German Klappspaten Folding Shovel, BGS Bundesgrenzschutz Model, Polizei Model, Star-Lock, Black Leather Carrier, BMJ Marked, Early 1960's Klapspaten

Well, I think that after this posting, I will have made it through my backlog of shovels!  So, as of today we should be "up-to-date" on the shovels in the collection.  So, on with the show.............

Today we'll be taking a look at one of my favorite shovels, and one that took me a number of years to track down (at a price I was willing to pay).  This shovel is commonly referred to as an "Early BGS or Bundesgrenzschutz" folding shovel.

In all actuality, it is not exclusively a BGS shovel.  This is in fact an early version of the classic "Bundeswehr Klapspaten Folding Shovel".  However, this unique, early style was not used by the Bundeswehr.  Are you confused yet?

Here is what makes this shovel so unique.  The number one thing is the locking stud.  On this version, the stud had a "Star", or "Gear" type of locking lug, as opposed to the square style found on all of the later shovels, and all of the Bundeswehr shovels.  This allowed the shovel blade and pick to be positioned in numerous angles.  Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two styles.

BGS Model star locking lug

Bundeswehr on left / BGS Model on right

There are several other differences as well.

The handle socket-tube is aluminum on the "BGS Model", and it is cast steel on the "Bundeswehr Model".  This can easily be checked with the use of a magnet.  The socket-tube is also smooth finished as opposed to the rough cast look of the Bundeswehr Model.  The overall weights are different between the two shovels as well.   BGS Model is 2 lbs 6.4 ounces, and the Bundeswehr is 2 lbs 14.9 ounces (as weighed on my scale).  When you hold both shovels, the BGS Model is noticeably lighter.

Bundeswehr on left / BGS Model on right

The handles have slightly different end knobs, as can be seen in this side-by-side comparison.

Bundeswehr on left / BGS Model on right

Another interesting feature is the stamping on the blade.  On the BGS Model shovels, there is usually only a logo, with nothing else, or sometimes a logo with P.Pr.Bln. for the Berlin Police.  I have not seen any of these marked with the federal "BUND" marking, or with federal stock numbers (the Bundeswehr shovels have these markings).  That is not to say that there are not versions out there with these markings, I just have never run across them.  I have seen photos of a very few examples with dates, usually 1958, 1960, or 1961.   The dated shovels all seem to be made by "AB & C" with the ace of spades logo.  My shovel has the logo of the Idealspaten company (man holding a shovel), and no date.

BGS Model on left / Bundeswehr on right

BGS Model

It appears that the "BGS Model" folding shovel was only issued in the late 1950's and very early 1960's.  After that, the issued shovel was the standard "Bundeswehr Model" with the square locking lug.

These BGS Model shovels were used by the Bundesgrenzschutz, Police , and various other German Federal Departments (non-military).  Most of the Bundesgrenzschutz issued shovels were painted in the old BGS Dark Green paint, either sprayed on professionally, or painted by hand in the field.  The various other agencies stuck to the original OD Green color.  The BGS was also known to issue OD green shovels of this type, and occasionally one shows up with a BGS Green and OD Green mix of parts (probably a field re-build).  I have read Bundesgrenzschutz accounts, and recollections from BGS veterans, who describe using the all OD Greeen, Bundeswehr shovels as standard BGS issue in the 1980's.  I have also seen a quite a few photos of the Bundeswehr shovels hand painted in BGS Green, presumably for BGS issue.  What I have never heard of, or seen, is the use of these old BGS Model shovels used by the Bundeswehr.  They appear to have been a "Police, Federal Civil-Defense, and Disaster Relief  Unit" used shovel only.

The shovel carriers that were issued with these early shovels are the classic black leather used by the Bundesgrenzschutz, Police, and other Federal Agencies.  They are distinctively different from the Bundeswehr versions.

Bundeswehr left / BGS Model right

Bundeswehr left / BGS Model right

"BGS, Police, and Federal Agencies" used black, and Bundeswehr used green, and they both used different cover styles, as shown in the photos above.

You can read about my Bundeswehr model here:
http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2015/10/bundeswehr-klapspaten-west-german-army.html

The BGS Model shovel covers are made of heavy black leather.  They are suspended from the belt with two hanging loops.  The shovel is secured with two, non-adjustable straps that fasten with a stud.

The best way to tell who used one of these particular BGS Model shovels, is to look at the leather carrier (unless it has the Berlin Police initials on the blade).  Normally these shovels are encountered in their original carrier, so the leather stampings will tell you a lot.

The BGS issued covers usually have a small eagle with BMI under it.  This signifies the Federal German Ministry of the Interior, the parent department of the BGS.  Berlin Police will normally be stamped with their P.Pr.Bln. stamp.  Other police departments that issued this shovel may have stamped theirs as well. 

My shovel cover is stamped with an eagle and BMJ.  This signifies it was issued by the Federal German Ministry of Justice.  Under German federal law, all federal agencies were required to maintain a civil defense unit, or "Behoerdenselbstschutz", similar to the old Luftschutz of WW2.  The BMJ was in charge of prisons and courts, so this would have belonged to one of their individual defense units (post-war), known as "Bundesluftschutzverband".
Here is a link describing these units, in German:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesverband_f%C3%BCr_den_Selbstschutz

Since my shovel was issued by the BMJ, it probably was held in reserve, without any actual use, until it was surplussed. This would account for the "un-issued condition".

