RARE Vintage Ames 11134 Heavy Duty Drain Spade Full Strap Trench Shovel For Sale

For sale is an authentic vintage Ames Model 11134 Extra Heavy Duty Full-Strap Drain Spade, featuring heavy-gauge forged carbon steel construction and an authentic working-life folk weld at the handle ferrule.Built for heavy industrial trenching, drainage installation, and utility spade work, these full-strap Ames spades were engineered to endure leverage forces that routinely break standard open-back shovels. This particular example showcases an honest period repair typical of dedicated trade tools kept in active service.Vintage User Repair & Structural IntegrityCollar Bead Weld: A previous tradesman reinforced the base of the split-steel D-handle collar with a heavy circumferential bead weld across the seam above the primary mounting rivet.Joint Rigidity: The weld penetration is solid—it holds the D-frame completely locked to the upper ash core with zero play, twist, or rattle when torqued.Preservation: The welded zone has been left exactly as found, showcasing the tool's utilitarian history without filler or grind blending.Construction & Tool Specifications
Full Double-Strap Blade: Extended high-carbon steel straps run up the ash handle on both the front and back face, distributing leverage and preventing neck failure during heavy root cutting or wet clay extraction.Split Steel D-Grip: Heavy sheet-steel yoke enclosing a solid, turned hardwood grip spool. Traces of vintage red shop paint remain visible along the inner curvature of the frame.Factory Stamping: Original Ames factory stampings, including model designation 11134, remain legible in the steel. Also clearly legible are the letters "RO", (probably a heat treaty certification?).Surface Condition: The metal has been brushed clean of loose dirt and scale, leaving a dark, even patina stabilized with a light wipe of boiled linseed oil.Packaging & ShippingCarefully packed with custom heavy-duty corrugated board and reinforced edge blocking around both the blade and D-handle.
Ships promptly via UPS Ground or FedEx Home Delivery with full tracking and insurance provided. Combined shipping available on edge tool orders.