1943 U.S. Folding Shovel

[zwerge]

I used to keep this in my hunting truck in case I got stuck,then I realised it is 65 years old so I retired it.

[SS Ring Man]

P.S. do not replace with "T" one

[Nige H]

Nice first pattern cover as well.


Nige.

[zwerge]

Nice first pattern cover as well.


Nige.

Hi, I didn`t know they had more than one pattern,here is a pic of the makers name.

[Nige H]

Yep there are two patterns of cover, I guessing by the colour scheme yours is a first pattern type.

The first pattern (true M1943 Model) has a fixed M1910 double hook at the rear, on a 2" webbing strap similar to a M1910 Canteen or shovel cover.

The Second pattern which appeared mid 1944, are mostly O.D.7 in colour and date from 1945 onwards, although you can find some transitional colour scheme models in this design. This pattern cover is larger in overall size and has three sets of eyelets so that the M1910 Double hook can be adjusted on the E-Tool cover to suit which pack system the cover was being used with, I.E. M1928, M1944, M1945 or the mountain rucksack. The height difference is approximately 6" from the top to the bottom set of eyelets. Also the reason for the resizing of the cover was due to a proposed new version of the E-Tool Model M1945 (not issued until the 1950's), this had pick as well as a shovel blade, and was developed by AMES, the company that produced the original M1943 models.

Actually if you see both covers together, there are quite a number of technical manufacturing differences.




Nige.

[zwerge]

Mine has the single fixed hook on it. And it`s dated 1943.

[zwerge]

The cover is dated 1943 but I found the date on the shovel to be AMES 1945.

[jimpy]

Nice E-tool and cover that you've got there mate.
I keep a British army tri-fold shovel and cover in he back of my car. (Shovel is dated 1990)