While it looks more "knife" than shovel, I just ordered the Marbles Fireman's Shovel Machete. I'll give my impressions, but at less than $20 with sheath, if it can do anything, it's worth it.
Quality of entrenching tools?
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bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
I have a vietnam era suplus one.
Back when I was young and first in country they gave a week long oreintation. One of the classes was the
E-tool, 6 minutes on how to dig, and 6 hours on how to use it as weapon.
Back when I was young and first in country they gave a week long oreintation. One of the classes was the
E-tool, 6 minutes on how to dig, and 6 hours on how to use it as weapon.
X-Rap
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- 6,657
If its Glock, people gonna hate. Last summer one of my boys and I crossed the Peoples Republic Of Canada on our way to Alaska on 2 wheelers and we took a sharpened Glock Shovel and an Estwing Hatchet as well as a 16oz charge of bear spray. The Kanook Law and Order never blinked an eye and while I'd rather we'd each had our firing Glocks we didn't feel to outgunned with what we had given the laws of the land.
We were channeling our Scandinavian and Native American ancestry and I think we would have laid down some serious carnage with those two weapons.
I can't say I am as impressed with the Gerber that was issued to my other son.
We were channeling our Scandinavian and Native American ancestry and I think we would have laid down some serious carnage with those two weapons.
I can't say I am as impressed with the Gerber that was issued to my other son.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Bikerdoc
There ya go!!!
I thought I was losing my mind (more) remembering the E-Tool HTH combat training in 1964!
X-Rap
My feelings on the Glock E-Tool too.
And I don't understand how anyone can call them 'flimsy'.
I have used mine to pry up big rocks, chop through tree roots, and I moved a 1/2 ton of crushed rock out of the bottom of a drainage trench.
It is still good to go.
No rust while living under the truck seat for 20 years.
And I still haven't even worn the finish off of it.
rc
There ya go!!!
I thought I was losing my mind (more) remembering the E-Tool HTH combat training in 1964!
X-Rap
My feelings on the Glock E-Tool too.
And I don't understand how anyone can call them 'flimsy'.
I have used mine to pry up big rocks, chop through tree roots, and I moved a 1/2 ton of crushed rock out of the bottom of a drainage trench.
It is still good to go.
No rust while living under the truck seat for 20 years.
And I still haven't even worn the finish off of it.
rc
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VA27
Member
Keep the finish intact rc. After living in the wife's gardening tool box for 10 years, mine had quite a bit of surface rust where the finish was gone. I took it apart and am having a friend DuraCoat it. It'll be good as new shortly.
Another vote for the CS shovel. I have several. I also have an East German surplus e-tool that is about as heavy duty as you could ever want.
Another vote for the CS shovel. I have several. I also have an East German surplus e-tool that is about as heavy duty as you could ever want.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
A little history of U.S. E-Tools and others.
Bottom to top:
WWII T-Handle = 1lb, 14 oz.
WWII Folder = 2lb, 2oz.
Korea/Vietnam folder w/Pick ax = 3lb, 2oz.
Glock with root saw = 1lb, 6oz.
IMO: The WWII T-handle or the Glock would make the best fighting weapon because they are lighter and faster, and easier to swing.
The later WWII folder, and even later folding pick & shovel are much better digging tools, because they are nearly bullet-proof.
rc
Bottom to top:
WWII T-Handle = 1lb, 14 oz.
WWII Folder = 2lb, 2oz.
Korea/Vietnam folder w/Pick ax = 3lb, 2oz.
Glock with root saw = 1lb, 6oz.
IMO: The WWII T-handle or the Glock would make the best fighting weapon because they are lighter and faster, and easier to swing.
The later WWII folder, and even later folding pick & shovel are much better digging tools, because they are nearly bullet-proof.
rc
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ApacheCoTodd
member
Combatives 21-150...
Paragraph 52-C:
To paraphrase - The E-Tool can be used to deliver deadly or disabling blows to the opponent's body.
If you get the right version of the manual there's a significant photo instruction portion on an E-Tools use as a defensive weapon.
As a tool, of all the nationalities E-tools I've used, the current U.S. version is the best. The "delta" handle allow for very effective swinging on either axis when used as a; spade, pick or weapon. The tri-fold pattern allows for very compact carry. Also the top of the handle is especially effective for use in a pulling action when the spade is locked in the 90 degree position. Unlike "T" handled E-Tool, the modern U.S. version is easy to use with gloves and mittens when pulling snow or mud from beneath a vehicle is necessary.
Strong? Among the strongest.
Todd.
Paragraph 52-C:
To paraphrase - The E-Tool can be used to deliver deadly or disabling blows to the opponent's body.
