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.
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| BGS Model star locking lug |
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| 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.
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| Bundeswehr on left / BGS Model on right |
The handles have slightly different end knobs, as can be seen in this side-by-side comparison.
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| 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.
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| BGS Model on left / Bundeswehr on right |
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| 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.
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| Bundeswehr left / BGS Model right |
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| Bundeswehr left / BGS Model right |
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.
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