Polish entrenching tool, era 1970s?

[Jack59]

Presenting a very compact entrenching tool, I believe it to be manufactured in Poland around the 1970s. It was also used by Czechoslovakia.
Information about this entrenching tool is not easy to find. Lets have a look at it.

The shovel part is copied from the German M1938 Klappspaten, the handle is another storey.
More on the original Klappspaten: Folding E-tool – “89” 1940 – fjm44

Once assembled it as the average 55 cm standard length.







It could be carried assembled or not depending on the situation.







As seen here, same shovel head as the German 1938 Klappspaten (folding shovel).
All the parts are metal, no Bakelite or wood.







Now, the novelties, the metal handle is in two section.
Connected together, preventing it from getting apart & losing a section.



It had to be connected anticlockwise, the arrow is a reminder.





A 50 cm mark is on the handle as well.



When come the time to store it away.
Detach.







And close.

The weight: 1183 gr.



On the webbing.



In the field.



A version exist with a metallic cable connecting the handle parts.
Information about this entrenching tool is very welcome. Thanks.

[Rescue190]

Nice item. Who copied who? The US or Polish? Very similar to US.
John

[Jack59]

Nice item. Who copied who? The US or Polish? Very similar to US.
John

Hi John, the US copied the German 1938 model with their 1943 version, itself was copied by many Western European countries post WW2 followed by Asian countries. Almost forgot also Austria & yes, Switzerland... & the list goes on. Enough material here for an interesting book.

Similar thing happened with the bazooka (the "stovepipe" not the bubble gum) except the other way around that time, but that is another story. Jack