A number of us had a frankly concerning amount of fun smacking mobs with the shovel today. It might make a fun pattern, either as a salvage item or even a reward from, uh, whatever it is the shovel is to be used for in future...
i think it'd be appropriate for the explorer's shovel to give a basic pattern but also for there to be an ornate shovel with an eternal pattern in the store. better wood, engraving, gold inlay...