Model 1943 US Intrenching Tool - Folding Shovel, M43 AF & H Co. 1943, American Fork & Hoe Company, Entrenching

I am always on the look out for the original, Model 1943 US Intrenching Tools, also known as the "folding shovel".  When I say, ORIGINAL, I am talking about the 1943 dated shovels.  

The 1943 shovel with my 1943 pick-mattock.

Well, I found another!  This original 1943 dated shovel had been overlooked and the seller made me a great deal.  It's now at home in the "Bunker" with its relatives!

The Model 1943 US Intrenching Tool was the very first model of US made folding shovel.  They were only made for a couple of months in 1943, before the 1944 dated shovels started rolling off of the line.

For a comparison between my 1943 Ames shovel and this 1943 AF&H Co. shovel, you can see my blog page here:
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/02/us-model-1943-intrenching-tool.html 

The first shovels were made in September and had a tightening nut that was made of " phenol formaldehyde that was filled with macerated canvas".  It was quickly evident that this was not going to hold up to the rigors of field use, so the next batch was made with an "alloy" nut.  Again, it was decided that this was not tough enough, and finally, in the beginning of December, 1943, it was specified that cast aluminum was to be used.  

So you can see, the shovels that were actually issued out to the troops, were only manufactured and stamped for around two months at most!  This makes these 1943 dated shovels "rare", or at least seldom seen.  When you do see them, they often go for "top dollar" prices........ unless you're lucky like me, and find one that fell through the cracks.
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The early, 1943 dated shovels were only made by three manufacturers: American Fork & Hoe Company, Ames, and Woods.  I now have an Ames and an American Fork & Hoe shovel.  I am on the look out for a Woods made shovel so that I can have all three.  The search continues!

This particular shovel that we're looking at today was made by American Fork & Hoe Company.  It is stamped AF&H Co.  It is also stamped US and has the 1943 date. 

These 1943 dated shovels all seem to have very light stamps.  It makes me wonder if they were stamped by hand (US, Manufacturer, & Year).  (And yes, the US actually, officially named these shovels "Intrenching", not Entrenching!)

This shovel was most likely painted with Olive Drab paint per the US Military specifications.  Now it only shows a faint trace of the old OD paint here and there.

These are beautiful and heavy duty shovels!  It is especially wonderful to have one of the "originals" in the collection.  If you look at how WW2 progressed, from December of 1943, until the end of the war in 1945, you will get an idea of where this shovel may have seen duty.  It is a true piece of history. 

If you'd like to see my US Model 1910, T-Handle, 1943 dated shovel, you check it out here.  This is shovel that the folding M43 replaced in 1943.

https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2016/03/us-model-1910-t-handle-shovel-dated.html 

Here is a link to my 1943 dated Pick-Mattock that is pictured in the opening group shot.

https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2017/08/us-m-1910-pick-mattock-ww2-issued.html 

I'll dig out the 1943 Ames shovel for an upcoming blog write-up, but until then, here's the 1943 American Fork & Hoe:

 

 

Italian Army Shovel, Entrenching Tool, Spade, WW1 , WW2, and Afrika Korps * Take Two! *

As promised in my last blog post, here is the follow-up Italian Army Shovel.  

After picking up such a rough Italian shovel, I just had to upgrade and get one in much better condition.  My "wheeling-and-dealing" paid off, and I just received another shovel.  This one is in MUCH better condition!

You can read about the first shovel in my last blog entry, or you can just click the link here:
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/01/italian-army-shovel-entrenching-tool.html

UPDATE 7/23/19:  You can read about the Italian Navy shovel cover that fits this shovel here:  https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/07/model-1925-regina-marina-shovel-cover-m.html

 When I first looked this new shovel over, I thought it may be an unissued one.  However, on closer inspection, it appears to have been reconditioned and repaired at some point in its life.  I am guessing it was in the similar, bad condition, with sheared rivets and a bad handle.

On this shovel, the wooden handle has been replaced, and attached with hand peened, new rivets.

A number of the blade rivets have been replaced with new, hand peened rivets. 

These repairs may have been a field repair, since the peening of the new rivets does not appear to have been done by a very experienced repairer.

Be sure to check out my previous post to see how this shovel probably looked before the repairs!

As I mentioned in the last post, the two holes in the blade are for securing the shovel to the leather carry frog, or to the side of a pack.  A leather strap threads through the holes and buckles.

As I have mentioned before, these shovels were popular with the German Afrika Korps in North Africa during WW2. 

These old Italian shovel have been very hard to find in years past, however it appears that a "hidden stash" has been uncovered and have now found there way onto the collectors market.  Since they were used from before WW1, through WW2, and into the early post-war 1950's, they are often in pretty rough condition.  I was lucky with this new shovel!

Let's take a closer look.

 

Italian Army Shovel, Entrenching Tool, Spade, WW1 , WW2, and Afrika Korps

Today we'll take a quick look at a seldom seen entrenching tool.

This shovel is from the Italian Army and dates to the WW1 era.  It is a rough one, but hey, you don't see them very often, so let's take a look!

These shovels are a "one-of-a-kind" design that was only officially used by the Italian Army.  They were first issued during the WW1 years and continued in Italian service through WW2 and even through the the early post-war 1950's.

If you look close at some of the old German Afrika Korps photos from WW2 North Africa, you sometimes see some of the German soldiers carrying these shovels as well.  Since the Germans fought alongside their Italian allies in the desert, it makes sense that they were adopted.  Often it is the German sappers that tend to be seen using these.  It is my guess that the folding shovels would tend to get sand and grit in the blade hinge and tightening nut on the German folders, so a straight spade would have definite benefits in that regard.  The sappers were often laying landmines, so a sturdy, straight handled shovel would have been the perfect tool.

This particular shovel has a natural wood handle which would indicate that it was never re-issued after WW2.  In the late 1940's and 1950's these old shovels were painted green when they were reissued.  The wood handle is warped from the inclusion a very large knot in the wood.  I have found that many Italian shovels and military tools did not use the best wood, and warped and "wonky" handles are quite common.  

You can read about two of my old Italian pick axes that I posted a page on a few years ago.  One of the axes has the "typical" poor wood that is commonly seen on these old Italian tools!
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2017/09/italian-army-pick-axes-circa-1950s-to.html

There are also a number of small holes in the handle, most likely from powder post beetles.  This is quite common on very old tools that have been stored for decades in a pile, in an old warehouse.  I think it would be safe to say that may have been the fate of this particular shovel.

The blade has half of the rivets sheared off.  I am guessing that this shovel had some pretty hard use and abuse before relegated to the warehouse.  

The two slots in the blade are for strapping the shovel to the field pack or to the combo-frog that held both the rifle bayonet and the shovel.  As far as I know, Italy was the only country to use this carrying method.

I have located another shovel of this type that is on its way to my bunker as I type!  So, while we're waiting for that new shovel, let's take a closer look at this old veteran.  Enjoy.

*UPDATE 2-17-19:  You can read about the new shovel in my next blog post, or click this link:
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/02/italian-army-shovel-entrenching-tool.html 

UPDATE 7-23-19:  you can read about the Italian Navy shovel cover that fits this shovel here:   
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2019/07/model-1925-regina-marina-shovel-cover-m.html