Jump to content

M-1943 Entrenching Tool


colfaxer
 Share

Recommended Posts

M-1943 Entrenching Tool

 

Marked: WOOD 1942 (or 43, last digit hard to make out)

Cover marked: VL DUNAS MFG CO. 1944

 

I found the shovel in an RV storage compartment when I worked at an RV shop when I was a kid. The RV shop bought the RV this was in). I kept this shovel in the trunk of my VW bug for a long time, then finally realized it was a possible WWII item(?). I bought the cover at a flea market fairly recently.

 

Any info on these items with regard to value and any other info, is greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.

Jeff

 

4169182633_3835663e41_o.jpg

 

4169182579_bd8427abb6_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You do have valuable, or even very valuable item. Market is flooded by the M1943 e-tools made by Ames Baldwin Wyoming Co. whereas you specimen belongs to much smaller group of those e-tools manufactured by the Wood Shovel and Tool Company of Piqua. Also date 1943 is ultra rare and hard to find today.

 

Cover is made by W.L. Dumas Mfg. Co. and is correct for WWII era e-tools.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=1062

 

I have only ever seen a couple of AFH.co 1943,More Wood 43 and lots Ames 43.But all seem a bit thin on the ground at the moment,More so in NOS condition as them in quoted thread..They are the only three makers of the tool i know of..

 

Dave.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys. (Gregory - thanks for the proper name of the cover mfg!)

 

Few more thoughts/questions:

 

1) do anything to it (the metal) to preserve or leave it alone?

2) store it in the cover or out of the cover

3) any idea as to value (replacement/insurance)?

 

Thanks,

Jeff

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3) any idea as to value (replacement/insurance)?

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Ames-made 1944 dated are for $40.00-75.00

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Ames-made 1943 dated are for abstract prices "who can pay more"

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Wood-made 1944 dated are for $90.00-140.00

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Wood-made 1943 dated are for totally abstract money, $200.00, 300.00 etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Howdy

I have a 1943 Wood & 2 1944 Ames. I will hafta dig them out to see what the covers are marked. Memory not what it usta be.

These were first intro'ed in 1943 and 1944 were the most common dates. They were preceded by one with a fold-out pick added to it. Then with the tri=fold in Viet Nam

Billy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a perfect world a 1943 dated M1943 shovel would have a first model (fixed hanger) cover. Preferably dated 1943 of course ! :lol:

 

I'll post a pic of mine later.

 

Greetz ;)

 

David

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
Mint/near mint/excellent/ Ames-made 1944 dated are for $40.00-75.00

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Ames-made 1943 dated are for abstract prices "who can pay more"

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Wood-made 1944 dated are for $90.00-140.00

Mint/near mint/excellent/ Wood-made 1943 dated are for totally abstract money, $200.00, 300.00 etc.

 

 

What about Wood-made 1945 date....which is what I have.

 

 

Not really concerned about value, but more about rarity. Where does 1945-wood compare to the others. Since not mentioned...I'll assume it was more common?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sgt. Boghots

That "Wood" is a very nice find, Jeff. :thumbsup:

 

I've hung onto a '43 Wood for years, and consider it my favorite of my M43's.

 

Other M43's in the stable are: 3-Ames '44's, 1-Ames '45.

 

Sold off several '43's and T-Handles in the last ten years, including an M43 A.F. & H. - But I just can't seem to completely shake my obsession with them :lol:

 

Best regards,

Paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RustyCanteen

I would say '44 seems to be the most commonly encountered, perhaps the contracts were suspended in '45 and therefore less than a full year's worth were made?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 years later...
Milsurp_Fan

Is it ok to reply to old threads? I have this shovel marked US WOOD 1944, it appears mint/unissued and looks very close to an M1943 but lacks the folding mechanism... Any ideas on what I have here?

post-167105-0-38968700-1491642722_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-97285200-1491642736_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-51829700-1491642757_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-67031800-1491642770_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-64388300-1491642781_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-08821200-1491642797_thumb.jpg

post-167105-0-50738400-1491642805_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

phantomfixer

Kind of an odd duck with out the lock...looks either never used or refurbed...? wouldn't the handle be OD also if NOS?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Milsurp_Fan

That's what I thought, it looks never used and don't think it was refurbed. It should be riveted to the handle but instead has a bolt although it looks factory or very well done.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...