Saw toothed shovel

[mandy333]

Greetings: I have for your viewing a saw toothed shovel that I would like to identify as to what era it was used and who would have used it. Also would the teeth have been manufactured on it to assist digging or to be used as a weapon.It is nicely manufacturer marked but has no date. Thank you to all who can share some information with me. It is much appreciated.
Best Regards
Zeke

[mandy333]

shovel

Close up of blade obverse

[mandy333]

shovel

Close up of teeth

[mandy333]

shovel

Manufacturer

[mandy333]

shovel

Reverse side of blade

[mandy333]

shovel

Finally on a personal note to the history of this shovel , the initials of whoever carried it,are carved in the handle. "Thank you " for your comments and opinions.
Best Regards
Zeke

[Admiraal]

Ain't that a Dutch pre-war engineer shovel?
If so, then its worth more then a normale German one!

[mandy333]

Very possible

Ain't that a Dutch pre-war engineer shovel?
If so, then its worth more then a normale German one!

Greetings Rick: Thank you for the reply and information. Now that you mention it, that seems very possible as the manufacturer's name definetly seems Dutch. Perhaps other members can add more information to confirm it's identity
Best Regards
Zeke

[blinky]

It looks like it's painted black, I'm not 100% sure but to me it looks like a Swiss pioneer (engineer) shovel.

A quick edit, I just checked the book Field Equipment of the Infantry 1914-1945, and in the appendix is a copy of the document "Comparative Studies of the Field Equipment of the Foot Soldier of the French and Forgeign Armies" dated 1906 and there is a drawing of a similar shovel belonging to Austria. The Dutch also used a similar shovel however the handle appears to be shorter.
The shape is similar to Swiss shovels I've seen and they've been painted black, but it should have the Swiss Cross on it someplace.

eric

[JPhilip]

Wartberg is in Österreich

[mandy333]

Not paint

It looks like it's painted black, I'm not 100% sure but to me it looks like a Swiss pioneer (engineer) shovel.

A quick edit, I just checked the book Field Equipment of the Infantry 1914-1945, and in the appendix is a copy of the document "Comparative Studies of the Field Equipment of the Foot Soldier of the French and Forgeign Armies" dated 1906 and there is a drawing of a similar shovel belonging to Austria. The Dutch also used a similar shovel however the handle appears to be shorter.
The shape is similar to Swiss shovels I've seen and they've been painted black, but it should have the Swiss Cross on it someplace.

eric

Greetings Blinky: After checking it again under the "microscope" there are no other markings whatsoever, and in regards to the black coating on the shovel blade, I checked it closely and it is definetly not paint. It is more a resiliant coating that can be marked with pressure from a hard oblect but will not chip or scratch like paint . It appears softer than paint, but cannot be scraped off .Maybe this helps.
Regards
Zeke

[mandy333]

What country please

Wartberg is in Österreich

Greetings Philip: Thank you for the location of Wartberg. Can you please tell me where Osterreich is located?
Regards
Zeke

[JPhilip]

Greetings Philip: Thank you for the location of Wartberg. Can you please tell me where Osterreich is located?
Regards
Zeke

....nice one !!!
Österreich = Austria = Autriche
This is an European country surrounded by Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy....Hope it helps...

[Grabenkater]

The shape is similar to Swiss shovels I've seen and they've been painted black, but it should have the Swiss Cross on it someplace.

eric

Not all Swiss shovels have the Swiss Cross on them. One of the easiest ways to identify a Swiss shovel over a German one is the brass rivet in the ball of the handle, and the width of the blade. Swiss shovels are wider than the German models.

[mandy333]

Comparison

Not all Swiss shovels have the Swiss Cross on them. One of the easiest ways to identify a Swiss shovel over a German one is the brass rivet in the ball of the handle, and the width of the blade. Swiss shovels are wider than the German models.

Greetings Paul: Good to hear from you. I took some comparison photos using a 1939 dated German shovel I have and the sawtoothed shovel that is posted. As you will see the construction of both shovels is almost exact with the sawtoothed being slightly SMALLER. No brass rivet in the handle. This is the shovel I used for comparison .Thank you for your reply .
Best Regards
Zeke