MrSheepy Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hy, first of all please exceuse my (sometimes) bad English. I´m from Germany so please be patient with me. I found this pocket with other WWII Stuff I stored away, cause I ran out of room in my old workroom. Please can you help me Identify this one, if it´s WWII Erea or later? The Button is stamped with "KlikIt" a Star and "PULL". The Edges inside are enhanced with leather and the backside Strip holder ist made of Brass. No other stamps or markings are readible any more! A normal Pistol Belt fits through the Backside holder but there are no fixing for hooks. I would be glad if someone can help me out with this one! Regards, Carsten Link to post Share on other sites
Pops506th Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 It is a first type M43 entrenching tool carrier, but the original hook assembly has been removed and replaced with a different type of hanger system. Link to post Share on other sites
glenm Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 It's a WWII US one (1st type as Pops says above) that has been repaired and modified post-war by the Dutch Army. If you're handy with a sewing machine and have the belt hook, it can quite easily be modded back of course! Cheers, Glen. 2nd Armored in Europe : http://www.2ndarmoredineurope.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
Johan Willaert Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Don't know if the Dutch did this too, but the Belgian Armed Forces sure used these altered carriers. I did Basic in 1982 and carried my 1943! Ames shovel in a similar carrier. It was attached to a British Pattern 37 Small pack, that had had an extra tab added on the flap, and a strap to hold the shovel handle on the lower pack. I still have that shovel in my collection, and I dug several foxholes in the Ardennes with it.... '29th,Let's Go!' Link to post Share on other sites
glenm Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Ohh... maybe they're Belgian then, Johan, as you say. I figured they were Dutch as I bought a load of transitional ones with this mod at a surplus store in northern Holland on the way to Texel. Suppose the "'37 Pattern" buckle makes more sense with the Belgian gear, mind you. Cheers, Glen. 2nd Armored in Europe : http://www.2ndarmoredineurope.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
MrSheepy Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 Ok, then I will watch for a belt hook. I think a Repro one will do it also, but maybe i´m lucky and Dig one up on the weekend . Thanks for your help so far! Link to post Share on other sites
coolman Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 it is belgian...the belgians also had a local made copy of the e-tool cover as well as altered original american ones...the market is flooded with these today & they sale very cheap Link to post Share on other sites
mikie Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 This forum came through again! An old thread, but still useful. I saw one of these covers in a shop and was wondering what the heck it was. I was tempted to buy it for 12 bucks but decided to do some research here first. If I thought it was altered US, I'd still pick it up, but think it is European made. Maybe I'll go take another look at it. Mikie Link to post Share on other sites
earlymb Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 If the LTD-button says 'klik hier' it's for certain Dutch. They did an exact copy of the first pattern M43 shovel cover (with fixed hook) but in OD webbing. Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo. Link to post Share on other sites
mikie Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I went back on Saturday to take another look at the covers. In the pile there were 3 of the modified covers. One had the Klik fastener and two has the US type. But at the bottom of the pile (I've learned ALWAYS check the bottom of the pile) I found this unmodified first pattern cover visibly dated 1943. I grabbed it for 11 bucks. As I said before, these old threads are a valuable resource. I wasn't really aware of this pattern cover until I found this tread, now I've got one. Darn it though, now I'll need to find a 1943 dated shovel. I already have a 1944 dated set. Do I really need a 1943 one? Of course! Sometime I hate collecting. Thanks for all the info! Mikie Link to post Share on other sites
earlymb Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Nice find! 1943 dated M43 shovels are scarce too, though... But it pays to check every one in the pile, that's how I got mine. Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo. Link to post Share on other sites
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