Very Cool Folding Shovel

[Sgt_Rock_EasyCo]

Sub Target Gun Company

Folding Shovel to 90 degrees and open position

 

Any help in identifying the war/application or year of this piece is appreciated.

 

 

Rock

[hbtcoveralls]

Google searches for the "Sub target gun company" show only a few results. A stock certificate from 1907 and a book "how to shoot" also from 1907. Nothing like a catalog. Stock certificate was from Maine.

Tom Bowers

[d6t]

Intriguing!

 

Found these relevant links:

 

http://www.19thcenturyweapons.com/galleryp.../shovel704.html

 

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/worl...-folding-shovel

[Keystone]

That type of shovel was tested in the 1905 entrenching tool trials. The trials eventually led to the T handle shovel, pick mattock, hand axe and wire cutters being adopted. One of the pre-WW1 USMC uniform regulations books shows that type shovel in an illustration with the shelter half and blanket. I'll see if I can find the picture tonight. I assume the Marine Corps was given some of the test articles for evaluation and simply used it in the picture. The patent for the shovel is available on Google's patent search. If I remember correctly, the army decided not to adopt this type of shovel over the fear of the hinge being too weak. I have a similarly marked shovel but with a metal handle.

Tim

[Keystone]

Found it. See Plate #60.

Tim

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZJQtAAAAY...p;q&f=false

[Sgt_Rock_EasyCo]

So then this is an experimental shovel tested by the Army and USMC. I thought it might not be adopted due to weakness issues. Thank goodness this one's solid.

 

Thanks a million!

 

Rock

[uplandmod]

Amazing item, never seen it before!

 

Leonardo

[Allen Dail]

Patent is 881,782 filed by Brigadier General George F. Elliott april 24,1907 and patentted march 10,1908. Nice shovel I have one i will post pics of mine tomorrow. On my phone at the moment. Best regards allen

[patches]

How rare if at all is this thing ? is it a rare item ?

[Allen Dail]

Here are pics of mine it is not in as good of shape as Sgt_Rock's.

It has had the first rivet in the tip replaced with washer and screw quite some time ago and a couple of chips off the turned ring on the handle. It had some use at one point in its history.

Not quite sure on how rare they are , I bought mine off ebay some time ago.

Allen

[frederik.geudens]

For just $385.00 it can be yours on eBay!

 

www.ebay.com/itm/USMC-EXPERIMENTAL-FOLDING-SHOVEL-SUN-TARGET-GUN-CO-FEW-SURVIVORS-1917-COVER-/320887373468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab660be9ch

[airborne1968]

For just $385.00 it can be yours on eBay!

 

www.ebay.com/itm/USMC-EXPERIMENTAL-FOLDING-SHOVEL-SUN-TARGET-GUN-CO-FEW-SURVIVORS-1917-COVER-/320887373468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab660be9ch

 

Looking at the way the shovel folds indicates the carrier is not the correct type as the hooks can not reach the belt. Too bad the 1912 book doesn't illustrate the correct carrier for this shovel or the proper placement of the shovel when carried.

 

It looks almost too heavy for individual issue.

[Patriot]

Now that is just cool.... thanks for sharing!

[Texas36th]

It may have been turned down for a weak hinge but it looks like it would make one hell of a club.

[Alec]

I just picked one of these up that is USMC marked from a fellow forum member. Searched all my records, but nothing about test trials on it. As noted there is photographic evidence of use/testing by Marine Corps. Will post pics soon.

 

Interesting is was patented by BG Elliot, or should I say Commandant Elliot.

[hawkdriver]

I find it funny that this was turned down for being afraid that it was to weak and wouldn't hold up, so we adopted the flimsy T-handle. I was told by a Infantry vet that you could always tell if a abandoned foxhole was made by American or someone else by walking a circle throwing distance from the foxhole and look for the broken shovel parts.

[Alec]

My shovel is rough around the edges, but I firmly believe the USMC markings are legit and this is one of the ones that the USMC tested. I enjoy seeing the evolution of why and or how the equipment the Corp used came about. This is a great example and interesting in that a folding shovel was eventually adopted during WWII.

[Jack's Son]

This is a first for me too. The quality is excellent, but there are I couple of design flaws, (IMO). All in all, excellent tools.