ploughman Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 During th ecurrent shut down of everything, I ventured into the garage to start a bit of dejunking. Found this in a corner. Approx 17 inch long by 13 across the head. Marked US Diamond Back 1945. I am thinking an Entrenching tool isssued to Infantry bit small for a vehicle version. Is there a value? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 (edited) Indeed, not sure how much value currently. Airborn Pick / mattock, many people call them. I bought a full original WW2 crate of them from the Barras in Glasgow 35 years back and sold them all to NEMVC members. Stupidly I didn't keep the crate. Four or so years ago I was using the only one I kept and the handle broke quite comprehensively, I may have been a little rough with it.🥵 Bemoaning the loss of such a useful tool I searched on that well known internet auction site and found someone, in Holland I think, selling original handles from a similar crate for about a tenner each. Before I paid for my two handles - I bought a spare ... I had a really good look at the auction images and the label on the crate was dated 1918, so my WW2 Pick / Mattock has a WW1 replacement handle. 😀 Your find would be equally type appropriate for any WW1 or WW2 US display, though I see 1945 cast on it, and the manufacturer is DIAMOND CALK, famous originally as a horseshoe manufacturer. ( Educational this Interweb stuff, isn't it ?) Edited March 21, 2020 by Gordon_M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 M1910 Pick Mattock, these were issued one or two per platoon instead of the normal shovel in both WW1 and WW2. General issue and certainly not a specific 'airborne' item. Not rare, in good but used condition I would say it's worth about £25 without cover. Those are around, dated from WW1 to Korea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 Many thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.