I have this US M1951 entrenching tool which has para-cord tied through the hole in the end of the wooden handle. So far I have left the para-cord in place because I thought that it may have been added during it's service life? But was this a normal practice, for some reason, to tie para-cord through the handle or perhaps it's a later civilian addition?

I was also wondering about the flap and canvas/leather reinforcement to the carrier but a internet search would seem to say these were for carrying a bayonet on the outside of the carrier.
Information
Warning: This is a relatively older thread
This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.