Axe and Shovel for M38

ColKilgore2860 · Post by **ColKilgore2860** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 3:09 am

I ordered a shovel and an Axe from a vendor. Both ad's described the pieces as "fits M38". Neither do. Where can I find these? I dont want to have a axe, whose handle sticks out to the edge of the step, or a shovel whose handle extends 3" from the body. I want the correct pieces. I have read many of the posts, most are pretty anciemt.

Thanks

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:26 am

Try Army Jeep Parts or Midwest Military. Those are always your best bets. Or Peter Debella.... Kaiser Willys is OK but sometimes their parts do not fit properly. Check the parts and vendor review section for more.

kenperkins · Post by **kenperkins** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:46 am

good luck, I've bought a dozen shovels that "fit the M38" none do. no one makes a #2 shovel with the correct bend that is unique to the m38 and MB...if you have a correct shape axe and strap it tight the body ,it will bend to conform in time.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:08 am

If you remove the varnish in the area where you need the bend then dampen the wood and steam the desired bend into the handle. Dry and re-varnish handle.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 5:06 pm

There’s quite large amount of information on the axes and shovels.

I don’t remember the website off hand.

Several pages for both.

Bottom line is there were several suppliers and several shovel and and axe versions, especially for the WWII Jeeps.

There are period photos showing both shovels and axes strapped in place on MB’s or GPW’s and several do not look like the factory flyer depictions.

I’ll try and dig it up.

Was it linked to the Jeepdraw website?

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:13 pm

You nailed it Brian --- Jeep Draw. Right here: http://jeepdraw.com/John_Barton1_Shovels.html

(Edited by Management)

Before I learned about this "special" shovel, as I understand it, the same shovel bend fits only the MB/GPW and the M38, I made the mistake of buying one at the local garden store. Now I use it in the garden.

With patience I finally found one that fits tight and correctly for my M38 at a reasonable price. So, I only bought 2 to get the right one. I guess I'm ahead of the game......

By the way, I agree with contacting MWM, AJP, BMJP, RFJP, QTM, and our other venerable vendors. If anybody has take-off's or NOS it's them. I've never heard of anybody making new repops today, not enough demand I suppose. I'm pretty certain these gentlemen wouldn't sell you anything that didn't fit correctly, or would refund if it didn't.

My axe handle is another story...which reminds me --- I need to go buy more sand paper.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:55 pm

Photos of my shovel, marked BANTAM 2, Heat Treated, and Feather Weight. If it helps, I can take a few with it mounted (tomorrow when the light is better) along with some measurements. Let me know.

If somebody were to show me this isn't a correct MB/GPW or M38 shovel I'd believe them. All I can say is it sure fits the M38 body nice and tight, and I'm ok with that.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:39 pm

Came across this 10 year old post idea: http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php? ... ght=shovel

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:17 am

Not piling on anything but if you've ever steamed wood be careful. There's two mantras to follow that aren't mutually exclusive - fast and careful (or slow).

Army saying: Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast.

Build a box for the wood to be steamed, something that fits it closely but not tightly, steam, and once you open the box to bend the wood you want to move fast, but carefully to not break/crack the wood. Bend it on a preplanned and prepared jig.

I've done (not in a long time) when I used to work on wooden sailing vessels and boats. You can watch the Fantomworks episode on their Ferrari speedboat replica where they go through the process.

Depending on how loosely your shovel fits your M38 you could just use a canvas cover or something to help tie it down and keep it from rattling. I use the canvas straps, a shovel blade cover, and old leather shoe laces to keep it snug. Unless you plan to use the shovel as well.......

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:15 am

I could have sworn the steaming and rebending referred to the axe handle.

I guess I’ll have to go back to the top and reread.

The key to the shovel fitting is NOT a bent handle, but the correct
angle of the shovel blade versus the shank or handle socket.
The Jeepdraw articles go into some detail. Any bend I’ve ever seen on a shovel handle, the wood part, was contained within the metal socket of
the head.

Just my two cents.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:51 am

Pretty good video about axes here. Shows the differences between a correct MB/GPW axe handle and modern handles --- why modern axe handles don't fit the body properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x-8G9ZAt34

Reminds me. I need to go buy more sand paper.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:53 am

I could have sworn the steaming and rebending referred to the axe handle.

Yes this discussion started with only handle alignment issues. And no mention of bending steel!

Here's the original post again:

I ordered a shovel and an Axe from a vendor. Both ad's described the pieces as "fits M38". Neither do. Where can I find these? I dont want to have a axe, whose handle sticks out to the edge of the step, or a shovel whose handle extends 3" from the body. I want the correct pieces. I have read many of the posts, most are pretty anciemt.

Also the handles he is having trouble with are brand new.

G740 · Post by **G740** » Fri Sep 04, 2020 6:58 pm

Midwest Military has NOS WWII strap back shovels. I guarantee the fit on the MB GPW and the M38. I check each shovel before it gets packaged. Not cheap, but these are the real McCoy.
John

ColKilgore2860 · Post by **ColKilgore2860** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:07 am

"And no mention of bending steel!" - Maybe reading between the lines, or imagining that I am, but it seems like bending steel might be a good solution. I will talk to a metalsmith friend of mine and see what he might be able to do.
Amazing what I have learned about axes and shovels in recent days...

Jeff_Lee · Post by **Jeff_Lee** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 2:18 pm

I bought two shovels to get a fit.... The first from K-W. I think it is an ADA-OMIX unit. An almost straight "neck" and not even a close fit. A real POS. It was painted an incorrect shade of green, too. How can a jeep business get it so wrong?

The second I got from QTM (Flea Bay). It is beat-up NOS or slightly used, about 37" overall, but it fits a treat on my M38. And the patina was free!

Like Ron, shovel #1 is on Gardening Leave.
Best, Jeff