This little tool is small but mighty: the slightly sharpened hoe edge scrapes and cuts soil beautifully, and the whole thing is 13 in long, so it works close in beds and containers where a full hoe is clumsy. The head is high carbon steel with a fine cutting edge, ground for right-handed use, and its tang runs up into a Japanese White Oak handle secured with a pin and steel collar.
The blade can be resharpened if you nick a rock. It will rust if left out in the rain, so clean and dry it after use; we spray our garden tools with camellia oil, a non-toxic, edible oil that keeps them bright.