USMC shovel covers from the WW1 period

I have looked on and off for years for additional USMC marked shovel covers as used by Marine Detachments assigned to US Naval ships. These covers will have both the USMC marking and the ship marking tooAttachment 131059Attachment 131060

Nice. Now that you've alerted Aragorn, he'll probably dig one up at a yard sale for $10.00. :lol:

I hope so, as these are difficult to locate. The US navy often marked the ships initials/ or other ID , on their Springfield M1903 stocks too, but not the USMC rifles

LOL, what I'm wondering is why did they need a shovel on a ship.

The shovel covers were issued to the US Marine detachments which were always assigned to the capital ships for use with landing marines on shore. I have seen a US bayonet scabbard marked in white ST LOUIS too.

Photo shows a 1903 stock marked HONOLULU, from the heavy cruisier of pre WW2Attachment 131068

It's all about Navy food.....packs down pretty well and needs to be dug out.