Training with an E-tool?

[amd6547]

The Germans were well known for using their square bladed E-tool as a weapon in both WWII and WWI. Trench raiders on pow capture missions would use the flat of the blade to clobber the target. All the raiders carried were knives, E-tools, pistols and grenades. The idea being to get in and out with prisoner without being discovered, since that meant hightailing back across the front under artillery, flares, machine guns and rifles. The specter of a Kraut and his E-tool coming in the night was a well grounded fear.

After the fall of East Germany, there was lots of surplus, including these German E-tools. I bought one cheap...I think it was $5, including the leather sheath. Btw, when the blade is drawn from the carrier sheath, it rings like a sword. Nice wood handle and good steel, all showing moderate use and age. I understand some of these are pretty old, but I don't know how to tell.
The store I bought it at was in a shady part of town. As I walked down the street, a guy approached and aggressively asked if I had any money for him...I pulled my E-tool out of the bag and said "no, but I have a shovel"...he quickly said sorry and disappeared.

Over the years, it has proven very useful. The front edge, and one side came sharpened. I have used it to cut brush, and once used it to split firewood that was giving my brother in law's hand axe a hard time. I got a vehicle stuck in snow once, and used it to clear the snow from behind the tire, freeing the vehicle.
Weapon? I have no doubt it would deliver devastating wounds, and it is something that can be in the car all the time.
All in all, probably the best $5 I ever spent.

 

[1911 guy]

Back in the mists of time, I remember seeing one of those cheezy cartoon drawing "instructional manuals" about using an e-tool as an improvised weapon. Zero formal training. Merely introduced as a concept, then never mentioned again. But there's never harm in having a small shovel in a vehicle or camp.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

In 25yrs in I never was trained to fight with an e-tool and never heard of anyone else getting such training.

Another vote for the Cold Steel shovel. Handy and useful, sharpen and edge for tree trimming. Not ideal but better than my hands or a sharp rock.

 

[Leanwolf]

Another heavy piece of junk I carried in basic and never used.

Man, I and everyone in my BTC company at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, in 1959, surely did. We had to dig foxholes, cat holes, etc. with them. As far as weapons, we never received any training with an E-tool. The late, great M1 Garand seemed like a mighty fine weapon to me! Had lots of training with that.

I bought a wooden handle US Army surplus e-tool about 45 years ago at an Army Surplus store. Kept it in the trunk of my car for an emergency. I keep a "real" shovel in my Ford 4x4 pickup. I've had to use it a number of times out in the mountains for various "chores." I'd hate to have had to do those jobs with a folding e-tool.

L.W.

 

[Elkins45]

I think I would rather have a baseball bat or an axe than a stubby folding shovel as a weapon. And yes, shovels need to be as sharp as possible to dig efficiently. The difference between a dull and sharp shovel is quite noticeable.

 

[mokin]

I remember seeing an e-tool among the items displayed as improvised weapons in boot camp but never had formal training. Many years later I bought a Cold Steel shovel for camping/truck duty. I've sharpened it (I sharpen all my shovels-use a file, not a grinder) and used it for lots of things beyond just digging. With a little practice, it's not hard to learn to throw.

 

[CZ-75BD]

Just recently watched TV show "Weapenology" http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/weaponology/285535/
On that show it is an episode about Russian special forces "Spetsnaz" training with shovel. They throwing them and used as fighting, and restraining tool.

 

[CapnMac]

Be careful at the "surplus" store getting US e-tools. Far, far, far too any of those are Asian knock offs in mild steel (which gives the weight, but not strength). The wooden handles are often sketchy as well. The paint is often thick, lead-based and laid on bare steel without benefit of primer.

The fakers know to put a "US" stamp on the things, and that's about all that the War Department required of contractors. The difference being War Department contractors were under obligation to supply steel & wood to spec.

The reenactor community gets a bit worked up on the topic. Which has led to a bit of histrionics on restoring genuine copies.