Separate what is observed or established from what is proposed, hypothesized, or still being validated. Technical confidence is not the same thing as test evidence.
Strong language should only be treated as a claim when the record identifies the supporting test, observation, or validated specification.
Directly supported by a measured requirement, documented field result, or controlled test.
The best design decision now, still open to revision through prototyping, manufacturing, or testing.
A reasoned expectation useful for deciding what to test next—not a settled performance claim.
Record class: Active Build / Hardware / Recovery.
Current evidence state: physical prototype work is active. Geometry and ergonomic intent are defined enough to test; production material, long-term durability, and manufacturing repeatability remain open.
Problem
A detector can tell you something is there. It cannot recover the target for you. The last twelve inches are where loose dirt, tight cracks, magnetic trash, gloves, fatigue, and an impatient hand can turn a good signal into a slow mess.
Field obligation
Riverbone Scoop is being developed as the signature hand-recovery tool in the MR POCKET field system. Its job is controlled recovery in dirt, gravel, decomposed ground, and tight detector work—not bulk excavation and not decorative toughness.
Current engineering direction
The present target is approximately 12.5 inches (318 mm) overall, 4.17 inches (106 mm) bowl width, and 1.75 inches (44.5 mm) bowl depth. Those dimensions describe the current engineering target, not a production specification.
The working architecture is a one-piece primary scoop body with a shaped removable rear end component. The load-bearing body is being kept as simple as practical so the primary structure does not depend on unnecessary joints.
Human factors
A recovery scoop is used through repetition: reach, scrape, collect, scan, pour, and repeat. Grip texture has to provide control without creating pressure points or becoming impossible to clean. Finger guidance, thumb control, handle diameter, and balance are being treated as one ergonomic system.
Bowl and nose
The bowl is being widened and lengthened to hold useful material while retaining a detector-conscious profile. Higher side walls support containment during rescanning. The spear-shaped working nose is intended to enter compacted material and cracks without becoming a fragile point.
What is established
- Riverbone is an active physical prototype program.
- The product role is controlled target recovery, not bulk digging.
- The current design direction prioritizes one primary structural body, ergonomic control, target containment, and cleanability.
What is still being validated
- Grip security with dry, wet, dirty, and gloved hands.
- Comfort through repeated recovery cycles.
- Tip and bowl durability in compacted ground.
- Target containment and controlled pour behavior.
- Cleaning and debris release.
- Carry integration with the MR POCKET field platform.
- Production material, wall thickness, tooling strategy, and manufacturing consistency.
Release gate
Riverbone does not become production-ready because a rendering looks good or a prototype survives one outing. The release gate is repeatable field performance, durable geometry, production-consistent manufacturing, honest specifications, and a support path that still makes sense after the first sale.
Decision: continue physical prototype validation. No final material, price, warranty, or release date has been locked.
Follow the Riverbone Scoop development record for current program status. This equipment remains in development and is not offered for sale.