West German entrenching tool

[EdS]

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

 

[TeeDee]

Kevin from Endicotts has got a few if a repair job escapes you.

 

[The Frightful]

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 ?

 

[Buckshot]

Sounds like drilling out the pins and then fitting a new handle is the way to go?

 

[MrEd]

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

 

[TeeDee]

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

 

[EdS]

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

Detachable would be handy... Fit in the spare wheel bay easier then

 

[Erbswurst]

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???

 

[MrEd]

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???

Those compact threeFold ones are pony, I have had 3 or 4 now from genuine to knock off and they just don’t stand up to actual digging

 

[Erbswurst]

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 Frightful]

Pics ?

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

One of these ?

 

[EdS]

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)

 

[EdS]

One of these ?

That's the one

 

[The Frightful]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Laurentius]

That's the one

I am surprised then that the handle broke as they seem to be built like the proverbial brick outhouse. I have had folding spades in the past that have given up on me, but not that one.

 

[EdS]

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

 

[Erbswurst]

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.

 

[TeeDee]

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