Shovel MG 08 - MG 08 Spaten

MG 08 Spaten







These small shovels were used by machine guns teams of World War I.
The short arm is not rested against the ground when the gunner was preparing to fire. Easy enough tool does not aggravate the already difficult lives machine-gun crew.
Of course, the short arm reduced performance when excavation works. But there is clearly based on considerations that it is better to have a machine gunner scoop than not having anything at all.


A very rare WW1 Imperial German Machine-Gunner's unique entrenching tool. It differed from the standard infantry spade in that it was made shorter so that the kneeling gunners would not be impeded (as they would be by the longer version). Please see "Imperial German Field Uniforms & Equipment 1907-1918" by Johan Somers. Page 59. This model tool was generally also favored (by storm troops etc) as a good fighting weapon because of its size, balance and weight. This example is in very good aged condition and still retains some of its original field-grey paint.












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