Improvements in Entrenching Tools.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Entrenching Tools.
I WILLIAM HENRY HAMNER, of Fort Assiniboine, in the County of Choteau,
and State of Montana, United States of America, Captain 20th Infantry, United
States Army, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved entrenching tool
adapted to be used on the butt of a rifle or carbine or separately, for constructing
earthworks, rifle pits, and the like, as a protection from the enemy's fire.
The invention comprises a shovel blade formed with a shank and means whereby
it is adapted to be secured to the butt of a rifle or carbine, or to a handle.
The invention also comprises certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side clevation of the entrenching tool, as applied to the butt of a
rifle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the same, on line 3-3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a rear sectional elevation of the same, on line 4-4 Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the tool, as attached to a
handle.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tool, attached to a belt.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the tool, having a telescoping handle, and
Figure S is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the telescoping handle.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
The improved entrenching tool is provided with a shovel blade A to which is
attached a shank B formed with a tongue B' riveted or otherwise secured to the
top surface of the blade A, as it is plainly illustrated in the drawings, the shank
being cranked as at B B³, and screw-threaded to adapt it to be screwed into a
hollow handle C. The part B is nearly at right angles to the tongue B' and the
shank is at an obtuse angle to the part B. By thus constructing the shank B,
the handle C stands at an acute angle to the blade A, as plainly indicated in
Figure 5. The handle C is preferably made hollow so as to admit of storing
therein a screw-driver, shell-extractors, or other similar tools for the use of the
riflemen, the outer end of the handle C being closed by a cap D. The entrenching
tool thus described is adapted to be secured to the butt E of a rifle or carbine F.
For this purpose a socket G projects inwardly into the wooden portion of the butt
from the heel or base plate H of the rifle, as plainly illustrated in Figure 2, and in
the outer face of the heel plate H near its upper end is formed a vertically-
extending groove H' adapted to receive the back of the crank arm B2 of the
shank B so that the tool is prevented from turning when attached to the butt.
The butt is bored to receive the handle C which fits in the socket and is
securely locked therein by a cross-bolt J mounted to turn in bearings in the socket
in such position as, when partly rotated, to engage in a cross-notch I formed in
the part B3 of the shank (or it may be in the handle C) thus securely locking the
tool in the socket, as shewn in Figure 2. The bolt J is also formed with a cross-
notch J which when brought opposite the notch I permits of inserting and with-
drawing the handle C from the socket G. On the outer square end .J2 of the bolt .J
is secured a handle K adapted to enter a recess E' forined in the butt E, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 3. When the handle K is in the position shewn in Figure 1, the.

page_text: is
bolt J locks the tool in the socket but when the haudle K is turned to the position
shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1, the bolt J is turned so that the notch
opposite the notch I and the tool can be withdrawn from the socket G. In order
to retain the bolt in either of the two positions mentioned, a spring L secured to
the side of the socket G bears with its free end against flats J³ and J' formed at
about right angles to each other at the inner end of the bolt J, as shewn in
Figure 4.
When the entrenching tool is fastened to the butt of a rifle or carbine, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, the back of the shovel blade A. extends about in line with the
top of the butt, so that the barrel of the rifle or carbine is at an angle to the said
blade similar to the angle of the handle of an ordinary shovel to its blade. When
the tool is in this position, it can be used for digging trenches, formning breastworks,
rifle pits, and the like, the soldier not being hindered from using the rifle or carbine
in case of an emergency, the blade A resting on the shoulder in firing and thus
assisting the soldier to firmly hold the rifle.
Instead of the handle. C described, a telescopic handle may be used, as illustrated
in Figures 7 and 8, the said handle when extended forming with the shank B and
blade A a shovel which can be used without the carbine or rifle.
On the march, the blade part of the tool may be carried in a loop N hung on the
soldier's belt O, as shewn in Figure 6, while the handle C is carried in the
socket G with cap D outward, the locking bolt J then engaging in another notch
at the outer end of the handle at D. The entrenching tool can be used as an
ordinary shovel when attached to the rifle or carbine, the foot being applied at
the top edge of the blade A. so as to push the blade into the earth. It can also
be used by the soldier when the latter is in a kneeling position for throwing up
breast-works without exposing himself to the fire of the enemy.
