Military Jeep Accessories

[zooke581]

I needed a shovel for my Jeep now that I had procured a restored WWII ax from Haines Garage through a trade he request.  A restored WWII ax for a set of hand made tool indents for his project.

Haines Garage sent me a free shovel that need restoration.  He said it was solid but very caked with a myraid of building stuff on it.  But I said to send it on anyway.  I received it a couple of days before a show in Salem, VA Veterans Center.

The shovel as received.  As you can see it fits as I had hoped it would (got the measurements before he sent it).   I didn't want it to sit over the ax sheath as many do.  I wanted to utilize the first footman loop usually left off and the second one for the hold down strap.  As you can see a very good fit.






On a small historic note:  Pioneer tools were not equipped from the factory.  Nor were there any military regulations on size or type.  They were purchased by each units Supply and then issued to each individual vehicle.  Hence the many types and sizes used and found.  Also why some may have been painted and some not in OD.  How fast they need to supply them could have negated painting as well.
 

[zooke581]

Now it was time to clean up the shovel. The overall shovel was in great shape and solid. The cutting edge was ragged and would need dressed. The wood was solid and just needed sanding and linseed oil. Light surface rust on the handle. The blade was the interesting part. Caked with decades old concrete and tar.

I tried to use a chisel to get this stuff off but all that came off was tar. So I used what I had on the jeep an angle grinder and #65 grit sanding disc. This seemed to work flawlessly. And quickly might I add. I t also aided in dressing up the blade edge.





Another interesting find was on the blade. The maker markings other than the markings I knew about on the upper blade.

[zooke581]

Now that it was cleaned it was time to tape off the wood and paint. I decided to go black like the ax was done and not OD. I have seen jeep with pioneer tools done both ways. Hence why I researched the history a little.

Just the final painted picture of the shovel on the jeep. It was painted red oxide primer first and then the somewhat not real glossy black. I have yet to get some linseed oil for the wood. On the jeep and looking STRACK!