Rothco Tri-Fold Shovel

Folding Entrenching Tool

The Rothco Tri-Fold Shovel is a compact entrenching tool, or E-tool: a short folding shovel of the kind soldiers carry for digging fighting positions in the field. It extends to 24 inches for digging and folds down to 9 inches so it fits in a pack, a vehicle or a truck-bed toolbox. Campers, hunters, overlanders and preppers carry it for trenching around a tent, digging a fire pit, clearing snow or freeing a stuck tire.

Features

• Tri-Fold Design — The handle shaft and blade fold together in three sections, collapsing from 24 inches (61 cm) to a 9-inch (23 cm) package.
• Heavy-Duty Steel Construction — Blade, shaft and handle are made of steel, so the tool can handle packed soil, gravel and ice.
• Threaded Locking Collar — A ribbed collar screws down over the hinge to hold the blade firmly in position while you dig.
• 90 And 180 Degree Head Positions — Lock the blade straight for shoveling, or at a right angle to use it like a hoe or pick for breaking ground and scraping trenches.
• Serrated Blade Edge — One side of the blade has saw-style teeth for cutting through roots, turf and small branches.
• D-Style Handle — The closed triangular grip gives you a secure two-handed hold and stays manageable with gloves on.
• 5.5-Inch Blade Width — The pointed blade measures 5.5 inches (14 cm) across, wide enough to move dirt efficiently while staying compact when folded.
• Olive Drab Finish — A glossy olive drab (OD green) coating covers the steel, matching standard military-style gear.
• Packable Weight — At 1.81 pounds (0.82 kg), it is light enough to strap to a pack for a full day on the trail.

Steel Build And Storage

Rothco based this shovel on the classic military tri-fold E-tool pattern: a steel blade joined to a tubular steel shaft by a riveted hinge, with a screw collar locking each position. Folded, the handle wraps around the blade and shaft into a flat 9-inch bundle. It stows behind a vehicle seat or in a pack compartment. The blade is stamped Taiwan.