Shao Family All-Purpose Hoe

Shao Family All-Purpose Hoe

　　The Shao Family All-Purpose Hoe was created by the master craftsman Shao Lansheng during the Republican era. Through improved techniques and enhanced quality, it became a renowned product well-suited for use in sandy soil.

　　This product is made through nine processes: material cutting (each hoe blade uses 2.5 jin of iron), punching holes in the blade socket, steel bonding (using 0.25 jin of steel), attaching steel edges, annealing, cold working, quenching, straightening, and brushing the surface. Hoe blade specifications: blade length 250–255 cm, blade width 140–145 cm, rear width 125–130 cm; hoe socket length 38–40 cm, socket depth 15–17 cm, steel edge length 100–110 cm, steel width around 80 cm. Features: the hoe blade is smooth, with thick edges and a thin body; the steel edge maintains a firm angle even with prolonged use without deforming, stays sharp without curling, chipping, or sticking to soil, grips the ground well when turning soil, and is durable and easy to use.

　　This product was individually produced by the Shao family until 1956, after which production was transferred to the Iron and Steel Construction Materials Production Cooperative and sold in cities such as Kaifeng and Zhongmu. Production ceased from 1958 to 1961, resumed in 1961, and then stopped again in the 1970s. The highest annual production in history reached 20,000 units.