German 1874 feldspaten

[KyleSchuette]

Just acquired this spade from what I’m assuming is ww1. I hear a lot of people saying if it has a ring on the shaft it could be Swiss. From what I researched the Swiss ones have a different metal cut around the shaft. Also was curious what the markings on the wood could be. What do you all think? Thanks in advance.

[James N]

Yours could be a mate for mine at top in these photos I posted before. I never really found anything out about it, but I'm not sure they're M.1874 German spaten; the only drawing I have showing one gives it a POINTED blade like Austrian ones have. (The other two are a Bulgarian one of uncertain vintage and a marked German TR example.)