M38A1 shovel?

[oldgreentrucks]

What is the length of the shovel to fit underhood correctly. Will the new military units fit?
Thanks,
Jim

[wesk]

This may help. Give Kevin a call and I am sure he can give you the overall length as well as sell you the correct shovel.

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.

I carry all the pioneer tools for M-series vehicles. The axe for the M-38A1 is $45.00 and new production as are all my other tools. I sometimes have NOS shovels, but they require some sanding as they have been painted before being stored.

Hope this helps, 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
MVPA #530

WC-56/M-274/M35A2/M-543A2/M-125


ORD 7SNL G -758 April 1956

41-B-15 Bag Tool
42-B-22590 Bracket Drum Inflammable Liquid(gas can carrier)
41-H-1251-10 handle Collapsible 36 1/4" L
41-J-74-507 Jack Screw Type 1 1/2 Ton Cap 7 1/4" colapse
41-P-1652 Pliers Comb. 8"
41-S-1076 Screwdriver, I have them NOS, WWII, but still Issue, I have one that came in an M-38A1 from Ft Devens in the late 60s
41-W-486 Wrench OPEN END ADJUSTABLE 15/16" Jaw opening, 8" L.
41-W-1962-100 Wrench Plug, straight bar, sq 1/2" Plug, 2 1/2" L.
41-W-3837-25 Wrench, wheel stud nut 3/4" opening, 9 1/4 in lg.

This is listed under TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
the wheel bearing nut wrench and other tools stay in theunit motor pool as tools for the second echelon kit.

from an Army Motors artical by Dennis Spence the M38 and A1 jack is a 1 1/2 ton Orig. mfr Ausco ORD 7083365, 5120-244-3314 this artical is old (20 years) says its still sold commerically as "Drednuat" 6-41501 by Ausco Formerly civilian model 313. looks like a chevy truck jack from the late '60's-70's.

[oldgreentrucks]

Thank you for sharing so much of what you have learned.
Jim

[Jeeps4Brains]

Before I knew there were correct or incorrect shovels I found one that was close. I picked one at ACE that was already short and had what looks like almost the correct angle. I made sure I picked one that had two rivets holding the metal handle on. Then I drilled out the rivets and shortened the wood making it match what I cut off. Then I drilled holes put carriage bolts on one side and jam nuts on the other. Then I took the welder and welded the jam nuts on and built up the metal so I could grind it down to resemble a rounded head instead of a nut. Good enough for display if you can keep the nitpickers away.

Alan

[BullRun]

Several years ago I went to the local farm cooperative looking for a shovel for my M38A1 as they still carried a lot of the older hand farm tools.

I did not find what I was looking for and mentioned it to the younger guy there inventorying the tools.

Dumb Luck! Not only did he know about the type of shovel I needed he was also the East Coast Sales Representative for the original shovel manufacturer.

He told me his company had recently sold a warehouse full or what remained of it of their M38A1 shovels, all NOS. 1950's manufacture to a New Jersey company..... maybe I had heard of them.....

Their entire inventory of NOS M38A1 shovels was sold to Beachwood Canvas.

[wesk]

That does not surprise me at all. Several years ago a guy found a general surplus dealer out in the north west who was selling M38 fording kits for $75 each in 1953 crates. He had several pallets of them. A few of us bought a few for private use. Then one of the guys made the mistake of announcing on a web site the great price. A week later the pallets were sold to a MV vendor and a week after that his new M38 fording kit price was $350 a kit!