Shovelling your Enemy

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kannonfyre

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I remember watching this cheesy movie some time ago titled "mystry men" (pardon my spelling). Anyhoo, it was about this group of wannabe super heroes and one of the characters was called the "shoveller". I think he used a shovel and a small spade as weapons.

In any case, I managed to get my paws on a Cold Steel special forces shovel and I was thinking.....

....what's the manual of arms like for this tool/emergency weapon? I'm pretty familiar with bayonet fighting and know how to use an old fashioned police baton but how does one fight with a small shovel?

Any drills or ideas you guys have?
 
I`ll see what I can come up with... Have some norwegian army manuals where new and intresting ways of using the entrenching tool is explored.

A picture will say more than a 1000 words (in this case - its probably extremly correct, I dont think theres many norwegians in here.. ;) )

Best regards

Harry
 
Shovel-fighting instruction courses are few and far between. :) However, I'm certain any martial arts style that uses a small, short-handled weapon like that would be useful to learn.
 
Light axe

Find the balance point on the grip that gives you a light chopping feel (perhaps a hands width up the handle) and practice with the five short hacking angles as if you were using a stick. You'll want to shapen the sides to an axe grind instead of knife.
 
My late father told me years ago about a thing that happened to him when he was in Basic Training. This was back in the Vietnam era.

His unit had just come back from extended field maneuvers and somewhere along the line he and some big inner city fellow had gotten into an argument. Soon after, the big fellow decided it would be a good idea to continue the argument.

Eventually the big guy pulled out his bayonet and started after my Pa. This is out in front of a bunch of other guys mind you...

Anyway, while retreating, Dad grabbed up an E-Tool tool to defend himself with. He saw an opening and laid the edge of the shovel upside the brute's head. The big dude fell like a stone. He thought he had killed him. Apparently, he darned near did. Had there not been a pretty good medical facility on base, the guy would have expired.

He said that that moment was one of scariest times of his life, mostly because he thought he had just murdered someone. He was fresh out of HS and this was his first time away from home. In the end it was judged self-defense, so he was off the hook. All of the others that saw the fray weighed in on his side.

A stout shovel can be quite a weapon.
 
Didn't the Russians have some special shovel tool that they used as a weapon? From what I've read the basic technique was to swing wildly like a helicopter or something. I'm sure someone will chime in with better info than mine.

brad cook
 
Imagine a clock face. Now, you can attack along 8 paths of attack at swinging angles, plus a stab. That gives you 9 directions of attack. To this, you can add parries.

John
 
Digme, the Spetznaz, their special forces, supposedly used a sharpened E-tool. That was the inspiration for the Cold Steel shovel. In fact, I think they called it a "Spetznaz Shovel" for awhile.

Light axe is right, and it's a fierce one. I had both the CS shovel and battle ax for awhile, and the shovel gave nothing away to the Bad Axe. The main difference was that nobody would think twice if you had a shovel in the back of your truck.
 
Always interesting to see how people imrpovise and use what's handy. I listened to an interview with a trucker who worked in Iraq for several months. Two Iraquis tried to hijack his rig, one of them had a knife and he grabbed a hammer and killed the guy.
 
Just like any knife or stick. 12 ways of attack just like in Arnis or any of the FMAs, shorten it to 5 to begin (slash at each shoulder [1 and 2], slash across belly both ways [3 and 4], thrust in [5]).

Lots of CMA divisions use short dual weapons like e-tools--mantis, Hung Gar, Chuka, White Crane, etc. You can even do the baat jam do form from WCK. "Eight Cut Shovel" (what's shovel in Cantonese anywho?).:D
 
During World War One for trench raiding the standard entrenching shovel (the longer t-handle one, similar to what you see used when they dig the grave in Saving Private Ryan) was generally preferred to bayonet-on-rifle from what I understand, backed up by homemade clubs and short swords, etc for silent work, as you bashed with it like an axe, or used the flat side of the blade to knock someone out cold.

In WW2 and on, E-tools have been used in this manner. The Army's "Combatives" field manual shows just how to fight with the US Army folding E-tool if I remember right, though the Russian shovel would be easier to fight with than the US one since it has a better handle.

I keep an E-tool in my truck for digging, but it makes a handy weapon if my 26" Estwing steel axe isn't around. :) Or my Glock or my other sheath knife or folding knives or........ you get the picture. :)
 
The shovel is the secret weapon of the deadly Portugese Dairy Farmer. As a young boy I was trained it is secret and deadly tactics. It could whack angry bulls in the head. It could kill badgers or racoons that were in the irrigation pipes. And it could do a serious number on a gopher. Plus it was handy to dig holes.

When you aren't being secret and deadly, it is very handy to lean on. Also a master skill of a true Dairy Farmer.
 
i prefer my 43 inch trenching spade to my contractor shovel
i like the tactical split ash handle

alot of those funky martial art weapons were agricultural tools
Strange things happen when the man confiscates all the bad toys
Walking thru Home Depot, i find all kinds of improvised weapons

i have a particular love for my California framing hammer

that'll leave a mark

poster.jpg
 
I don't know much about tomahawks but good ones seem a lot lighter than the e-tool. I wouldn't swear that it won't feel pretty sluggish to you if you're used to a tomahawk. But yes, I would think you could adapt experience with one to the other pretty readily.
 
I'm an emergency room nurse. I've also trained in three Asian martial arts and fencing.

It's really pretty simple when reduced to basics: 1) Study human anatomy and 2) screw that anatomy up.

1) Messing up the hydraulics (circulatory system) works the slowest, especially with any edged weapon...even cutting the heart in two. There are cases on record, admittedly few, of people with totally destroyed hearts killing their assailants.
2) Totally cutting the muscle and tendons works better. Example: If your opponent is right handed and holds a weapons in his right hand...if you totally severe his biceps or the tendon attaching his biceps to his forearm...I 100% guarantee he will not use his right hand to point that weapon at you. Now he might transfer it to his left and keep on fighting. Depends on how tough he is. I've known a couple of folks that tough.
3) A CNS hit. If you sever any part of the central nervous system, that will be the end of the fight. If he keeps on fighting...run...you're fighting God.
 
Glock E-tool?

does'nt glock have an E-tool Which would be better Glock or cold steel I think glocks breaks down like a army shovel
 
I've seen a pic of Cold Steel's shovel being used as a belay point for a single rope bridge crossing a stream. VERY STRONG!

The Glock (having handle one) makes a decent shovel, but would probably break if you smacked someone with it.

I'd take the Spetsnaz shovel. Besides, it can't unexpectedly fold on you! :)
 
The Glock shovel is plenty tough.
I've chopped4-5 inch thick tree branches with it and it still is staight and functional I've used it for camping for 10+ years now and it still does the job.
 
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