Model 1910 shovel covers

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Robert dont sell them...well do sell them if that Singer 45 M1911 auto comes along...or that lovely Ithaca M37 WW2 Vintage original trench gun comes along.....

ONLY joking buddy...2 very scarce and very rare and VERY nice pieces of unique USMC 782 gear.......especially with the ships provenance.....what was a ships detachment....40 or so marines ????.....makes them kinda special doesnt it..?

Regards and thanks for sharing

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

WOW ..NIce Harlan..you really bringing in the "heavy arty" with that one buddy.....does it have the funnel hole in the bottom or not ?........if not it is a very 1st pattern Cross Flap cover.....note the position of the belt hook and web hanger...later ones were moved to the top of the canteen cover.

First pictorial evidence of cross flap covers was seen with the "old breed" on Pelilieu...in 1944

Regards

Lloyd

Hi Lloyd. No, it doesn't have the hole made in the bottom. Thanks for the info! I was disappointed it didn't have the 'funnel hole' when I got it and didn't know this design was earlier.

I guess while on the subject of canteens I'll post photos of the notorious black enameled canteen that's most often attributed to Marine use.

Early in the war the military was concerned with preserving aluminum and someone came up with the brilliant idea of using regular steel to make canteens and coating them inside and out with a thick coat of enamel to keep them from rusting. Trouble was they didn't take into account the abuse canteens took and every little dent caused chunks of enamel to chip off. It has about the same properties as shards of glass floating in the water inside the canteen. I think they stopped making them because of this tiny little flaw and all I've seen have 1942 and the maker 'painted' on the bottom -
They pained it because if they stamped it the enamel would have chipped off (It seems the flaw would have been apparent right there!)

Most of these found today have bare rusted areas all over the outside where the finish has chipped off.

Also, I think all should have this early first design flat top without the reinforcing rib around the top edge.

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Go On Harlan...now bring out the accompanying enamelled canteen cup....too....

Do it or my Mack Products Ethocell Plastic 1943 dated canteen gets it........

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Still looking for the cup Lloyd. (I don't have everything yet, including a rare plastic canteen!)

Now put the canteen down gently and take three steps back!!!

[LimeyCarbineLover]

I will get up in my kit room and get my plastic canteen down Harlan....and we can start a canteen through the eras thread....

Its ok anyway buddy..i was only going to stab it a couple of times with my R C Co 1943 blade dated M3 knife...... (which i actually havent got........yet !!! )

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

My stomach is still tight and solar plexus burning from the thought of destroying a rare plastic canteen lloyd!

Yes, get some stuff out and take some photos! Probably be a good idea to start a new thread(s) since I about highjacked RCS's thread already.

(The moderator staff will throw me back under the bus again!)

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Never happen Harlan......this new forum will tempt me up into my kit room and dig out some of my stuff.....collected over the 33 years ive been collecting US WW2 militaria.

Back on topic......come on guys show us your USMC shovel covers ...especially original TAC marked ones

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Harlan and Lloyd, thanks for the information about the covers. I was unable to find any additional markings/stamps inside either cover. Both covers had shovels in them at some point in time.
It is alway interesting to find gear with additional markings. Thanks Robert

Hey Robert,
I meant to get back to you earlier. I don't know if you've checked, but even on ebay you can often find original M1910 'T-Handle' shovels for $50 or less if you wanted to have one to display with your covers. Original covers are more valuable than original shovels, and your covers with Marine ship markings are much more valuable. I'd venture a guess they're probably worth in the $150-$200 range each and maybe more on a good auction day. They're too rare, especially in that condition to know how much they could sell for.
(Heck, I'll give you $50 cash money for one right now!)

Here's a shovel with paint worn off (as most are) for only $20 with no bids.

WWII US Army T-Handle Shovel, Double Stamped "US" NICE! | eBay

At about any given time if you do a search for 'WWII US Shovel' several will come up most of the time, and many have fairly low 'Buy It Now' prices. With these I wouldn't feel bad about 'restoring' one to display with your covers.

Also, while I was searching around I found an enamel canteen that's in the typical condition most are found today.



The seller has a 'hopeful' starting price of $65 for this one, but I think he's dreaming. (Who ever knows on ebay though?)
Besides the dents and chips, the top is a later replacement.
Just as it is with old guns, condition and originality means everything. The seller has probably seen mint enamel canteens sell for big dollars and thinks a beat up one would be worth a little less but they're not worth much at all in this condition.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I ran across this picture. Nice triple treat. Harley, Thompson, and shovel.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Well, heck Jim - I'll do it!
I already have two out of the three so I'm 2/3's of the way there. It would be a crime not to have the complete set.




Cool photo! (These days I could hardly afford to buy a set of plugs for a vintage Harley!)

One of the guys out at the CAF hangar has one I get to drool over when we have meets out there.