Model 1910 shovel covers

[RCS]

Note how the attaching hooks are mounted on an angle on the USMC marked USS MISS cover while the USS WYOM (Wyoming) cover has the hooks centered. Did the USMC have a special shovel cover ?Attachment 24172Attachment 24173

Information

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[LimeyCarbineLover]

Way nice shovel covers RCs...and indeed you are correct..one is earlier than the other and the USMC specific belt hooks denote this......one is a depot made shovel cover and one is an issue shovel cover (later)
The strap buckles should bear this out......any evidence inside them of the PQD ink stamp or the USMC fiscal year stamp ?

The USS Miss one is possibly WW1 vintage...

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I don't know if they attached that mount at an angle on purpose, but yes, the Marine Corps made many shovel covers themselves at marine depots as well as a lot of their other web gear. Sometimes they sowed the hook attachment lower on the cover than was done for covers made by the myriad of contractors for the Army. With it mounted lower the shovel rode higher so the handle didn't get in the way as much.

You can distinguish a lot of gear made by the Marines by the lack of a 'US' stamp on it. They still used a lot of gear made for the Army and sometimes even removed the 'US' from the Army gear.

Check inside your covers to see if you can see a trace of an ink stamp remaining. Sometimes the shovel covers made at the Marine Depot will have a stamp inside the cover saying -

QUARTER MASTER DEPOT
US MARINE CORPS

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Lloyd is correct.

Sorry, I didn't mean to 'walk on you' Lloyd - You posted while I was writing and trying to ad the illustration.

~ Harlan

[LimeyCarbineLover]

Hey Harlan any info is GOOD info..especially as we are singing from the same song sheet regarding these covers.....love the MD (marine Detachment) USS-Wyoming stamp.....

Also some early USMC gear will have Nom markings too.....its a collecting interest all by itself USMC 782 Gear..

Great covers RCS...Love that QMD stamp Harlan ...NICE...

Regards

Lloyd

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Here's an example of a USMC canteen cover made by the Marines and the design is unique to them.
They used a different 'cross over' flap design and didn't line the inside with insulation as were canteen covers made for the Army.

This one is in mint condition other than the corrosion on the fasteners I can't bring myself to clean off.
(Torn whether is should be cleaned to preserve the metal or left alone, so I've left it alone)

Regardless, the fabric is mint and has has no markings at all.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I think the USS marked covers RCS owns are outstanding, Lloyd!

The only issue I see with them is he has two of them and I don't have one with the ship markings!

[DaveN]

I forgot I purchased two WWII entrenching tools (shovels) a 1943 and 1945. I was going to use one as a dig out tool if I got my stock jeep stuck but they are so nice I bought a modern USGI tri fold for that duty. I'll have to dig them out. Pardon the pun.

[LimeyCarbineLover]

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 posistion 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

[RCS]

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