Abstract: A hand-held trenching tool having a loop-type blade is disclosed. The blade has a projection extending upwardly therefrom for positioning within a socket in a tubular handle. The projection includes a number of laterally spaced bores into which a locking pin may be positioned for selectively securing the blade to the handle. One loop-type blade includes a rectangular base, a pair of trapezoidal side walls extending upwardly from the base, and a rectangular crown connecting the respective tops of the side walls together. Another blade embodiment provides a cylindrical cutting portion having sloping, forward and rearward cutting edges, the forwardmost point of each the cutting edge being at the bottom thereof. The rearward cutting edge may, alternatively, have a plate secured thereto for retaining excavated material within the cylindrical cutting portion.