Does anyone know what the hole on this garden claw is used for?

Used to loosen soil in a garden bed. I use one constantly during the growing season.
It makes weed pulling much easier and the water flows into the ground better.

The hole, Bill.. why that loop in the one tine?

I don't know but I had one that I found in my garage of my first home in 1972. It was owned by a little old lady back then, now I am a little old man!!! Ha ha ha!!!!
But in the garage was a wooden handle 'cultivator', is what I called it. Anyway it had a loop just like that. The difference was it was on the center tine and faced downward, 90 degrees from this one. Maybe it was different because that's the way they were originally made? Later on it was straightened by manufacturers thinking that they were "improving" the design.
It was obviously well used, I oiled it and hung it in my kitchen along with other utensils, pans, etc. It looked so cool hanging there. The ex has it now! Crap 💩!!!

I just thought that had this been a much larger item, could it be part of an older farm implement and that is providing a pulling point back to the main shaft?!?!
I'll give the owner 10 bucks for it. It's cool.

Sally, I wonder: since it's a hand cultivator designed for small work, if you turned it sideways and ran that loop along the soil it would made a seed planting row.

Edit to add: I think it's facing in the wrong direction to be a spring tine. Plus, only one tine, so that doesn't make sense.

I would assume hooking a finger in for better control.

binfordw, I dare you to try that with your finger.
In addition, to make that even remotely possible, it would mean the tool is left-handed.

Tines are facing down, would make the hole a good spot for a right hand index finger. Unless the handle is unusually small, looks like it would be the right size for a finger as well.

I agree with nmoasis, it's a mini hoe

Sorry, when I grab that with my right hand, all my fingers wrap around to the right, with my thumb on the left. I still dare you to try it, binfordw.

On your prodding, I did.

Pretend with your kitchen knife handle. Grab the handle with your right hand; now try to put a finger into the imaginary loop on the left side. With that awkwardly stretched finger, envision yourself applying force down and back, over and over. Ouch!

You must have a double jointed magic hand!

Like Zoë suggests, but by turning it upside down and dragging with the loop is inserted into the soil, it would make a very nice row for seeds.

I tried using the image to search using Google and the results came back telling me that it's a mobile phone. I thought that was really off base until I realized that the posted photo is on a cell phone!

Sorry, but I can't see making a furrow with that loop, without the handle and tines digging into the dirt too. it looks very awkward that way to me.
I'm out of ideas, and also had no luck googling for it.

sallyg said:Sorry, but I can't see making a furrow with that loop, without the handle and tines digging into the dirt too. it looks very awkward that way to me.
I'm out of ideas, and also had no luck googling for it.

If you turn it upside down, the tines point upward, toward the sky. You drag the handle along the surface of the soil.

I'm just guessing though. If nothing else, its purpose might just be to confuse people!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/...

In looking I found this one. Two loops. Unfortunately, the original listing doesn't seem to exist any longer.

It's the big gardening tool mystery!

If the loops were on all three prongs, I would guess that they were to give a spring to prevent pressure from bending at the base and creating a weak spot that might break. But it's only on one, so what the heck is it?

Maybe the loop is just for hanging the tool up on a nail?

I think whoever made the tool couldn't measure. One tine ended up too long so to shorten it up, they added a loop.

Weedwhacker said:Maybe the loop is just for hanging the tool up on a nail?

there is a loop on the handle too...

Ninja tool - tie a rope to the loop and throw it at the chicken house roof to climb up.

Weedwhacker said:Maybe the loop is just for hanging the tool up on a nail?

I like the idea but it seems like a lot of effort when a drilled hole through the handle would do the same. As well it already has a hanging ring on the base of the handle.