axe handle

[Cacti_Ken]

The used 4 lb. Plumb axe I bought had a bad fitting where the wood was made up with head of the axe. I have repaired the axe handle where it goes into the axe head.

The other day I went to the hardware lumber store nearby and they actually had an axe handle made with a curve in it. I started to buy one and redo mine so that with the curve in the handle it might fit better on the tub.

I had seen it posted somewhere about axe handles with curves in them but I thought it was a thing of the past.

They were curved twice.

_________________
Tropical Veteran
35th Inf. Reg. "CACTI" 4th I.D. VN
Amateur Radio K5XOM

[Ryan_Miller]

Ken,


The overall length could run 34 3/4" to 36 1/4"

I don't think they had curves in the handle, but I could be wrong as I am not up on the this part.

Here is an exerpt from a previous discussion:

From Kevin at Star Electric Ordinance

For all: About three years ago, I began to offer the pioneer tools. I took the sizes for the tools from the tool lists published for the various M-series vehicles. The axe, mattock and mattock tools were straight forward. The shovel took further digging. I contacted the military sales rep for True Temper tools. He told me that the gov't specs allowed a variation in the length of the shovel. The overall length could run 34 3/4" to 36 1/4". This explains the variation in length of the shovel's shown in TB ORD 2300-2-/4, dated 18 August, 1958. It is titled "Stowage Locations For Pioneer Tools And Brackets". It has photo's showing where the pioneer tools and brackets are located on all of the Army's wheeled vehicles, starting with the M-38. There are three different kinds of shovels shown throughout the TB. The shovel lengths shown show handles protruding just over the end of the bracket and others fitting inside the frame. The shovel for the M-38 is different, than the shovels for all the other M-series vehicles. Because the M-38 body is virtually the same shape as the MB/GPW, it has to bend around the edged protrusion of the body tub in order that the shovel blade and the shovel handle lie flush against the body. This is achieved by a sharp bend or arc of the metal neck of the shovel. This sharp bend was eliminated as no other vehicle required that shape. The other shovels are more flat and were easier to make as the wood handle did not have to be shaped to match the curve of the blade neck. If you put a regular shovel on an M-38, then your handle will stick out about three inches from the body. It looks ok and most people will not notice it.

Given all that, here are the specs for the tools:

AXE: Single bit, 4 lb head weight, 4.750 inch cutting head, 31.00 inch handle length, Federal Spec GGG-A-926, type 1, class 1, design A.

MATTOCK: Pick type; without handle, 5 lb head, Federal Spec GGG-H-506, TypeII, Class F.

MATTOCK Handle, Hickory, 36.00 inch length, Federal Spec NN-H-93, type 5, Class 1, Grade B.

SHOVEL, Hand, Round point, open back construction, 12.500 inch blade length, 10.250 blade width, DF-style handle, Federal Spec GGG-S-326, Type 4, Class A, Style 1, Size 2.

In reference to painting, the tools came from the factory in civilian colors. The wood was natural and unpainted, axe heads were red, the shovels usually had a natural steel color blade with the D-handle grips being red. It was usually at the unit level, that commanders would dictate painting them to match the vehicle. Kevin.
_________________
Kevin B. Emdee
Star Electric Ordnance (M-series electric parts)
368 Big Oak Trail
Radcliff, KY 40160
1-270-877-0813 (Fax-5042)
Kevin.Emdee@comcast.net
_________________
Ryan Miller
MVPA # 22010

[Ryan_Miller]

Here is a list of items issued with a vehicle I found on previous discussions:

From the ORD 7:

Items shipped from Willys with the M38:

Wheel, Tire and tube assy. Consisting of:
a. H014-0511830 511830 Tire, pneu, 6 PR, LT, CC Tread, w/controlled Bead, 7.00-16
b. H014-0519252 519252 Tube, pneu tire, truck & bus, 6.50/7.00-16 (TR-15 valve)
c. G503-7387807 7387807 Wheel, w/rim (16x4.50E, safety type)
d. 41-B-22590 Bracket, drum, inflammable liquid (gasoline), S, welded, comp w/strap.

