An extremely handy and compact manual excavator. Can be folded into a shovel, hoe, and for transportation. Pretty much identical to e.g. the Bundeswehr e-tool, but this one comes with a DPM-patterned pouch. Everyone should have one E-tool in their backpack and another in their car

Features

This is a very traditional olive drab tri-fold entrenching tool. Very similar ones are used in many countries because the design simply works. In addition to being a shovel, it can be locked into a hoe position. One side is "sharpened," so it can also cut through roots and settle disputes with enemies. When folded into the transport position, it fits neatly into a pouch that can be attached to a backpack or belt.

The length in shovel form is about 60 cm (23.6"). The weight is about 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) with the pouch.

Made by several manufacturers with multiple NSN numbers, such as 8465-17-106-4041, 8465-1-125-5841, and 8465-17-114-3443. The shade of the E-tool and the pouch varies to some extent. However, the measurements and features of the E-tool are the same.

Pouch is included

The E-tool comes with a pouch in the British Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage. The older the pouches are, the darker the patterns are. The materials of the pouch may also vary, but the ones we checked were all made from polyamide. Some also have light polyurethane padding. There are pouches from at least 1995 in the mix.

Most pouches in this batch have three snap-fastened MOLLE straps, allowing them to be attached to ant gear that has PALS webbing. There were also a few shovels with ALICE clips in the shipment. With these, you can attach the pouch to belts up to 55 mm (2.2") wide. We divided these into their own variations so you can easily choose the one you prefer.

Use

In addition to military use, an entrenching tool is useful for a plethora of other purposes. It is definitely worth carrying one on hikes and outdoor trips. Also, it’s good to have one in the car just in case something happens.

Condition

Used Dutch military surplus. These shovels and pouches have seen varying degrees of use. Some are almost new, while others have been digging trenches and graves since the 1990s. So, there may be scratches, surface rust, surplus sand, and other normal signs of use. Since these are true metal of steel, they aren’t that delicate, and thus they will love you a long time.