The Raptor 31C is Predator Tools’ compact, offset‑handle hand digger that many park and pasture hunters favour for clean plugs and fast target recovery. It’s a one‑piece 4130 chrome‑moly steel tool with a dished, scoop‑like blade and a cushioned, offset handle that keeps your knuckles clear of the soil as you lever. On paper it’s very small—about 14 inches long with an 8‑inch blade and roughly 3.5 inches across the widest part of the scoop—but the dish shape moves more soil per cut than a flat trowel of the same footprint. Predator markets it as ‘super strong’ and built to last, which fits with the material choice and heat‑treat noted on the official page (4130 is a tough, springy steel when properly tempered). (Sourced from outside the UK)

How does that translate to UK conditions? The form factor suits quick, tidy plugs on pasture and light plough, especially where a full spade is overkill or unwelcome. The offset handle gives leverage without scraping your knuckles, and the bowl shape makes it easier to scoop spoil out of narrow holes. UK forum chatter suggests interest among British detectorists but also notes availability issues locally; buyers often import from the US when they specifically want this style. That scarcity in the UK retail channel doesn’t reflect performance so much as distribution, but it does mean you should factor in postage, customs, and after‑sales when comparing with locally made diggers. (UK forum reports)

In field terms, the Raptor excels at controlled plug cutting in grass and leaf‑littered woodland. The dish helps keep plugs intact, and the short overall length keeps weight on the hip down if you carry it on a belt sheath. Where it’s less happy is baked summer clay or thick root mats: a compact hand digger cannot replace a long spade for deep, hard ground. Several North American users highlight the way the Raptor pries small rocks and slices through light roots; that maps reasonably well to mixed UK pasture, but you’ll still work harder on dense clay than with a foot‑plate spade. (Sourced from outside the UK)

Build and ergonomics are straightforward: single‑piece steel, painted shaft/handle area, and an orange cushioned grip. The offset keeps your wrist in a neutral position, which many people find reduces hand fatigue compared with straight‑grip knives. Predator quotes weight inconsistently (16 oz in the description, 19 oz in purchase info), but in either case it’s notably lighter than most stainless D‑handle spades. Paired with a compact spade for stubborn ground, the Raptor fills the ‘surgical recovery’ role well—particularly on pasture where plug neatness matters to landowners.