Böker Plus M1874 Lāpsta

The field spade or short spade based on the old pattern is by far the most versatile outdoor tool imaginable, right after the knife. He splits firewood, cuts down trees, cuts a path through the undergrowth, pushes the campfire together, is a climbing aid on steep slopes, makeshift crowbar, emergency paddle and knife. The list could be continued indefinitely. Needless to say, it is also excellent for digging. Compared to the folding spade commonly used today, it is significantly more robust, which is required for the uses listed above. For the Böker Plus Shovel M1874, Böker decided to consistently implement the original design of the first German field spade, which was introduced in 1874 by imperial decree under the name "portable entrenchment for infantry and hunter battalions". The two-part leaf and spring construction is connected with five strong rivets, additionally secured with a 40 mm wide steel ferrule and encompasses the unbreakable ash wood handle up to half its length. This old design is complex and costly to manufacture, since two stamping and bending tools have to be manufactured and significantly more work steps are required for assembly. But it rewards you with unrivaled stability. In addition to later models, the M1874 field spade was still in use in both world wars. According to the historical model, the edges of the spade blade are pre-ground and not ground out upon delivery. Digging, splitting wood and delimbing is already possible in this condition, but for use as a machete or knife it is advisable to grind the edges yourself. To adapt to today's needs and possibilities, Böker has made minimal adjustments to the original to create a modern bushcraft tool. A tough, rustproof stainless steel was chosen for the leaf and spring, which is also used in the construction of steam turbine blades and surgical instruments. It has a high resistance to breakage and shock loads and can also be easily resharpened under field conditions. A simple sharpening method, for example, is to lay both edges flat on a block of concrete with the inside of the blade. The case with two belt loops is made of black nylon that is insensitive to moisture and rot-proof with a solid plastic insert instead of leather that requires care. This makes the Böker Plus Shovel M1874 an indispensable piece of equipment for all bushcrafters, off-road drivers, collectors of military equipment and re-enactors. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Blade length: 19 cm Blade steel: 2Cr13 Blade thickness: 2 mm Handle material: ash wood Total length: 53 cm Weight: 938 g This article contains non-textile parts of animal origin.