Romanian Army Folding Shovel

Romanian Entrenching Tool

This is a folding shovel issued by the Romanian Army, built as an entrenching tool: the compact spade a soldier carries on the belt for digging fighting positions, clearing ground and cutting through roots. A hinged steel blade folds back toward the handle for carrying and locks straight with a threaded collar when it is time to dig. It suits campers, bushcrafters and overlanders who want a small shovel that can take hard use, as well as collectors of Eastern European military kit.

Features

• Folding Hinged Blade — The blade pivots on the steel neck so it folds back for storage and opens straight for digging.
• Knurled Locking Collar — A threaded collar with a textured grip screws down to hold the blade firmly in the open position.
• High-Carbon Steel Blade — The pointed spade head is pressed from high-carbon steel, which is harder than mild steel and keeps its shape under heavy prying.
• Serrated Side Edge — One edge of the blade is cut with saw teeth for working through roots, branches and packed turf.
• Reinforced Five-Rivet Mount — Five rivets fix the blade to its hinge plate, and pressed ribs in the steel stiffen the face.
• Solid Wood Handle — A turned hardwood grip with a rounded knob at the end keeps your hand from slipping off during a swing.
• Leather Belt Cover — The shovel comes with its brown leather carrier, closed by two buckled straps and fitted with a riveted belt loop on the back.
• Compact Blade Size — The head measures about 6 inches wide by 8.5 inches long (15 x 22 cm), small enough to work in tight spots.

Issue Pattern and Build

This shovel was issued to the Romanian Army, so it is genuine government kit rather than a commercial camping tool. The blade and neck are finished in black paint, and the knurled collar and riveted hinge follow the folding-shovel pattern used across Eastern European armies. Opened out, it reaches roughly two feet in length. The leather cover rides on a standard belt, which keeps the tool at your hip and out of the pack.