Items provided by the military service unit when jeep was issued to user:
a. 41-B-15 Bag, tool, empty
b. Catalog, ORD 7 SNL G-740 Organizational Maintenance Allowances
c.H014-0540044 540044 Chain, pneau tire, pass car (type P) 7.00-16 and
7.50-16 (authorized for issue to meet local conditions)
d. FORM (envelope), WDAGO No. 478 MWO and major unit assembly
replacement record and organizational equipment file.
e. 8-G-620 Gage, tire press, general service type, calibrated 10 to 60 Lbs in 1 Lb. units and 60 to 160 Lbs. in 5 Lb units.
f. 41-H-1251-10 Handle, Jack, collapsible type, lgh overall 36 ¼”.
g. 41-J-74-507 Jack, automobile, screw type, cap 1 ½ ton, contracted height 7 ¼”, extended height 16”
h.Manual, technical 9-804
i. Order, lube, 9-804.
j.41-P-1652 Pliers, combination, slip joint, w/cutter, nominal size 8”.
k.41-S-1076 Screw Driver, comm., hv-duty, integral handle, lgh of blade 6” width of blade 3/8”, overall lgh 11 ¼”.
l.41-W-486Wrench, adjustable sgle open end, jaw opening 15/16”, lgh 8”.
m.41-W-1962-100 Wrench, plug, stgt bar, sq, size of plug ½”, lgh 2 ½”.
n.Wrench, wheel stud nut, sgle head, offset socket, hex size of opng ¾” ,
high 9 ¼”.

Tool Items issued to Organizational maintenance:

a.41-T-3568-442 Tool Kit Organizational Maint. (2nd Echelon) special set A.

(1) 41-W-3825-200 Wrench, wheel brg nut, sgle end, tubr, hex, size of
opening 2 1/8”, lgh 3.56”.

b.41-T-3569-442 Tool kit, organizational maintenance (2nd echelon), special, Set B.
(1) 41-A-18-251 Adapter, puller, strg wheel.
(2) 41-C-2554-400 Compressor, Shock absorber rubber grommet.
(3) 41-P-2951-850 Puller, steering bellcrank shaft
(4) 41-R-2374-750 Remover and Replacer, brg cup (spindle pin) thd ¾”-
16NF-2 female (used w/screw 41-S-1047-300)
(5) 41-R-2374-845 Remover and Replacer, brg cup (wheel) Thd 1 ½”-
12NF-2 Female (used w/Screw 41-S-1047-300).
(6) 41-S-1047-300 Screw, remover and replacer (brg cup), thd ¾”-16NF-
2, lgh 6”
(7) 41-S-1047-330 Screw, remover and replacer (brg sleeve), thd 1 ¼”-
12NF-2, lgh 9”.
( 41-w-3825-200 Wrench, wheel brg nut, sgle end, tubr, hex, size of
opening 2 1/8”, lgh 3.56”.

The above list is from the ORD 7 SNL G-740 dated 1953




M38/M38A1/M170 Tool Kit List from PS Magazine Issue #68 from 1958.


I copied this over from another forum. Kevin.

Jon, I checked my Military Vehicle Index and found a reference to the M-38/38A1 tools. Issue #5, Dec 1987 references PS Magazine (The Army's monthly maintenance magazine) #68 from 1958. The list is the same for both except for one exception. List follows:


Bag, tool, empty, 20 1/4 x 18 1/4 in to top of flap, open
Pliers, slip joint, straight nose, combination w/cutter, 8 in length
Screwdriver, flat tip, metal w/wood inserts handle, flared tip, 3/8 in wide, 6 in long blade
Screwdriver, flat tip, wood handle, flared tip, 1/4 in wide, 4 in long blade (M-38 only)
Jack, screw, hand geared, upright, 1 1/2 ton cap, 7 5/16 closed height, 15 13/16 in extended height w/extn cap. Folding handle.
Wrench, wheel stud nut, single head, offset socket, hex, 3/4 in opening, 9 1/4 in length
Wrench, open end, adjustable, single end, 15/16 in jaw opening, 8 in long
Wrench, plug, straight bar, square 1/2 in plug, 2 1/2 in long
Chain assembly, tire, single 7.00-16 and 7.50-15, type P. (see SB9-99 for basis of issue)
Cover top, with rear curtain (M-3
Cover top with rear curtain (M-38A1)
Lube order (lub 9-8014)
TM 9-8014 (M-38A1)
Lube order (lub 9-8012)
TM-9-8012 (M-3
Shovel, hand, round point, commercial size #2, blade 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 in long, 9 1/2 to 10 1/4 in wide, open back, wood grip
Ax, single bit, 4 3/4 in cutting edge, 4 lb weight of head, 36 in long handle
(M-3
Spare tire and fuel can are also authorized.

The long axe was to long for the M-38A1 and a shorter ax (28 inches) with the same head was procured. It is mounted on the passenger side rear fender well.
_________________
Ryan Miller
MVPA # 22010