amd6547
Member
The Germans were well known for using their square bladed E-tool as a weapon in both WWII and WWI. Trench raiders on pow capture missions would use the flat of the blade to clobber the target. All the raiders carried were knives, E-tools, pistols and grenades. The idea being to get in and out with prisoner without being discovered, since that meant hightailing back across the front under artillery, flares, machine guns and rifles. The specter of a Kraut and his E-tool coming in the night was a well grounded fear.
After the fall of East Germany, there was lots of surplus, including these German E-tools. I bought one cheap...I think it was $5, including the leather sheath. Btw, when the blade is drawn from the carrier sheath, it rings like a sword. Nice wood handle and good steel, all showing moderate use and age. I understand some of these are pretty old, but I don't know how to tell.
The store I bought it at was in a shady part of town. As I walked down the street, a guy approached and aggressively asked if I had any money for him...I pulled my E-tool out of the bag and said "no, but I have a shovel"...he quickly said sorry and disappeared.
Over the years, it has proven very useful. The front edge, and one side came sharpened. I have used it to cut brush, and once used it to split firewood that was giving my brother in law's hand axe a hard time. I got a vehicle stuck in snow once, and used it to clear the snow from behind the tire, freeing the vehicle.
Weapon? I have no doubt it would deliver devastating wounds, and it is something that can be in the car all the time.
All in all, probably the best $5 I ever spent.
After the fall of East Germany, there was lots of surplus, including these German E-tools. I bought one cheap...I think it was $5, including the leather sheath. Btw, when the blade is drawn from the carrier sheath, it rings like a sword. Nice wood handle and good steel, all showing moderate use and age. I understand some of these are pretty old, but I don't know how to tell.
The store I bought it at was in a shady part of town. As I walked down the street, a guy approached and aggressively asked if I had any money for him...I pulled my E-tool out of the bag and said "no, but I have a shovel"...he quickly said sorry and disappeared.
Over the years, it has proven very useful. The front edge, and one side came sharpened. I have used it to cut brush, and once used it to split firewood that was giving my brother in law's hand axe a hard time. I got a vehicle stuck in snow once, and used it to clear the snow from behind the tire, freeing the vehicle.
Weapon? I have no doubt it would deliver devastating wounds, and it is something that can be in the car all the time.
All in all, probably the best $5 I ever spent.
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