West German entrenching tool

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EdS

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Anyone repaired one of these?

The handle on mine snapped the other day.... Its was 1966 issue so no big surprises. But the head is still in very good condition.

It looks like there are 2 pins in the way of drilling out the broken wood
 

The Frightful

Full Member
Apr 21, 2020
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Anyone repaired one of these?

The handle on mine snapped the other day.... Its was 1966 issue so no big surprises. But the head is still in very good condition.

It looks like there are 2 pins in the way of drilling out the broken wood
Pics ?
 

MrEd

Life Member
Feb 18, 2010
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Yep, I broke mine, I brought pins in online, the old ones didn’t need drilling out, just the head grinding off then I could tap it out.

i brought an ash handle, cut it down and shaped it so it fitted in the head. I made the new handle about 6 inches longer than the old one
 
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TeeDee

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Nov 6, 2008
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If you are changing the handle over you may want to think about of you want the same design handle or go for something different? Long ? D handle ? etc
 

Erbswurst

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Mar 5, 2018
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The newer one folds in three sections and is pretty compact in the pouch. Perhaps you try to get the compact new one and make a longer handle to the old one???
 

Erbswurst

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Mar 5, 2018
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What? Do I understand you right, that you mean that the German army issued three fold entrenching tools which are made in a bad quality??

Did you buy a Chinese copy or the originally issued stuff in used conditions?
 

EdS

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
What? Do I understand you right, that you mean that the German army issued three fold entrenching tools which are made in a bad quality??

Did you buy a Chinese copy or the originally issued stuff in used conditions?

The tri fold issue ones aren't anywhere near as heavy duty as the old one (though I've also now ordered trifold as smaller)
 

The Frightful

Full Member
Apr 21, 2020
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No visible signs of pins externally on mine just a couple at the pinch point which i suspect helps support the locking mechanism. The pins you mention must be welded then ground down after, id probably suggest you do the same when you re handle
 

MrEd

Life Member
Feb 18, 2010
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What? Do I understand you right, that you mean that the German army issued three fold entrenching tools which are made in a bad quality??

Did you buy a Chinese copy or the originally issued stuff in used conditions?

i know it pains you to not agree with you but yes, and yes I thought the genuine issue trifold was not as good as the older Non fold version version, but I will concede that they are better quality than Chinese knock off versions but I still don’t like them and just don’t ‘trust’ them. After a while they become ‘loose’ and just don’t inspire confidence.

My use was caving and digging in caves and the only spade that survived that and is at my house was the old style, the folding ones - German and chinese - are still down there in the dig where I left them after they failed....
 

Nice65

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Apr 16, 2009
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One of these ?

Cannot be beat, the hardest folding shovel ever. Very heavy to carry, but totally trustworthy. I confess mine has seen it’s most recent use with the pick to rake the weeds out of the veg patch, but I know from creating said veg patch from dry lawn, it digs.

Mine has no pins either, dated 1965, my birth year. If the handle is a friction fit, and expected to take a pounding, it’s very well done.
 
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EdS

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
i know it pains you to not agree with you but yes, and yes I thought the genuine issue trifold was not as good as the older Non fold version version, but I will concede that they are better quality than Chinese knock off versions but I still don’t like them and just don’t ‘trust’ them. After a while they become ‘loose’ and just don’t inspire confidence.

My use was caving and digging in caves and the only spade that survived that and is at my house was the old style, the folding ones - German and chinese - are still down there in the dig where I left them after they failed....

Mines been used for cave digs to
 
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Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
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I didn't serve in the German army and so I don't know the tri folding one from using it.

I just used the older one many years ago a bit.

I was told that the old Austrians are pretty good. No idea if that's true or not.

I used a non folding swiss one and a longer non folding old US army version, perhaps it had been attached to a jeep?

But good to know your opinion, I was thinking about to buy one. Now I tend to get the Austrian one.
 
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TeeDee

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Nov 6, 2008
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I have the German and the Austrian, I purchased both to do a comparison - they are both excellent well built ( heavy ) items.

I've also had poor experiences with the Tri Fold shovels- the more moving parts the more likely it is to break.

imho
 

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