Zhao Shuangquan Trowels and Axes

Zhao Shuangquan Trowels and Axes

　　Zhao Shuangquan trowels and axes were created by the master craftsman Zhao Hongzao and have over 40 years of production history. In 1961, they were designated as a renowned handicraft product by the municipal government.

　　The trowel is made with one jin and two liang of iron and two liang of steel, undergoing five rounds of hot forging, as well as cold working and quenching processes, resulting in a flat, smooth, elegant, and well-crafted construction tool. This product has advantages such as not retaining mortar, not having a curled edge, being lightweight and easy to use, and having a flat surface that works well, making it highly popular among construction workers. It was sold in Kaifeng, Qinghai, Xining, Lanzhou, Xi'an, and other places. Over 20,000 trowels were produced in 1961. Production stopped in the 1980s.

　　Zhao Shuangquan axes were recognized as a municipal-level renowned handicraft product, known for their features of not chipping, not curling at the edge, not breaking the steel, not losing corners, being handy and easy to use, as well as sharp and aesthetically pleasing. Due to their high quality, they were not only bestsellers both within and outside the province but also exported abroad. In 1957, the annual production reached as high as 36,000 axes, while in the 1980s, only export axes were produced.