Original Item: Only One Available. Genuine world war one French manufactured entrenching shovels are very hard to find. The Great War was a four year "trench war" stalemate. Thousands died gaining or losing just a few dozen yards, this truly was hell on earth. Advances in weaponry and explosives made survival very difficult and each soldier from whatever Nation was issued a short trench shovel which perhaps became his best friend. Digging In was absolutely mandatory if you wanted to stay alive and these short entrenching tools ] also doubled as weapons in trench fighting being wielded like a battle axe. This example, very faintly dated 1917 is Maker marked:

It measures just 21" in overall length, the steel blade itself being just 8" x 6" mounted on a wood handle. Showing use and wear this is still in great serviceable condition ready for display in a WWI Collection or for re-enactment.