would work with the MPL, since it was plain, uncoated steel. Cooking would not be advisable with Cold Steel’s offering, since the blade is painted and likely not food safe over heat.

The Cold Steel nylon sheath has two retention snaps for the shovel’s blade. A loop of nylon webbing at the top and a strap that runs the length of the sheath are the two mounting points. I put a hitch of paracord on the loop and let the shovel hang from a latch between the jump seats in my King Cab. The strap can be used for affixing the shovel to a belt or pack.

Close-up photograph of the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel where the hickory handle meets the steel blade socket. The steel neck is fully welded along the seam for reinforcement. Two large Phillips head screws secure the handle into the socket, providing a tight, stable fit. The steel surface has a matte black protective coating, while the wood shows natural grain and lathe marks from manufacturing. The image emphasizes the durability of this attachment method. This joint design minimizes flex under digging, chopping, or prying forces. — Close-up view of the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel showing the steel socket and two Phillips screws securing the hickory handle. It is clearly built for strength and long-term durability.

If you need a bit more handle for real entrenching or shelter construction, Cold Steel makes the Spetsnaz Special Forces Trench Shovel. This upsizes the shovel to a 30-inch overall length and a slightly larger blade. While it performs all the duties of the smaller shovel, what it gives up in portability, it gains in functionality.

Special Forces Shovel Specs

Overall Length	19.68 in
Blade Thickness	2mm (shovel head)
Blade Steel	Coated Medium Carbon Steel
Handle Material	Hardwood Hickory
Sheath	Cor-Ex Nylon Sheath
Weight	25.7 oz
MSRP	$31.99

Conclusion

A final thought on shovel combatives. It was widely reported in early 2023 that Russian troops fighting in Ukraine had to resort to using their MPL-50s because of a shortage of ammunition. Regardless of the story’s veracity, there are many documented examples of soldiers, including US Medal of Honor recipients, using entrenching tools as last resort lethal weapons. Chilling.

The Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel positioned next to an Individual First Aid Kit inside a vehicle interior. The shovel is in its black nylon sheath with retention snaps, while the IFAK is in a compact zippered pouch. Both are stored within reach, suggesting quick deployment in an emergency. The shovel’s hickory handle extends from the sheath, and the mounting loop is attached to a fixed point in the cab. The IFAK is secured in place to prevent movement during travel. The arrangement reflects a balanced approach to vehicle preparedness, combining a versatile tool with essential medical supplies. — Special Forces Shovel and Individual First Aid Kit shown kept together in a truck for quick access. These are essential tools for preparedness in the field.

After handling the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel, I can verify it is an economical multitool that will work with distinction in the garden, at the bivouac or from a vehicle. From Danish Capt. Linnemann to the Russian Spetsnaz, this faithfully reproduced spade can find its niche on and off the battlefield.

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