The JAMES KEMP picks are a well known quanity, bottom of front page, hit DEALERS + LINKS. Also front page, low left hit...WIGGLE PICKS. More; scroll down in POINT CHATTER to...WIGGLE PICKS BY DOUGLAS STUCKLY JUN 10 '07
Travis, if you don't want to spend a lot of money, go to army surplus and buy a camp shovel pick combo. If you're not going to move boulders, they work very well and they are lite weight.
TRAVIS, THE OVERALL BEST DIGGING PICK (FOR THOSE TIGHT ROCK PACKED MIDDENS) IS INDEED A US ARMY PICK, HOWEVER, ALL THE NEW ONES ARE MADE WITH CAST METAL AND BREAK EASILY. MINE OF WHICH I HAVE 2, IS A W.W.2 ARMY ISSUE IN WHICH THE PICK'S DATE OF 1944 IS EMBOSSED IN THE METAL (HIGH GRADE QUALITY HIGH CARBON STEEL). THEY ARE NOT EASY TO FIND, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND MINE IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP. I GAVE $25 FOR IT, AND IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. I REPLACED THE SHORT HANDLE WITH A LONG (OR PICK MATTOX SIZE HANDLE). SINCE I BOUGHT IT, IV,E REPLACED THE HANDLE 3 TIMES, BUT THE HEAD IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE AFTER 30 YEARS OF DIGGING. FOR DIGGING IN LESS ROCKY TO PERDOMINENT SOIL,SAND,AND GRAVEL SITES, I USE A QUALITY MADE POTATOE RAKE. IF YOU GETB ONE, MAKE SURE THE 4 TINES ARE ALL STEEL MOLDED, AS THE CHEAPER SPOT WELDED ONES BREAK EASILY. GOOD DIGGING TO YOU!