Spear & Jackson 11104ARCH Tyzack 4" Wooden Handle Archaeology Trowel, Wood, Blue

Real top quality trowel

A must have in every archaeologist's tool belt. The best trowel for the job for the price, without a doubt. I've strained mine to the point where the blade is bending (tough to do when you feel the strength of the blade) and everything's held up fine. The metal will rust, it's just superficial and absolutely nothing to worry about. Attacking it with a wire brush will leave it looking rust free again. All in all: 10/10

What a difference this made. Well made and strong, perfect for trowelling on a dig. Soft handle was comfortable too. Very pleased with purchase, just wish it had come with a holder. Hence 4 not 5 stars.

The WHS Archaeology trowel is superb. It is the most durable on the market: it has a thickened blade that won't bend in stiff clay or prizing up masonry; its made from a single drop-forged piece of steel so there are no welds to fail; it has a long, thick shank to protect the archaeologist's knuckles and allow a shifting grip; it has a notched collar to stop the tang spinning in the handle; and finally, a comfortable grip for hours of trowling action. Personally I prefer the wooden handle over the rubber because I can personalise it with engravings and make sure I do not get it mixed up with other peoples' trowel (which happens a lot on a site where everyone uses them).Cheaper builder's trowels have thin blades and dodgy welds which will snap in a few days, or if you are lucky, weeks. The WHS Archaeology will last years. The American rival, the Marshalltown, has a spectacularly thin blade and will break in hours. The Marshalltown is designed for precision, slow trowling in fine earth, which just doesn't happen in British archaeology. We need robust tools for rapid excavation in tough soils. There genuinely is no substitute for a WHS.

After using various other brands and sizes, this trowel is the best general one on the market! Great for archaeology and have recommended it to many friends in the past

Worked well. Very strong .

The trowel looking very good, it is made of really thick material and has the right weight. I haven't worked with it yet, but I hope I'll be completely satisfied with it then also.

Having used standard WHS pointing trowels size 4 or 5 inches for archaeology for long periods and found them excellent - they never break, just wear down - this one even tops them, with a slightly longer shaft to save your knuckles and a thicker tang. Having a worn trowel is a badge of honour, but I guess you will have to put in more hours before you reach the same stage with this one! I have always found numerous other uses for a trowel, so if you are starting in archaeology, buy the best because it will give years of use, whether for digging or anything else.