WW1 shovel?

[bellasilva]

I found this pair selling for $24. The green folding shovel is US, dated 1944. The T handle shovel is only marked US. I'm clueless when it comes to these. Ideas?

[agate hunter]

Looks like your standard WWI T handle shovel, looks like a good price too.

[bellasilva]

Thank you! I snapped a quick shot as the place was closing, so I didn't have much time to get detail shots

[P-40Warhawk]

If it is $24 for the pair, that is a good price if you need them.

[atb]

Great price for both. I've heard there is a way to tell when a M1910 E-tool was made- before WW1, during WW1 or after WW1. The size of the rivets, maybe? Also the type style of the "US" markings, serif or sans serif. If there is a small Ordnance Department bomb symbol on one of the ends of the handle cross piece, I think that means pre-WW1 manufacture. If you're lucky, WW2 manufacturer's marks and date of manufacture may be on the wooden handle.

[bellasilva]

Thanks all! I left them where they were so that I could gather info on the forum, so hopefully they will still be there today or tomorrow. I don't recall seeing an ordnance

stamp but I will give it a detailed look over when I go back. And to clarify, yes the price is $24 for the pair

[earlymb]

I think the Ordnance stamp doesn't necessarily means pre-WW1, but was also used early in WW1 itself. Other than that, these shovels just have the 'US' stamp on tang and wooden handle. There were huge stocks left after WW1, but when the US entered WW2 more shovels were quickly needed and the M1910 shovel was taken into production again. These 1942-made examples are also maker marked and dated.

 

With some luck the folding shovel is dated 1943, these are very hard to find!

[bellasilva]

Thanks for the input all! The shovels were still there so I picked them up. The T handle shovel looks like a WW1 issue, with the US stamp on the wood and metal. The folding shovel is dated 1944

[nix284]

Great purchase. Well done.