Old Military Shovels

[GSPTOPDOG]

I just picked this 1952 shovel... I wonder if it was over in Korea at some point...

[cody6268]

Awesome! These older ones are really solid designs. I have the next-to-most current Ames, and it's not much better than a cheap Sears Eddie Bauer I bought many years ago.


Here's my oldest one--a 1960s West German ARmy issue shovel. Dad bought it as a Jeep shovel, but never really used it. These are not the most common in the States.

Yes, these photos suck. Provided, they were taken about eight years ago when I was still very much a new member.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=45323&hilit=shovel

Need to replace the spring. I used to use this sucker until I lost the spring cleaning out the mechanism a couple of years back. It holds tension on the shovel and pick. I've dug some decent trenches with it, I've chopped stuff (I did file a bit of an edge on one side), I've pried up rocks, I've broken up rocks, I've cleaned out drainage culverts, and in general beat the livin' crap out of it. And it really didn't mess the shovel up at all.

[Ridgegrass]

Not being a wise a== but we'd get gigged in training if we called that a shovel. They called them "entrenching tools". Darn sure would have rather had a shovel. Those things only work at all if you're on your knees.We had them with and without the pick. O'.

[eveled]

I have one I think from ww2 it looks the same as yours. It was in my jeep for years.

They had a cool one during the Indian wars. The handle was a hammer for horse shoes also a stake to tie your horse too.

images.jpeg (16.03 KiB) Viewed 1193 times

[jtb]

I used to carry my Glock entrenching tool (shovel) when I was trapping. It was handy to carry and more than enough to dig my trap sets.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Awesome! These older ones are really solid designs. I have the next-to-most current Ames, and it's not much better than a cheap Sears Eddie Bauer I bought many years ago.

Here's my oldest one--a 1960s West German ARmy issue shovel. Dad bought it as a Jeep shovel, but never really used it. These are not the most common in the States.

Yes, these photos suck. Provided, they were taken about eight years ago when I was still very much a new member.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... lit=shovel

"If I recall correctly, 5120 is the NATO part # for etools. The US, as a member of NATO, subscribes to that system as do all members; Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, etc. Though they use different models of each item, they all use the same number so that if it ever becomes necessary, the proper item can be issued from allied stock when serving together if there is a shortage.

The e-tool illustrated is exclusive to the German military, it never saw service with the US military."

My buddy has one of these 1960s West German Army issue shovels, they are super cool!!! I like them above many other types I have seen. I have also seen a Swiss or Swedish fixed handle with a wooden "T" type handle, military shovel that was for sale from Cheaper than Dirt years ago, man I wish I had got that shovel

[GSPTOPDOG]

I have one I think from ww2 it looks the same as yours. It was in my jeep for years.

They had a cool one during the Indian wars. The handle was a hammer for horse shoes also a stake to tie your horse too. images.jpeg

I am going to check my book on the Indian Wars, ... I remember in that book a "Bayonet Shovel'' that fit on the end of a rifle but eventually was discontinued as the barrels of the rifles ended up bent from the stress...

[cottage hill bill]

There was a "trowel bayonet" used briefly with the trapdoor springfield. As mentioned it was withdrawn because soldiers used it on the end of the rifle as a shovel resulting in bent barrels. It was meant to be used as a handheld e-tool, not as a shovel. The one shown above is part of the experimental 1912 Cavalry equipment. The handle was listed in the TOE as a picket pin. It also served as the e-tool handle and a shoeing hammer having a hammer head on one side and claws for pulling horseshoe nails on the other. There was a leather scabbard that held the picket pin. The 1912 equipment was produced in enough quantity for troop trials but was never adopted.

[GSPTOPDOG]

There was a "trowel bayonet" used briefly with the trapdoor springfield.

Here are some illustrations of the "trowel bayonet" used briefly with the trapdoor Springfield.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Here is an early Model 1873 Hagner entrenching tool.