Pair of Entrenching Tools

[Aragorn243]

Found these on a day trip to Gettysburg yesterday at a flea market. The first is a pretty run of the mill US shovel dated AMES 1944 in a well marked 1945 cover. The second I thought was more unusual. The seller called it a cheap reproduction but I'm not thinking so. The quality is equal to the US shovel, basically the same thing. I'm thinking it was military contract for Taiwan or perhaps one of the other nations in Asia. I can't find anything on it however so it remains a bit of a mystery. I know there are cheap shovels out there made for the civilian market, this just doesn't seem like one. The two shovels are nearly identical. That one looks shorter than the other is just optics from the phone's camera.

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.

[USGI]

How old of a person was the seller? I think I would trust what they told you about the one marked Taiwan. The "War Surplus" stores were full of reproduction "Army Shovels" back in the day. I've got one from Korea that I bought at a store my brother managed back in the 80's. That's just my opinion, though. - Bob

[Aragorn243]

I'm familiar with the reproduction shovels which is why this one is unusual. It's not cheaply made. This could have been issued to US troops other than the obvious TAI WAN stamp on it. The cheap ones are easy to pick out.

[USGI]

I'm familiar with the reproduction shovels which is why this one is unusual. It's not cheaply made. This could have been issued to US troops other than the obvious TAI WAN stamp on it. The cheap ones are easy to pick out.

Here's some pics of my Korean "knock-off." I can't see much that's different about it. ??? - Bob

Attachment 118408Attachment 118409Attachment 118410Attachment 118411

[Garandy]

I had one that was made in Japan some years back. Seems like whenever there isn't enough genuine surplus to be had or it is too expensive, commercial versions pop up.

[Aragorn243]

Looks like a good one to me but I don't have a US shovel next to it to compare. Like Taiwan, Korea probably produced shovels for their own military as well. This isn't one of the cheap reproductions either.

[USGI]

I bought that one in the 80's (see post #2) brand new, along with a Korean "knock-off" GI pistol belt. I used the belt for my tool pouch at work for several years and still have it. I believe they were made especially for the "war surplus" outlets in the U.S. when the real stuff was drying up. I've used the heck out of both of them. - Bob