M1910 E-tools

 Reproduction M1910 Shovels: A Comparison

With the fast pace of modern mechanized combat, it's easy to forget the simple importance of being able to dig-in to a position. Before technology, there was the M-1910 shovel. The ubiquitous "t-handle" shovel just screams WW2 USGI, but was equally at home on the back of a US doughboy, circa 1917. Take a look at the classic shape. 

Profile of shovels is slightly different.

Just imagine trying to drive the short steel blade into frozen earth, perhaps under fire. Not an easy proposition by any stretch. From personal experience, I can tell you how much of a pain in the ass it is to sit in any seat with a backrest when you have a 36" piece of wood and metal strapped to your haversack. Perhaps this is which the folding shovel was so quickly adopted, once it was ready in 1943. I love abuse, so I love the t-handle shovel.
I currently have two reproduction versions, as I'm not in the habit of testing the mettle of 70+ year old wood on some North Carolina mud. The "SEMS 1942" stamped model seems to be a composed of a thicker metal, with somewhat crude tooling marks. The paint is of a darker green shade, a pretty good representation of OD3. The cover is marked with the fake manufacturer name, and is dated 1942. Due to its more robust build and somewhat inaccurate stamping, this is the shovel that actually gets used in the field. The At the Front example appears to be closer to the original in form. There appears to be two wooden shims driven into the base of the shovel head, a feature I have seen on several real models.

Note wooden shims on ATF model. Metal is somewhat thicker on the SEMS 1942 model.

The stamping is also more correct, with a simple "US"  on both the metal and wood of the handle.The cover bears ATF's "Crawford Canvas Company," stamp, and is dated 1942. I like the finish on the ATF cover, although the two reproductions are comparable in quality. The average re-enactor will have the cover hidden underneath the mess tin pouch on their haversack anyway, so the accuracy of the cover itself should not be as important as the quality of the shovel. 

ATF Model includes company stamp.

All told, I don't think you could go wrong with either model. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. If you want to actually dig a foxhole and don't care about how the M-1910 is stamped, go with the SEMS 1942 model. If you're a stickler for detail, check out the At The Front model, available "Summer 2013."