Bayonets, Knives, and Intrenching Equipment
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M1905 Bayonet
M1905 Bayonet

This 16 inch bayonet was used with the M1903 Springfield Rifle. It is dated 1918, manufactured by the Springfield Armory. There are three types of scabbards used during the Punitive Expedition and in World War I. The first is the leather M1905 which used a swivelling hanger that clipped to the cartridge belt. This item was modified post 1910 by the removal of the swivel hanger and then replaced by the 1910 type wire hanger. The bayonet was also carried in the M1910 scabbard which was distinguished by it's canvas cover with leather tip.

Soldiers were issued individual intrenching tools for use in bivouac and combat. Rather than relying on larger shovels, axes, and picks, soldiers were able to carry smaller tools on their equipment. This was a concept introduced prior to 1910 when soldiers began carrying shovels, bolos, and pick mattocks hanging from their cartridge belts. With the fielding of the M1910 equipment, soldiers still carried their mobile tools attached to their haversack, under the meatcan pouch. Period infantry manuals dictated that each sqaud was to carry- 2 pick mattocks, 1 bolo or hand axe, 4 shovels, and one wire cutter.

M1910 Bolo

M1917 Bolo dated 1918

The Bolo was a large heavy knife, carried by one man in an infantry sqaud. It was used to clear heavy brush, much like a machete.

M1910 Intrenching Shovels
M1910 intrenching shovels

Several variations of the post 1910 shovel exist. These two have two notches on the blade where it attaches to the handle. Also both shovels have the ordnance department's flaming bomb symbol stamped into the side of each "T" handle.

M1910 Intrenching Shovels
Another variation of the M1910 Intrenching shovel

The shovels above have two notches where the blade attaches to the wooden handle. These shovels do not have that feature. The practice of the shovel being painted olive drab is a subject open to debate. Period field manuals state that the entire shovel be painted olive drab. Other sources state that only the metal parts are to be painted leaving the wood handle bare. The shovel on the left has been recently re-painted and the shovel on the right still bears traces of light olive drab paint.

M1905 Shovel Carrier M1905 Shovel Carrier
Modified M1905 Shovel Carrier

This early shovel carrier, manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal in 1910 once had the M1905 swivel hanger rivited to the back. However the cover was modified for use with the 1910 equipments. A wire hook secured by a canvas tab was sewn onto the back of the cover. The M1905 and M1910 Shovels were carried in this carrier and attached under the doughboy's meatcan pouch on the haversack. The early shovel carriers had the leather straps and roller buckle with tongue. Later carriers used a canvas strap and buckle. When I aquired this carrier, it's leather parts were in very poor shape. I took the carrier to a local leather repair shop for restoration. The long strap is a period replacement strap, and the tab holding the buckle was made by the leather repair shop. The only leather piece I didn't have restored is the loop on the back of the carrier. This carrier is marked to Company F, 342nd Infantry regiment, of the 86th Divsion ( National Army).

M1910 2nd Pattern Shovel Carrier
Second pattern M1910 shovel carrier

This shovel carrier was manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal, dated 1913. The original M1910 shovel carrier was simplified and the second pattern was created. A canvas strap replaced the leather strap, construction was simplified, and the roller buckle with tongue was replaced by a simple one piece brass buckle. This carrier is in the early light olive green shade and has pre 1915 brass hardware. Later shovel carriers were mass produced during 1917 and 1918, but in the common drab ( Khaki) shades. Later carriers also had a rounded brass tab on the end of the strap, rather than the pre 1915 square tab seen on this example.

M1910 Pick Mattock
M1910 Pick Mattock

For serious digging, several soldiers in a sqaud would carry a pick mattock such as this one. The pick head is stamped U.S. and is removeable from the wooden handle. Both the pick head and the handle were carried in the canvas carrier shown here. This unissued carrier was manufactured by the Canvas Products Company in September 1918.

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