The Shovel Discussion Thread!

[FortyTwoBlades]

That is gorgeous! Nice find!

I'll need to take some photos of the ensilage fork that my mother-in-law's bf picked up cheap at a local auction. Nice heavy forged head welded solidly to a curved thick steel shaft with a T-handle. It's been right handy 'round the homestead for prying up frozen "plates" of compacted manure from the barn entryway as well as other assorted daily tasks, including my daily haying of the horses where it acts like a hairpin to hold all of the piled hay neatly in the wheelbarrow.

 

[bearhunter]

You're up around 6000' aren't you, Bear?

We're right at about 5200' Pegs.
The growing seasons awfully short up here!

 

[Ernest DuBois]

from manufacturer's home page (DeWit)
http://www.gardenersfirstchoice.com/

[video=youtube;KTKSpZmHb4k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTKSpZmHb4k[/video]

Just going back to the beginning to drag this up because I was surprised to see it here. These folks are just down the road not 20 minutes driving. I came across them when on the look out for a picaroon and they happen to make one that was hanging in the tool shop I was visiting. It's been my meaning to go there before work in the garden gets underway, but I have to say that finding a shovel I can be happy with - meaning I guess, what I have grown up with and am used to - has eluded me here in Holland. I had an old Devon pattern forged shovel with a hole in it but I never have gotten it back from the blacksmith who was going to do repairs.

E. DB.

 

[piccini9]

Found this today. Old German folding shovel?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Wow. That's minty.

 

[Square_peg]

And it came with a sheath!

 

[piccini9]

I think it has never been out of its sheath. The mechanism is pretty cool, and it has a neat stamp on it. I'll post more pics later.

 

[piccini9]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8575313673_5d908f5efa_b.jpg

 

[Square_peg]

Apparently it's for use by robots.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Apparently it's for use by robots.

That's what I was thinking too!

 

[Guineaman]

I needed a shovel to put under the back seat of my truck so I headed off to the surplus store. I found this for about $20.00. Swiss Army? (I think)Darn near perfect condition.It's more like a museum piece than a user, but in the truck it goes and user it'll be.

 

[Square_peg]

Beautiful handle. The whole thing looks really well made. That lock nut is pretty beefy.

 

[Silverthorn]

Found this today. Old German folding shovel?

Yes Old German Folding shovel.

I have found some for sale time to time, bought two, one looks that good one looks used.
Does it have the pick head as well ? Mine have a folding pick spike. I will have to look at the engraving, or stamp.
The things are tough as nails. Nice grab.

The stamp on one of mine looks the same as yours except the last 4 digits on mine are 1964

 

[Metal Made Fox]

20 pages and I can't believe no one has posted a pic of the U.S. Entrenching Tool.

Here is my genuine government issue E-Tool. Looks real nice next to my Surefire LX2 and GG&G Battle Hawk doesn't it? (Sorry, I like to show off )

 

[Guineaman]

20 pages and I can't believe no one has posted a pic of the U.S. Entrenching Tool.

Here is my genuine government issue E-Tool. Looks real nice next to my Surefire LX2 and GG&G Battle Hawk doesn't it? (Sorry, I like to show off )

That E-tool is bad ***. My friend has one.

 

[Metal Made Fox]

I needed a shovel to put under the back seat of my truck so I headed off to the surplus store. I found this for about $20.00. Swiss Army? (I think)Darn near perfect condition.It's more like a museum piece than a user, but in the truck it goes and user it'll be.

$20.00!?

Damn, I kinda wish I lived near your local surplus store now. That shovel is sweet!

I'm like 90% sure it's a Swiss shovel, looks to be from the WWII era. You got it for more than a bargain!

 

[Guineaman]

$20.00!?

Damn, I kinda wish I lived near your local surplus store now. That shovel is sweet!

I'm like 90% sure it's a Swiss shovel, looks to be from the WWII era. You got it for more than a bargain!

From what I'm finding the writing on the sheath denotes, maker,location and year manufacture. So Lentigny(France?) 1960
There is a Swiss cross also. Maybe

 

[piccini9]

Yes, the German shovel has a pick on the back. Locking mechanism seems pretty bomber, and the handle looks to be screwed in from the end. I gave the sheath a good dose of neatsfoot oil, and will probably keep this one in the car. I'm endlessly amazed by what some people throw away.

 

[VA27]

Found this today. Old German folding shovel?

I picked one just like it at a pawn shop Friday. Looks barely used and the sheath looks like it was never on a belt. 1964 on the blade and the little paper sticker is still on the back of the sheath.
It says, 43497 000 000
Steel
Product of GERMANY

Heavy-duty for sure, and heavy. Definately NOT for the ultralite hiker.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I think that a fixed-bladed entrenching tool with a strong lift to the blade would make a nice lighter compromise, honestly. You can still use it like a hoe as long as it has good lift.