If you get the right version of the manual there's a significant photo instruction portion on an E-Tools use as a defensive weapon.
As a tool, of all the nationalities E-tools I've used, the current U.S. version is the best. The "delta" handle allow for very effective swinging on either axis when used as a; spade, pick or weapon. The tri-fold pattern allows for very compact carry. Also the top of the handle is especially effective for use in a pulling action when the spade is locked in the 90 degree position. Unlike "T" handled E-Tool, the modern U.S. version is easy to use with gloves and mittens when pulling snow or mud from beneath a vehicle is necessary.
Strong? Among the strongest.
Todd.
Charley C
Member
"The later WWII folder, and even later folding pick & shovel are much better digging tools, because they are nearly bullet-proof".
Thank you, rcmodel!
I had plumb forgotten what they called it! The "even later" folding pick & shovel!
IMHO, the only tool ever invented that will never be improved on!
I've had both the "folder" with just a shovel, and the one I still have now with the added "pick".
True story: we're having a pretty cold winter here in west Indiana; several weeks ago, (at about 8 PM, and 5 above zero outside ) I was going to do the few dishes while my lovely bride was doing her last dialysis treatment of the day; when I turned the hot water faucet on, nothing came out! The Missus quickly determines, "must be frozen up in the well-head "house"; (the 5ft sq. mostly below grade cement block "box" with the pressure tank in it, above the well ).
My "plan"........get a 70ft, #10 extension cord, a small radiator heater, and stick the heater in with the pressure tank; by this time it's 10 PM, I have the radiator and extension cord, but the 28 in sq vertical steel plate that covers the opening is about 2 inches into the dirt, and the "dirt" has now become "concrete" because it's frozen so hard! (Can't get the heater inside until I get the plate out of the dirt.) First I tried a 4ft pry bar, then a 6 ft spud bar.....
nothing worked! Then, while rummaging around my shop for.......anything.......there's my almost "forgot about" ww2, "folder with pick & shovel"! Have you ever attempted to "swing" a pick, (even one this small ) "into a hole that's inside of a corregated steel "surround"? (Try not to have the need, as it's almost impossible!) By now it's midnight, still trying to get the plate out of the frozen dirt, and it was even too cold to swear out loud! But I FINALLY got the plate OFF, the heater IN, the plate back ON, and about 2AM when I tried the faucet in the kitchen sink, water came out!
All thanks to the forgotten about folding pick & shovel from ..........I'm guessing now.......about the "Korea era"?
BTW......on a completely different note.......someone questioned the E-tool being used as a weapon; You are apparently unfamiliar with the Russian/Soviet era "Spetsnaz" forces, (which are/were roughly something like our Navy Seals ) ALL "Spetsnaz" troops had an E-tool and ALL were trained to be quite lethal with them at 10 meters maybe? In their training to qualify for the Spetsnaz, the E-tool was of equal importance as their rifle. (a lot quieter also )
Thank you, rcmodel!
I had plumb forgotten what they called it! The "even later" folding pick & shovel!
IMHO, the only tool ever invented that will never be improved on!
I've had both the "folder" with just a shovel, and the one I still have now with the added "pick".
True story: we're having a pretty cold winter here in west Indiana; several weeks ago, (at about 8 PM, and 5 above zero outside ) I was going to do the few dishes while my lovely bride was doing her last dialysis treatment of the day; when I turned the hot water faucet on, nothing came out! The Missus quickly determines, "must be frozen up in the well-head "house"; (the 5ft sq. mostly below grade cement block "box" with the pressure tank in it, above the well ).
My "plan"........get a 70ft, #10 extension cord, a small radiator heater, and stick the heater in with the pressure tank; by this time it's 10 PM, I have the radiator and extension cord, but the 28 in sq vertical steel plate that covers the opening is about 2 inches into the dirt, and the "dirt" has now become "concrete" because it's frozen so hard! (Can't get the heater inside until I get the plate out of the dirt.) First I tried a 4ft pry bar, then a 6 ft spud bar.....
nothing worked! Then, while rummaging around my shop for.......anything.......there's my almost "forgot about" ww2, "folder with pick & shovel"! Have you ever attempted to "swing" a pick, (even one this small ) "into a hole that's inside of a corregated steel "surround"? (Try not to have the need, as it's almost impossible!) By now it's midnight, still trying to get the plate out of the frozen dirt, and it was even too cold to swear out loud! But I FINALLY got the plate OFF, the heater IN, the plate back ON, and about 2AM when I tried the faucet in the kitchen sink, water came out!
All thanks to the forgotten about folding pick & shovel from ..........I'm guessing now.......about the "Korea era"?
