Patent ID: 8286297

Claim:
A building construction tool for applying and removing building material, and made of a long lasting design with a fixed blade-to-handle construction comprising: a substantially planar blade made of a metallic base material and having only selected portion(s) of the blade that are made harder than the base material; a separate handle connecting mechanism that is at least in part made of metal and includes a tang connected to an inner surface of the substantially planar blade that is not a working surface of the blade, is not on the periphery of the blade, and has not been made harder, the handle connecting mechanism being preassembled in connection to the blade in a permanent manner so that the blade is not easily removed from the handle connecting mechanism or replaced from the building construction tool; and a handle that is connected and secured to the handle connecting mechanism, whereby the blade is made more durable so as to have a longer useful life with improved durability, strength and/or resistance against wear and the blade to handle connection is made more durable.