Razor-Back Steel Scoop with Wood Handle and D-Grip Review
- Wide 11 x 15-inch Eastern-pattern steel scoop blade
- 27-inch ash handle topped with a wood and steel D-grip
- Made for grain, snow, mulch and general cleanup
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A short D-grip scoop with a wide 11 x 15-inch steel blade for grain, snow, mulch and cleanup. Here's what the Eastern-pattern design does well and where it falls short.
Quick verdict
The Razor-Back Steel Scoop is a moving tool, not a digger: an 11 x 15-inch Eastern-pattern steel blade on a 27-inch ash handle with a D-grip. It carries much more per load than a standard shovel, and the D-grip gives you control when you lift and toss. If you shift grain, snow, mulch or shop debris, it's an easy pick.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Wide 11 x 15-inch blade moves a lot of loose material per load
- Steel blade shrugs off gravel and ice better than a plastic scoop
- D-grip with a steel yoke gives firm two-handed control
- Short 27-inch handle is easy to maneuver in sheds, barns and truck beds
- Ash handle: strong, with a little flex to soften jolts
What could be better
- Not a digging tool: the wide, flat blade won't cut into firm soil
- The short handle means more bending if you're tall
- A full blade of wet snow or damp mulch gets heavy fast
Key features, explained
Wide Eastern-pattern steel blade
The blade measures 11 inches wide by 15 inches long, far larger than the business end of a digging shovel. It's an Eastern-pattern scoop, and the product photo shows a broad blade with raised sides that help keep a load from spilling as you lift. The blade itself is carbon steel, which stands up to scraping on concrete, gravel and frozen ground much better than the poly blades used on lightweight snow scoops.
Wood and steel D-grip
At the top of the handle is a D-grip made of wood and steel. In the product photo, a red steel yoke wraps up from the shaft to hold a wooden crossbar. A D-grip lets you lock one hand on top while the other guides the shaft, which gives you a lot of control when you're tipping a heavy load into a bin, wheelbarrow or truck. It's also easier to hold with gloves on than a bare straight handle.
Short 27-inch ash handle
The handle is 27 inches of ash, and the whole tool measures about 41.5 inches long and weighs roughly 5.3 pounds. That short length is deliberate. Scoops are about lifting and throwing in tight quarters, such as grain bins, stalls, sheds and truck beds, where a long shovel handle gets in the way. Taller workers will bend more, which is the usual trade-off with any D-grip tool.
Built for grain, snow, mulch and cleanup
The manufacturer describes it for scooping grain, snow, mulch and general-purpose cleanup. In practice that means any loose, lightweight material you need to move in volume: feed and grain, wood chips, sawdust, shop sweepings or a fresh snowfall on steps and short walks. For anything packed or rooted, reach for a round point to break it loose first, then use the scoop to clear it.
Razor-Back Steel Scoop specs
| Brand | Razor-Back (listed as Ames/True Temper) |
|---|---|
| Model | 50139 Eastern scoop |
| Type | Eastern-pattern steel scoop |
| Blade size | 11 x 15 inches (W x L) |
| Blade material | Carbon steel |
| Handle | 27-inch ash wood |
| Grip | D-grip, wood and steel |
| Overall size | 41.5 x 11.5 x 10 inches |
| Weight | 5.3 pounds |
| Prices change often. See the live price: Check Price | |
Who should buy it?
Great for
- Moving grain or mulch from bins, piles and truck beds
- Clearing snow from steps, decks and short walks
- Barn, shop and job-site cleanup
Skip it if
- You need to dig or cut into firm soil
- You're tall and want a long handle so you can work upright
- You want the lightest possible snow tool, like a poly scoop
Frequently asked questions
What is the Razor-Back steel scoop used for?
Scooping loose material in volume. The manufacturer lists grain, snow, mulch and general-purpose cleanup, and the wide blade suits wood chips, sawdust and shop debris too.
How big is the blade on the Razor-Back Steel Scoop?
The steel blade is 11 inches wide and 15 inches long. The whole tool is about 41.5 inches long with its 27-inch ash handle and D-grip.
Is this the same as the Ames 50139 Eastern scoop?
It's listed under the Ames/True Temper name as the 50139 Eastern-pattern scoop. Ames/True Temper and Union Tools are the tool group behind the Razor-Back line, so the shared part number is expected.
Is a steel scoop good for snow?
It works well on steps, decks and short walks, and steel handles ice and grit better than plastic. A full blade of wet snow is heavy, though, so it isn't a substitute for a wide pusher on a long driveway.
Can you dig with a scoop shovel?
Not effectively. The wide, flat blade is built to lift loose material. Break up firm soil with a round point shovel first, then use the scoop to move it.
Final verdict
The Razor-Back Steel Scoop with Wood Handle and D-Grip is a specialist that's easy to recommend. Its 11 x 15-inch Eastern-pattern steel blade moves loose material in big bites, the D-grip gives you control when you lift and dump, and the short ash handle suits barns, bins and truck beds. Just don't ask it to dig. For grain, mulch, snow and cleanup, it's a well-specified, sensibly sized scoop that we'd pick over a lightweight plastic one.
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