BTW......on a completely different note.......someone questioned the E-tool being used as a weapon; You are apparently unfamiliar with the Russian/Soviet era "Spetsnaz" forces, (which are/were roughly something like our Navy Seals ) ALL "Spetsnaz" troops had an E-tool and ALL were trained to be quite lethal with them at 10 meters maybe? In their training to qualify for the Spetsnaz, the E-tool was of equal importance as their rifle. (a lot quieter also )
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Here is a good read on genuine & fake E-Tools. (from eBay of all places!!)
http://www.ebay.com/gds/U-S-Entrenching-Tool-Identification-Spot-a-Fake-/10000000001662604/g.html
rc
http://www.ebay.com/gds/U-S-Entrenching-Tool-Identification-Spot-a-Fake-/10000000001662604/g.html
rc
It slices it dices it even does....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOaEjJz-6jg Heck if it had a steel handle you could use it as a skillet.
I have a WWII, a Glock, and Cold Steel, but the one I consistently keep in my car and rely on is a simple small US-made D-handle shovel from the hardware store. I've broken more expensive e-tools over the years but this one has stuck around. I figure why over complicate things, especially if kept in a car.
kBob
Member
My favorite is my 1944 Ames USGI folding e-tool. It is exactly like the Ames 1944 e-tool I carried in the Infantry......imagine that.
It is like my service one sharpened on the left side and both halves of the point.
When we were directed to occasionally do patrols out side Pershing sites in Germany without ammo ( most patrols were armed but sometimes they took our ammo to prevent us doing something while too jumpy) many of us unfolded our e-tools and carried them shoved through our belts. We did not do this to dig with them.
I was once struck with one of these type e-tools while it was folded and in its sheath hard in the belly........stopped what I was doing right away.
With the blade extended we could hack roots we found digging or small brush and limbs to clear fire lanes.
I have talked to several former German Infantrymen of the 1939-1945 variety that had high praise for the e-tool as a close quarters weapon based on their direct personal experience.
I will say that while they beat nothing our e-tools made lousy snow shovels compared to a purpose made snow shovel. We also used them to fight a fire at Ft. Bragg one year both by pounding away at the flamming grass and buy digging to produce a mini fire break or to throw dirt on the fire.
-kBob
It is like my service one sharpened on the left side and both halves of the point.
When we were directed to occasionally do patrols out side Pershing sites in Germany without ammo ( most patrols were armed but sometimes they took our ammo to prevent us doing something while too jumpy) many of us unfolded our e-tools and carried them shoved through our belts. We did not do this to dig with them.
I was once struck with one of these type e-tools while it was folded and in its sheath hard in the belly........stopped what I was doing right away.
With the blade extended we could hack roots we found digging or small brush and limbs to clear fire lanes.
I have talked to several former German Infantrymen of the 1939-1945 variety that had high praise for the e-tool as a close quarters weapon based on their direct personal experience.
I will say that while they beat nothing our e-tools made lousy snow shovels compared to a purpose made snow shovel. We also used them to fight a fire at Ft. Bragg one year both by pounding away at the flamming grass and buy digging to produce a mini fire break or to throw dirt on the fire.
-kBob
Dave Markowitz
Member
I have a Korea/Vietnam era e-tool with a pick in my jeep. It's the most useful of the e-tools as an actual shovel.
The Cold Steel special forces shovel (which I also have) isn't a great shovel (it's nearly flat) but it's a decent axe and a formidable weapon.
The Cold Steel special forces shovel (which I also have) isn't a great shovel (it's nearly flat) but it's a decent axe and a formidable weapon.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I actually like the looks of that Marbles!
If it cuts like it looks like it would, it would be a handy dandy little tool to have around.
Should be nearly indestructible from the looks of the handle construction.
rc
If it cuts like it looks like it would, it would be a handy dandy little tool to have around.
Should be nearly indestructible from the looks of the handle construction.
rc
Shanghai McCoy
Member
4 rivets and a lanyard insert..! That's built for some serious work.
Ohio Gun Guy
Member
9.99 at lowes, small shovel with handle. I keep one in both my cars.
Ive used it more for Boyscout camping... and for clearing snow around stuff on job sites.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_70376-42268...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=
Ive used it more for Boyscout camping... and for clearing snow around stuff on job sites.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_70376-42268...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=
ugaarguy
Member
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- Mar 19, 2006
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You're confused, the OP never asked about E Tools as weapons, which is why I closed this thread on the advice of another moderator. Had the OP asked about E Tools as improvised weapons I wouldn't have made the close because contrary to your assumption I actually know what Spetsnaz are, and I know about their and other nationalities uses of e-tools as both intentional and improvised weapons. Hopefully you no-longer think I'm an ignorant fool despite your and several others' attempts to explicitly or implicitly portray me as such.
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