WWII US Army M-1943 Entrenching Tool -
The M-1943 entrenching tool is one of the most successful field gear stories of WWII. The shovel was produced by the millions.
Every soldier got one. The handle was wooden. The shovel head was metal and had a hinge that allowed it to be folded 180
degrees for carrying purposes. The same basic shovel was used clear after the Vietnam war.
The shovel is marked "US" and dated on on of the inner sides of the shovel head. Close to the handle.
The versatile design is so effective that the shovel continues to be produced for civilian used by many outdoors and hardware
companies.
The entrenching tool featured on this page comes with the canvis carrying case. Of heavy duty construction. The carrier was
sewn and riveted. The main flap was secured in the closed position by the use of a snap. A wire hook was attached to the
back, allowing the shovel to be attached to the utility belt or backpack.
Note that the back of the carrier has multiple sets of gromets. This feature allowed the wire hook to be moved therefore
affecting the center of gravity. the mouth of the carrier had leather reinforcements in the areas of high stress.
the US armed forces also employed a different design of entrenching tool known as the
T-handle shovel .
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US collectibles. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII US collectible worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the collectibles
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
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The entrnching tool was very useful for digging foxholes. It worked well in conjuction with
the US pick .
Some accounts indicate that the shovel was also used as a striking weapon in hand to hand combat.
The example shown here has the name of the manufacturer (Ames) and the date of production (1944)
stamped on one end. It is important to note that not all shovels were marked in this fashion.
This WWII US military collectible may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII US military collectibles, you can do so by
going to our
WWII US Military Collectibles Price Guide.
Where we cover items from the Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
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