Tri-Fold Entrenching Tool (E-Tool), Genuine Military Issue, with Shovel Cover

First things first. This is ultimately a small shovel. It's not an axe, spear, pocket knife, flamethrower, etc.. at the end of the day, it's a small shovel. Anyone looking to chop down trees with it, build a canoe with it, style your hair with it, please look elsewhere.I purchased two of these at separate times and they both showed up PERFECT! I'm writing my review based off of those two experiences.The mechanics of it: When it is folded up, it can be secured in the folded configuration and locks up tight. When unfolded, it locks up tight. It MIGHT need a little oil to loosen it up a bit when you get it, but you'll need to do your research to find out how to do that. I say MIGHT because one showed up really tight and the oil loosened it right up, and the other one required no oil to loosen it.Both cases and tools were in perfect condition and looked brand new.I'm pleased to have purchased these from the same seller. They are both extremely sturdy and work perfectly well as a small SHOVEL. They're my go-to for camping. They fit my needs perfectly, and if you're looking for a little camping shovel, they should do the trick for you too.

The media could not be loaded. Easy to unfold, extend and lock in position. Comes with Original military carry case, ready to mount on LBE/Web belt. Lightweight, solid tool, durable, will dig a foxhole if you're up to it. It goes where my truck goes.

When I first opened this $60 shovel, I was a little sketched out. The blade edge and serrated edge are in no way sharp, and the whole tool is painted over with flat black paint, which easily scrapes off. In fact, this tool would not open until I put a little muscle in, and in doing so scraped the paint off at the points of contact at the joints while opening the handle and hilt; it was essentially painted shut (yes I oiled the collar, it was opened all the way). I didn't read a lot of the reviews prior to purchasing, but the few I did mentioned being able to use it as an ax etc., and I would have a hard time recommending doing that with this tool out of the box. Reading more reviews, it seems like there are a couple different levels of fit and finish for these, though every review I saw mentioned these being manufactured by Ames, but mine is not. I was thinking I had a fake. That said, it was all metal, and when I finally got it together, it certainly seemed like it would do the job, but I wasn't about to pay $60 for an item that wasn't truly USA made milspec as advertised.I did a little research into the markings on it, and mine is marked LHB, which stands for lighthouse for the blind. That organization has a factory that employs blind people, and they create a couple milspec products, this being one of them. Pretty cool. Get that govt contract money- wait, did I just pay for this twice? Haha. Anyway, I'm glad to find out it's not a fake, I'm happy it came from LHB, and knowing that I'll take the time to put an edge on it. Still not sure if being painted shut is an error or a "feature" of this product, but it certainly seems tough enough for the camping and home landscaping I purchased it for.

It's a bit clunky, but seems to be high quality. It's a little tricky getting it to fold up, but after a few times it becomes easy. Very portable and hefty. Doesn't feel flimsy at all.

So, reading through some of these reviews, it’s clear some of us pick this product because it’s what we know.This IS the same old E-tool that we used to rearrange the landscape of beautiful and exotic locations around the globe.And for most of you the review can end there, that’s all you really need to know, click add to cart, and in a few days this will be on your doorstep, fling it open and it’s like shaking hands with an old friend.To paraphrase Anthony Swofford: “A story. A man uses a E-tool for many years. And he goes to war. And afterward, he tries to turn the E-tool in and CIF several times before he finally turns the E-tool in ant CIF, and he believes he's finished with the E-tool. But no matter what else he might do with his hands-- love a woman, build a house, change his son's diaper-- his hands remember the E-tool.”So, I bought this after my nephew (13) got a little lippy with his mom. Now, I’m not usually one to get in the middle of parenting, but this kid was way out of line, and earlier that day he’d asked if he could do some yard work for me and make a few extra bucks. Well, what is an uncle to do with an opportunity like this? Lesson time! “Oh yeah, sorry buddy the string trimmer broke so you need to hit the edging with this.” As I flop Old Reliable onto the cold dirt. Took him about 6 hours to do the driveway and both sidewalks, as we talked about respect, duty, honor, and integrity. We discussed just how much his mom does for him, and how that should buy her a little consideration for her feelings and maybe a little more diligence in keeping up with their chore chart at home. All in all the lesson went well, and core memories were made that day. The edging looks like half-thawed dog crap, but I can fix that in the spring.

Have not used mine as of yet, but I have used them in the past, and this is the GENUINE article and mine arrived BRAND NEW. I've used non-military folding shovels in the past, and to speak frankly, they are quite flimsy - and that is why I strongly recommend buying a Genuine Military Surplus Entrenching Tool. If you are looking for a solid folding shovel - this is it.The shovel is a little bit spendy, but ultimately worth the price. I'd rather pay a little extra for a long lasting durable item, then get a deal on something that breaks in the field! If you you are looking for a solid, dependable, folding shovel - this is the one to buy. Definitely worth the price.

An entrenching tool (E-Tool) should be a part of any vehicle kit, especially if you live in the northern climes where heavy snowfalls are common. If you are car camping, this shovel will make your camping experience much easier. It is well made, extremely durable, and will probably last a lifetime.