The oldest form of hoe has a blade with a slightly tapered collar one "eye" at its top. Traditionally the handle is made from an ash sapling, skinned smooth. The swelling at the base of the sapling is fit snugly into the tapered eye and held there by centrifugal force. Some common names for this tool are "eye hoe", "ox eye hoe", "peasant hoe" and, in the Southern United States, "scovil hoe", (after a long time American Manufacturer of a self sharpening version.)
The eye hoe pattern dates back to ancient Rome and before. It is a common tool throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and both South and Central America. It was once common in North America but was largely supplanted by the lighter, smaller American pattern garden hoe. In Europe, eye hoes are available in dozens of patterns and sizes: square, rectangular, v-shaped, rounded, tapered, cupped and pierced. Here in the USA only the rectangular blades are generally available.
Our collection of eye hoes include a narrow (5 1/3" x 6") floral hoe; a medium width and deeper (6" x 8") hoe blade; and a large (7 2/3" x 6") one. The standard handle length is 60 inches or 54 inches upon request. The handles, which are turned with straight sides, are easily shortened. However, they don't stretch. So, if you need a longer handle it's a custom turning, which can get pricey, or a trip to the woods to find an appropriate sapling. Eye hoes, a form of draw hoe, are used for scalping and scraping away or uprooting weeds, and for breaking and moving earth. The latter task is accomplished by swinging the tool downward to bury the blade in the earth. Then, lift the handle and pry loose a clod of dirt. Lift the handle in an arc, swinging and stopping suddenly, pitching the clod away. I have seen pictures of hordes of Chinese laborers excavating canals with only eye hoes.
Note: These hoes are not made by Red Pig Garden Tools.
The size, shape, and weight of this item means we must charge an additional $10 shipping fee to our flat rate shipping rate to accommodate for the actual cost of shipping it.
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