cutdown portuguese army shovel.

[António Fragoeiro]

Found this yesterday, the metal is in bad shape, but the protective leather is in amazing god condition. Still havent found any date or maker marks, but from information i gathered its from the 1940`s.
cheers.
Nuno

[lithgow]

Hello-an unusual piece- are the badges Portuguese Regimental/Corps types? In the British /Commonwealth forces belts were often used for badge collections by troops.

[António Fragoeiro]

Hi mate, they are , i was given this one by the owner of an antique warehouse, that was filled with hundreds of shovels, helmets and ammo pouches.
Sadly everything was already destined for destruction in a scrapyard.
All the shovels had badges.
cheers.
Nuno

[lithgow]

Were they shovels or entrenching tools (short enough to be carried on the soldiers' field equipment)?

[António Fragoeiro]

All shovels, M40 portuguese helmets and k98 ammo pouches.

[lithgow]

Have you been able to identify which units the badges are for?

[António Fragoeiro]

It has a maker mark "B", and the symbols stand for health services, military administration, commandos and the others i still havent figured out.
Cheers.
Nuno