Lesche Predator digging tool (and others?)

[aj_chicago]

Tried this question on another digging tool thread and got ignored, so trying again. I'm a newbie, but learning fast. The ACE 250 makes it awfully easy! Getting pretty good at coins... detecting, pinpointing, retrieving. Been using a trusty knife that came with a hatchet set when I was a Boy Scout. Had it close to 40 years. I know I'm gonna break it if I keep it up and was thinking about investing in a good tool. Read opinions on the Lesche tools and decided that's the best bang for the buck, but here's the clincher question. Does a Lesche Predator have a sharpened/honed (like a knife) side edge opposite the serrated edge so a right hander doesn't need to grind it right out of the box? If not, do others?

 

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[rvbvetter]

On ebay item number 5768297177 Theres a picture of one. Just broke my gator digger.
And i'm thinking about a lesche too. Hope this helps HH

 

[surfrat96]

Hey rvbvetter! Doesn't Kellyco have a lifetime guarantee for the Gator digger? That was one of the reasons I bought mine.

 

[rvbvetter]

Yep they do. I just felt that i didn't want to be waiting for a new one to be shipped too me, one after another. The gator cuts a plug alright, but you don't want to pry the plug up with it.
It's easy to bend and after a couple dozen times of straightening. It'll snap in half, as i found out.
I hear good about the lesche and wanted to try it. Just my personnel preference HH

 

[Mi$$ouri Jim]

? ? ? ? ? Yep they do. I just felt that i didn't want to be waiting for a new one to be shipped too me, one after another. The gator cuts a plug alright, but you don't want to pry the plug up with it.
It's easy to bend and after a couple dozen times of straightening. It'll snap in half, as i found out.
I hear good about the lesche and wanted to try it. Just my personnel preference? ? ?HH

You wont be dissapointed.

You CAN bend the lesche ....but? you REALLY have to be prying with a lot of strength with it under a big root or in frozen ground....? I have broken 2? .... one prying in frozen ground & the other i possibly ran over with a suv (not entirely sure that i ran it over). Lesche tools replaced them both.

One of the ones that I broke ---->

Pic someone posted on the net ---->

I think the lesche (& the predator tools identical digger) is probably the most durable digger available for detectorists.

 

[rvbvetter]

Houston we may have a problem here.

That's exactly where my gator broke. Identical. You think perhaps gator or lesche might actually own both names/companies??

 

[another _novice]

I use this (I read about it in this forum)

http://underwoodgardens.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1044

 

[279785]

I am looking at a Lesche Predator digger. It is a 27 inch shovel. Anyone have one of these?

ML

 

[rvbvetter]

? ? ?I've heard of them but never tried one. Tell us how you like yours. Have you used a gator or lesche? If so, could you compare them ? Is the hori stronger? ?Any info would help.
? I just might go that way if it sounds good.

 

[Mi$$ouri Jim]

? ? Houston we may have a problem here.

? ? ? ?That's exactly where my gator broke.? Identical.? ?You think perhaps gator or lesche might actually own both names/companies??

Extremely doubtful.

You are not gonna find any digger that is completely indestructable. Just finding the one that is the most durable is what counts. Back in the day (a few years ago)... I abused my lesches like crazy by prying using my whole body as levering weight (and Im a guy in my early 30s)Add that with a thick immoveable root, rock or rock-hard frozen ground.... & you can bend the lesche & eventually break it in half. I have since stopped abusing my lesche as much & have had the same one now for about 3 years & it is still going strong.? I still pry with it..... but not when i encounter an immoveable object under the dirt.?

as a side note.... I have broken one of those 3-in-one type hori hori copies (the kind with the colored plastic handle and "Inox Italy" on the blade) the first time out, because i mistakenly used it like i did my lesche.? I was out with a newbie detectorist & he didnt have anything to dig with so I gave him my lesche to use & I used my plastic handled backup digger. I put it in the ground & put all my weight on it (Like i usually did with my lesche) & it literally snapped.? My 2 previous lesches have always bent a bit after much abuse & use , then eventually slowly cracked, but the other digger actually snapped in half the first time out.

 

[another _novice]

I've never used the gator or lesche, but the picture posted in this thread looks similar to the hori hori knife. I have used it to dig in clay and regular soil. The soil has rocks at a site I'm exploring, and this tool digs and pries well. You can find them for$20, with a longer handle, and in stainless if you like.

For the money, I think it's a good buy. The bottom line is that it does what I want - it cuts a plug, allows me to cut any roots if I want, and allows some prying power. That's really what we're looking for in a tool, isn't it?

I got the carbon steel since it sharpens easier than stainless.

? ? ?I've heard of them but never tried one. Tell us how you like yours. Have you used a gator or lesche? If so, could you compare them ? Is the hori stronger? ?Any info would help.
? I just might go that way if it sounds good.

 

[caratjuice]

I love my Hori Hori. I have the carbon steel also. The only drawback is that it does look like a big knife and may present a problem where weapons are prohibited in parks. It has not come up with me so far.

 

[another _novice]

Just for kicks, I measured the thickness of the hori hori. It's a little thicker than 1/8 inch. I see .4 centimeters on the other side of the ruler. It is one substantial tool.

 

[rvbvetter]

jk Where did you get yours? I just might get both and do a field test. HH

 

[Monty]

I have the Gator and after digging a couple of hardpan plugs it begins to bend. So far I have just stuck it in the ground and bent it back the other way. I can see where metal fatigue could cause it to break. I have not had to sharpen the gator at all. Although it is not sharp on the edges, it seems to cut plugs with no problem. The hori-hori sounds interesting although I like the offset handle of the Gator, On very hard ground I am able to use a small hammer to get it started past that first 1" of very hard ground.

 

[hollowpointred]

hi guys.....just thought i would weigh in on this topic.............i just received my lesche predator in the mail today and it is built like a tank. super heavy duty all the way. i have not had a chance to use it yet (i will this weekend) but i cant imagine breaking this thing. you would really have to exert some force on it to break it.

 

[another _novice]

I got it from this place:

http://www.joshuaroth.com/catalog/page8.html

Through this dealer:

http://www.growstuffplus.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/hierarchy/0204/product-id/322802.html

I saw them on Amazon but they looked different - a little thinner.? I like the heft of this tool.

A test would be great to see.

? ? ? ? jk? Where did you get yours?? I just might get both and do a field test.? ? ?HH

 

[NC_Horn]

I have one of the Horis - just under another name. Love it. Keep some neophreme taped to the top of the handle as a cushion to help save the palm. My son has a Treasure Quest. The design is very close to the hori but has a handle that is much easier on the hand. Also the sheath on the treasure quest is much nicer.

 

[rvbvetter]

I'll order the lesche and the hori hori and do a field test.
And leave a whats good and bad list on each.
Thickest and strongest blade, cuts best, resists bending, ergonomics of the grip and so on.
Since i've never owned one, it will be unbiased, unless one of them offer money of course.
They'll be shipped so it'll be a while before i post.
If nobody really gives a 'KAHOOT' about it, let me know and i'll forget it.
Where's a good place to order the lesche?

 

[caratjuice]

I for one give a hoot. I have been singing the praises of the hori hori, but then again it's the only digger I've owned. I would be interested in knowing how it stacks up to the diggers that are advertised at all the metal detector stores. If hori hori comes out on top, maybe the makers would be interested to know there tool is more than just a gardening tool.