Dig it?
- Thread starter DeathGrip
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ContinentalOp
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I could be wrong, but they look like shovels.
I would vote for.............
worm finders.
worm finders.
ancient-one
US Veteran
In the olden days that shovel was referred to as a sharp shooter, at least where I grew up.
JJEH
Member
It's a Spaten and you can dig holes with it. Or hit someone over their head with it...
Manual evidence disposal unit
Muck stick.
WW II Jeeps had a shovel in a mount on the side. I have no idea if this is one or not. I would imagine those would have been painted Olive Drab Green over the complete surface.
That's a MK H, one of Ruger's less successful prototypes.
Justin T
Member
They look pretty clean. My guess is used for shoveling feed or something. But garden-variety shovels nonetheless.
You are correct, Jeeps had shovels. I restored several post-WWII jeeps and did research on the earlier flat-fender WWII vintage ones. Some shovels were mounted on the side, and later some were under the hood. Many also had an axe along with the shovel. Together the shovel and axe were referenced as a "Pioneer Kit".
An interesting piece of info I came across in my studies indicated (in the 1/4 ton operator manual) that many Jeeps were delivered without the shovel and axe. Mention was made to source them from local hardware stores if needed, and the spec was a "#3 - "D"-handle shovel", and I think a 3lb forestry axe (could be wrong on the axe). That was for post-WWII Jeeps. I do not recall what the old flat-fender 1/4 ton book called for, but I've never seen the above style on a military vehicle.
The one pictured above is not a #3 D-handle.
Trivia: Nobody has ever found documentation of why or how the Jeep name originated. The first Jeeps (all for that matter) were called 1/4 Ton General Purpose Vehicle. So, "GP" when they were spoken about. It is commonly accepted that "GP" morphed into Jeep. Say GP a couple times and you'll find Jeep a good, somewhat easier substitute.....
This is a Union Fork & Hoe #3 D-handle shovel from WWII era in original condition.
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"Jeep" is also the noise a pipeline coating detection device makes when it finds a coating void. For that reason it is also called a jeep.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Inquiring minds want to know.
THE PILGRIM
Member
The Jeep and other vehicle shovels usually had a metal handle Y with a wooden crosspiece.
And no writing.
I’m thinking they’re nonmilitary like maybe a Fire Truck , etc.
And no writing.
I’m thinking they’re nonmilitary like maybe a Fire Truck , etc.
I have also heard about the Jeep name in connection with the Popeye comic strip. There was a character called Eugene the Jeep, a small magical animal that could "go anywhere and do anything." The GIs supposedly thought that the 1/4 ton 4x4 utility vehicle built by Willys and Ford fell into the same category as Eugene the Jeep. 
The short shovel looks very much like one I used working on the Union
Pacific Railroad section gang. That was almost 70 years ago, so they
probably have a machine that will do that work now.
Pacific Railroad section gang. That was almost 70 years ago, so they
probably have a machine that will do that work now.
LVSteve
Member
Looks like the typical short shovels that we had in the UK. I hated them with a passion because I have long legs and short arms. These stupid Hobbit sized tools meant I had to bend my back or legs all the time to use one. That got tiresome. When I complained to my father while helping on some project he snapped back about slackers and told me to put my back into it. Alright for him at 5' 7" and normal proportions.
For some reason long handled shovels were hard to come by in the "civilian" world, i.e. those of us who didn't work on a road repair gang. Could of been because the long ones didn't fit in the trunk of a car unless you had a station wagon. Recall that pickups were rare in the UK and SUVs hadn't really been thought of in Europe until the 1990s.
For some reason long handled shovels were hard to come by in the "civilian" world, i.e. those of us who didn't work on a road repair gang. Could of been because the long ones didn't fit in the trunk of a car unless you had a station wagon. Recall that pickups were rare in the UK and SUVs hadn't really been thought of in Europe until the 1990s.
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