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Early T handle shovel M1910


Pbaczuk
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There are a few topics about these but I believe the consensus at this time is that these are a 'surplus shop special', using original handles. If you do a search on the forum you'll find the discussions.

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I have the same type M1910 shovel made by Red Edge Shovel company out of Wyoming, PA. I have yet to find a vintage commercial advertising showing the shovel in it as they did heavy advertising back in the day and also it was a large company that made coal shovels.

 

Also it's painted in a old OD Green

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When I started collecting I had run across a few of these and always thought they were either reproductions or surplus store specials. TCM was playing "The Story of G.I. Joe" staring Burgess Meredith as war correspondent Ernie Pyle. In the movie Meredith carries one of these shovels. The film was made in 1945. I still don't think they are issue items but maybe they were made by a production company for films? I've never seen a photo of one in use by a GI. The mystery remains!

Tim

 

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Oh wow, good eye for detail! That is exceptional for someone to pick that shovel out from that film. How were pre WW1 shovels built?

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I have this shovel in my collection. It is believed to be either a M1905 model, or a very early M1910. It's of flimsy construction compared to a standard M1910, but the design looks stronger than your type.

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with the making of the Story of GI Joe...with all the correct Mil gear being used in production, and supplied by the US government...why pay for commercial prop shovels? Just a thought

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The single strap T-Handle Shovel is not an early production or a trial shovel. The report in 1906 of the Intrenching Tool Trials and the 1906 drawings clearly describe and show two straps. One front and back as on all standard T-Handles. I don't think that the WWI or Pre WWI era is when these shovels are from.

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  • 2 months later...
Military Engineer

In 1905 and 1906 shovels were purchased by contract. There were many problems with the quality of handles. In 1907 the Chief of Ordnance directed that the steel parts continue to be contracted, but the wood parts be made at Rock Island Arsenal and the shovel be assembled at RIA. It seems likely that since the shovels made for the Army specified two straps, one of those contractors could have easily made a single strapped shovel for the civilian market.

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attachicon.gifM1910BMschep001.JPG

 

attachicon.gifM1910BMschep002.JPG

 

attachicon.gifM1910BMschep 004.jpg

 

attachicon.gifM1910BMschep 005.jpg

 

I have this shovel in my collection. It is believed to be either a M1905 model, or a very early M1910. It's of flimsy construction compared to a standard M1910, but the design looks stronger than your type.

hello

this one is british made ww2 era , l have same with broad arrow proof on wood handle

 

olivier

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I am not convinced that these shovels with the single tang (not strap) riveted to the top of the handle are military issue for the reason that on the standard M1910 shovel, the second tang is welded to the front of the blade, not the back. If the original version was this mystery shovel, then the additional tang would have been welded to the back, not the front as we see in normal examples. Additionally, the rivets go through the handle with the heads bearing directly against the wood, with no washers or bushings to distribute the forces put on the rivets in the act of digging.

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Have two of these.

 

One actually came in a 1909 dated Rock Island shovel cover.Has a bit of faint green paint on it.Also on the back side of the handle looks like a very faint US stamp.Doesnt look recent(in my life time) and the letters are very thin.No any real evidence but its an odd set.

 

My other I may sell soon and has a lot of wear.

 

I'm wondering if Rock Island would have any info on the shovels?

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I just noticed the stick on mine is stamped "US". It is amazing what you miss when you do not have your glasses on.

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I just noticed the stick on mine is stamped "US". It is amazing what you miss when you do not have your glasses on.

 

Yep....dug both mine out and both have US on them.

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hello

this one is british made ww2 era , l have same with broad arrow proof on wood handle

 

olivier

 

This shovel is mentioned in a number of posts here on the forum, and I too had the theory that it might be British Made based on the thin, long 'US' stamped on the metal. This same style is used for other BM products, although in ink. I would love to see the markings on your example. Till now, no one was able to provide a definitive answer on its origins. I got this example from the US via eBay and it didn't have a cover then.

 

 

I just noticed the stick on mine is stamped "US". It is amazing what you miss when you do not have your glasses on.

 

I examined mine closely for a number of times but the wood is just too worn smooth to see any possible remains of a stamp.

 

I still believe the shovel of the topic starter is not military issue, although I haven't seen definitive proof it wasn't either. I based my opinion on the flimsy construction that obviously wouldn't hold up for long in the heavy use it would get in the military.

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Here is one of mine.

 

Still fair amount of green paint.

 

View of rivets front and back.

 

Photpo of US with and with out flash

 

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Here the other one with 1909 RIA made cover with unit marks.

 

This is the only time I have taken the cover off since I have owned it to photograph it.

 

Views of the front and rear

 

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The rear of handle is also US marked

 

Note the faint ghost out line on the face of the shovel.This is from a leather billet on the inside of the carrier.To me this shovel has been in there for a very long time or all its life to have the billet leave an impression in the metal.

 

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Oh, very nice. Great images. Maybe scouring through more period images in search of someone using or carrying one would be of value. Very nice shovel cover.

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