Yes mate but sometime there are little features that stand out which make the item recognisable
from similar items such as rivets or shape of the handle.
Ive added some pics to help identify, as you can see the Pre-War 1934 German type appears the same
as the Swiss type and British type due to rivets on the spade head itself, the noticeable difference on the
British rigid 1939 version is the folding metal flanges on either side of the handle where the metal has been
pressed down on a machine, also the British type seems flatter with less of a curvature to the spade head itself
apart from that the Swiss and early German types look the same from a distance, thats what i meant about noticing
certain identifying features
German rigid E-Tools
Swiss rigid E-Tool
British 1939 pat rigid E-Tool
Cheers Pipes
German shovel?
Moderator: berlin1945
- peiper1944
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:50 pm
- Location: Shropshire UK (The heart of England)
Re: German shovel?
Staff-Sgt, British Airborne Pathfinders Unit (Ex SBG)
ww2airbornegroup.webs.com
ww2airbornegroup.webs.com
Re: German shovel?
Yes there is a background to the buying of the spade. The issue here is the spade itself and not the circumstances it was bought. The spade was NOT produced in Germany in 1940 as the seller (my friend) claimed and at the point of the post still insisted it was.
Personal issues aside, the spade was not produced in Germany in 1940.
Personal issues aside, the spade was not produced in Germany in 1940.
Re: German shovel?
Note how the Reichsheer one has the 'rivet' through the folded 'ears'. British ones vary too, some have this and some don't.
Also the half finish on the flat of the spade is present on some and not others.
German spades are identified by a maker stamp on the flat of the spade, never on the handle.
Also note the variation on the ball of the handle, some are egg shaped and some round.
Linneman patent spades not produced by Germany are more often maker stamped on the metal part of the shaft. As in the links. You can clearly see a maker mark was removed from my spade.
Note the swiss handles are usually 6? sided and have a brass? pin near the head. The much studied 'band' around the metal shaft only goes right the way around on the Swiss ones and possibly other countries Linneman pattern spades. The Reichsheer and 39 Pattern spades do not have this band going right around.
If the spade is worn pointing out from the leg this part of the spade isn't visible on the ones that appear like the Reichsheer and Pattern 39.
There are original pictures of German soldiers wearing a type of spade with the band that wraps right around. From memory these spades are in early war pictures and are likely old/captured stock of a non German produced Linneman pattern spade.
Also the half finish on the flat of the spade is present on some and not others.
German spades are identified by a maker stamp on the flat of the spade, never on the handle.
Also note the variation on the ball of the handle, some are egg shaped and some round.
Linneman patent spades not produced by Germany are more often maker stamped on the metal part of the shaft. As in the links. You can clearly see a maker mark was removed from my spade.
Note the swiss handles are usually 6? sided and have a brass? pin near the head. The much studied 'band' around the metal shaft only goes right the way around on the Swiss ones and possibly other countries Linneman pattern spades. The Reichsheer and 39 Pattern spades do not have this band going right around.
If the spade is worn pointing out from the leg this part of the spade isn't visible on the ones that appear like the Reichsheer and Pattern 39.
There are original pictures of German soldiers wearing a type of spade with the band that wraps right around. From memory these spades are in early war pictures and are likely old/captured stock of a non German produced Linneman pattern spade.
Re: German shovel?
Great thread , thanks guys , my knowledge of German/European entrenching tools has certainly increased !
Now I've got to find an earlier pattern for my pre war impression ....
Now I've got to find an earlier pattern for my pre war impression ....
Jäger Stefan Halle 3./I./Geb.Jag.Reg.100
- peiper1944
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:50 pm
- Location: Shropshire UK (The heart of England)
Re: German shovel?
As you can see from the pics Halle, the Swiss type and the 1939 British type resemble theHalle wrote:Great thread , thanks guys , my knowledge of German/European entrenching tools has certainly increased !
Now I've got to find an earlier pattern for my pre war impression ....
early German version (due to the riveted heads), it is the later War unriveted type which is
rarer to find imho as there is not another foreign type that is similar
Staff-Sgt, British Airborne Pathfinders Unit (Ex SBG)
ww2airbornegroup.webs.com
ww2airbornegroup.webs.com
Re: German shovel?
They do Pipes , but they're not " the real thing " .....
Jäger Stefan Halle 3./I./Geb.Jag.Reg.100
- LHistorian
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- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:49 am
- Location: US of A
Re: German shovel?
Well thanks chaps for all the help, For sure helped my knowledge as well on the subject of entrenching tools!
I'll see about posting some pics of it should I get it (probably soon)
I'll see about posting some pics of it should I get it (probably soon)
die Wille Gottes wird nie nehmen Sie, wo die Gnade Gottes wird Sie nicht schützen.
~~~~~~
Put a German soldier into a box. Close it as tight as you can.
Write on it´s top the warning: " DO NOT OPEN! ONLY IN CASE OF WAR!"
~~~~~~
Put a German soldier into a box. Close it as tight as you can.
Write on it´s top the warning: " DO NOT OPEN! ONLY IN CASE OF WAR!"
- Crazy Feldgendarme
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Re: German shovel?
Ok I have cleaned this up folks, we don't need personal issues on the open forum, either keep it to PM / E-mail or square up at an event. Your choice cos if it happens again we will say goodbye
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.
GeFoPo
GeFoPo
Re: German shovel?
The bent over ears on the reverse side are riveted on German WW1 shovels. The British '37 ones appear to not be riveted. WW2 made German shovels do not appear to have "ears".
The German utilized many shovels for all conquered armies, so we need to examine all photos carefully. Many reenactors use the Swiss pattern which had a band around the the shank of the part that the wooden handle was attached. They also had a brass pin in the side of the ball of the handle to prevent splitting.
Jim
The German utilized many shovels for all conquered armies, so we need to examine all photos carefully. Many reenactors use the Swiss pattern which had a band around the the shank of the part that the wooden handle was attached. They also had a brass pin in the side of the ball of the handle to prevent splitting.
Jim