A special core barrel used to take soil samples, as in foundation testing. The inner tube is swivel mounted and nonrotating and extends through, and a short distance beyond, the bit. Hence, the bit only cuts clearance for the outer tube or core-barrel assembly, and the core taken by the inner tube is cut by a spudding action. The triple or core tube is mounted inside the inner tube to receive the core and is split longitudinally to facilitate removal of the core.