The leather cover is also stamped with the manufacturer and the date, 1961.

There is not a lot of information on these "BGS Model" shovels out there, and what is there, has been gleaned and collected by collectors and researchers.  I hope that this blog entry helps explain a bit about these shovels, and by all means, if you have more information, or corrections to my information, please contact me.  Now let's take a closer look at this unique BGS Model shovel.

 

US Model 1943 Intrenching Tool Comparison, M43, 1943 Dated, American Fork & Hoe Co. and Ames Entrenching Folding Shovels

After my last blog posting on my 1943 dated, American Fork & Hoe Company shovel, I decided to drag out my 1943 dated, Ames shovel, and see how they compared, side-by-side.  At first glance, they appeared the same.  But, on closer examination, they are quite different in many details!

Since both of these shovels are from the very first production runs of the Model 1943 shovels, it is quite illuminating to see how two companies interpreted the US Army specifications.  From what I can tell, based on the examination of these tow shovels, the specifications were followed for overall construction dimensions, but there was apparently great leeway in the small details like rivets, metal forming, wood, etc.

Before we get too far into this comparison, here are a couple of front and back, overall shots, of the two shovels.  As a quick side note, I believe that the AF&H shovel was likely all green originally, but the paint has since worn away.

Ames on left / AF&H on right

Ames on left / AF&H on right

I am going to just go down the list of differences that I noticed and show some side-by side shots to illustrate.  I will let the photos speak for themselves for the most part.  Let's take a look.

The first notable difference is the choice of wood used for the handles.  The Ames shovel appears to have been made out of a softer, looser grain wood.  You can feel the raised grain of the wood when held.  The AF&H shovel is a much smoother, denser, tight grained, hardwood.

Ames on left / AF&H on right

The butt ends of the handles are shaped somewhat differently as well.  The AF&H shovel has a flat end, and the Ames shovel is rounded (the hole was drilled at some later date, most likely after it fell into civilian hands).

 As we move down the handle, towards the blades, the next noticeable difference is the formation of the "shank tube", and fit of the wood handle to the shank.  The shank on the Ames shovel is formed with a butted seam.  The AF&H shovel is a complete tube and has no seam.  You will also notice that the wood-to-shank fitting is different.  On the Ames shovel, the wood handle is oversized and proud.  On the AF&H shovel it fits smoothly.

Ames shovel

AF&H shovel

Next is the difference of the connecting rivet holding the wood handle to the shank.

Ames shovel on top / AF&H on bottom

Ames shovel on top / AF&H on bottom

Moving further down, it is quickly apparent that the handle mounting stud portion of the shank is very different on both shovels (the metal portion that extends from the handle, into the hinge bracket).  On the Ames shovel, the stud and shank assembly was formed by "rolling" a piece of flat steel, leaving a distinct, butted seam.  The steel used to form the stud and shank assembly is also much thicker on the Ames shovel.  On the upper end of the rolled stud end, there is a crimped-on band that is used to reinforce the rolled construction since it is not solid or welded. You can see this clamping band protruding from the handle end of the tightening nut.  On the AF&H shovel, this stud shank assembly is a solid metal tube, no seams, no clamp.  The steel is also thinner.

Ames shovel

AF&H shovel

The clamping band can be seen on the Ames shovel, top.

Next we'll look and the mounting bracket, hinge bracket, that connect the blade to the handle, forming the hinge.  The overall shape of the two is the same, but the rivets used to connect them, and the shapes of the "wings" are different.  On the Ames shovel, there is a flat edge on each ear.  The difference in rivet types is quite evident on the back of the blade.

Ames shovel

AF&H shovel

Ames shovel

AF&H shovel

The pivot-pin rivets are very similar, but the end "peening" (mushrooming) is different.  I can't tell if the two pins are the same diameter, with more, or less, peening on the end, or if they are two different sized diameters.  I suspect that the AF&H shovel uses a smaller diameter pivot pin.  When the AF&H shovel is folded, the blade and bracket is quite loose, indicating that the hole is larger than the pivot-pin.  The Ames shovel is quite tight when folded, indicating that there is very little difference between the diameter of the hole, and the pivot-pin.  Either way, the peened ends are different.

AF&H shovel on left / Ames shovel on right

Moving down to the blade of the shovel, we notice that there are a couple of small differences there as well. 

The upper shoulder of the blade is wider, (or taller, depending on how you look at it), on the AF&H shovel.

AF&H shovel on left / Ames shovel on right

The pressed curved area that mates up to the hinge bracket is more rounded on the AF&H shovel.

Ames shovel on the left / AF&H on the right

To some people, this in-depth analysis of two seemingly ordinary items, may seem a bit tedious, but it does give us some insight into the early production of this new tool, at a time the US was fully mobilized for industrial manufacturing, all over the country.  It seems that there was some leeway in construction methods between the various companies that were contracted to produce equipment, with the overall goal being production over exact duplication.  

I hope this comparison has been interesting, useful, and hopefully illuminating!