Mattock

A mattock

A mattock is a hand tool similar to a pickaxe. It is distinguished by the head, which makes it particularly suitable for digging or breaking up moderately hard ground. A mattock has a broad chisel-like blade perpendicular to the handle.The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2000 This broad-bladed end is effectively an adze that could be used as a hoe as well. The reverse may have a pointed end, in which case the tool is called a pick mattock, or instead have an axe-like splitting end, then it is a cutter mattock. A combination axe and mattock used for fighting forest fires is a pulaski. In some regions of the southern USA, the mattock is called a "grub hoe" or "grub axe".

Mattock heads range from 1.5 to 3.5 kg (3 to 7 pounds) in weight, and are normally mounted on a 90 to 120 cm (3 to 4 foot) shaft. The shaft is often heavier than the head, sometimes possessing twice the mass and density of a baseball bat.

Mattocks are still frequently used for path work in hill areas such as the Scottish Highlands, and are used extensively in archaeological excavation.

A mattock in use to dig out a burrowing pit.

During the Middle Ages of Europe, the mattock served as an improvised pole weapon for the poorer classes.

In J. R. R. Tolkien\'s The Hobbit the Dwarves under the banner of Dain (and later fighting as one of the armies in the Battle of Five Armies) were armed with two-handed mattocks.

References

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Other	Antique tools · Diamond tools

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