With the handle C as described, the tool can be detached from the rifle and can
then be used as a hand tool in a lying position. Should a hand tool not be desired,
the part B of the shank can be made plain and grooved longitudinally to receive a
spring having a projection upon it to engage with a notch in the socket G whereby
it can be readily adjusted, the groove in the heel plate preventing the tool from
turning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. An entrenching tool comprising a shovel blade and a bent shank secured to
the said shovel blade and adapted to attach the tool to the belt of the soldier,
substantially as described.
2. An entrenching tool comprising a shovel blade, a bent shank secured to the
said shovel blade, and a detachable handle secured on the said bent shank and
adapted to be secured to the heel of the butt of a rifle or carbine, substantially as
described.
3. In a tool of the class described, the combination, with a rifle or carbine, of
a shovel blade attached to a bent shank provided with a detachable handle and
adapted to be secured to the heel of the butt of the said rifle or carbine, substan
tially as described.
4. In a tool of the class described, the combination, with a rifle or carbine, of an
entrenching tool comprising a shovel blade, a bent shank and detachable handle,
and means, substantially as described, for fastening the said detachable handle and
bent shank temporarily to the heel of the butt of said rifle or carbine, substantially
as described.
5. In an entrenching tool, the combination, with a hollow handle having an
interior screw thread, of a shovel blade provided with a shank having a tongue
secured to the blade, an arm extending at right angles from the said tongue, and
a threaded part extending at an obtuse angle from the said arm and adapted
to screw in the said hollow handle, substantially as shewn and described.

page_text: 6. In an entrenching tool provided with a shovel blade comprising the blade
proper, a tongue secured to the top surface of the said blade, an arm extending at
right angles from the said tongue, and a threaded shank part extending at an obtuse
angle from the said arm, substantially as shewn and described.
7. In an entrenching tool, the combination, with a heel plate having a groove,
and a socket projecting from the said heel plate, of a shovel blade comprising a
blade, a tongue secured to the said blade, an arın extending at right angles from the
said tongue and adapted to engage in the groove in the said heel plate, and a threaded
shank part extending at an obtuse angle from the said arm, and a handle in which
screws the said shank part and which fits into the said heel plate socket, substan-
tially as shewn and described.
8. In an entrenching tool, the combination, with a heel plate having a groove,
and a socket projecting from the said heel plate, of a shovel blade comprising a
blade, a tongue secured to the said blade, an arm extending at right angles from the
said tongue and adapted to engage the groove in the said heel plate, and a threaded
shank part extending at an obtuse angle from the said arm and a handle in which
screws the said shank part and which fits into the said heel plate socket, and a
bolt for locking the said shank and handle in place, substantially as shewn and
:described.
9. In an entrenching tool, the combination, with a heel plate having a groove,
and a socket projecting from the said heel plate, of a shovel blade comprising a
lade, a tongue secured to the said blade, an arm extending at right angles from
the said tongue and adapted to engage the groove in the said heel plate, and a
threaded shank part extending at an obtuse angle from the said arm, and a handle
in which screws the said shank part and which fits into the said heel plate socket, a
bolt for locking the said shank and handle in place, and a flat spring bearing against
flat surfaces on the end of the said bolt to hold the latter in position, substantially
as shewn and described.
10. In an entrenching tool, the combination, with a heel plate having a groove,
and a socket projecting from the said heel plate, of a shovel blade comprising a
blade, a tongue secured to the said blade, an arm extending at right angles from the
said tongue and adapted to engage the groove in the said heel plate, and a threaded
shank part extending at an obtuse angle from the said arm, and a handle in which
screws the said shank part and which fits into the said heel plate socket, and a bolt
mounted to turn and engaging in a notch in the said shank or handle, the said bolt
being also Lotched to permit of inserting and removing the handle, substantially as
shewn and described.
Dated this 1st day
1. 1002
W. H. HAMNER,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.