?? WW1 Austro Hungarian Trench Shovel ???

[danhashman]

Hey mates..

i am being offered this Feldspaten. It is supposed to be Austrian or German from WW1.
But my knowledge on those items is small, and i know that this design was used by other countries too.

There is a maker´s mark on the back of the shovel, that says "B & .... ", and i think it says "WIEN", too..

Any thoughts on this one?
A good one for which i should go?

Best regards from sunny Mexico

Danhashman

[Danmark]

'WIEN' is Vienna in the German language so Austria is certainly where it was made - but, it could be interwar also.......

regards, Dan

[danhashman]

Thanks for your prompt answer, my dear DENMARK.
Fortunately i know who WIEN is and where it is (somewhere in Norway ), that gives me actually a certain confidence in that particular trenching-tool. But i did my mandatory Internet-search about shovels, makers and so, unfortunately i did not get smarter. You know, some more profound Information, but strangely there is alost no informtion on Trench-shovels in this forum, even thou this was a BASIC tool in trench warfare of WW1. Diggin´oneself into the ground could make difference between life or death, as one was more protected bullets and shrapnell from artillery.
Also the shoveo could be a very powerful weapon when the Bayonet was not at hand..
My highest respects for the totally underestimated FELDSPATEN !!!!

[danhashman]

Hey ho.. NO TRENCH-SHOVEL EXPERTS AROUND HERE ???

[lokvar]

The showel is a good one! Austrohungarian. The leather give me some doubts....

[danhashman]

Thanks !!! I went for it. Will post some better pics once it gets here...