PIONEER TOOLS, TO PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT?
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:08 pm
A perpetual question by new MV collectors as they seek trinkets to decorate their vehicles.
There was a recent remark or two made by a commentator, "in the rush to get equipment out, every thing was painted OD."
"The idea of sanding and hand finishing the pioneer tools handles if not an effective use of time."
41A 1277A Axe, chopping, single bit, standard Grade, 4 Lb Type A was stocked Painted OD or Non Painted
41-S-3170 Shovel, General Purpose, D-Blade Handle, plain back, strap pattern, round point, No 2, blade width 91/2" Blade length 11 3/8" in., length of handle 26" (type IV, size 2) was stocked the same way. The contract for the tool would specify that it be painted OD or not.
Many Supply Sergeants in order to have a neat looking supply room with neat stacks of items would paint and trim axe and shovel handles in order to have uniformity. No big deal, as GI labor was plentiful and cheap.
Sanding and hand finishing was not an issue as the Axe and Shovel was unpainted at the time of manufacture, no prescious GI time was wasted. The specifications required that the tool handles have a smooth finish for obvious reasons.
I have GI issue NOS WWII Issue axes and shovels on the CCKW and MB that were on our shelves since the 40s, none were painted.
Sift thru various ORD 7 SNLs from WWII and it is possible to find that Tools were listed as painted OD.
Supply Rooms were also issued items to be used in the care and cleaning of tools, Linseed Oil was one of thos items.
The GI 4# Axes I have observed from the 60s thru 80s have been unpainted when new issue.
NOTE:
There are TM, FMs, TBs, etc issued by the Army that specify use and care for all that is issued.
Collectors do not always have the luxury of all the manuals, and sometimes have to look to collectors websites for help. The information posted is great and runs the full spectrum of sources from "Colonel of the Urinal" to the correct TM.
There was a recent remark or two made by a commentator, "in the rush to get equipment out, every thing was painted OD."
"The idea of sanding and hand finishing the pioneer tools handles if not an effective use of time."
41A 1277A Axe, chopping, single bit, standard Grade, 4 Lb Type A was stocked Painted OD or Non Painted
41-S-3170 Shovel, General Purpose, D-Blade Handle, plain back, strap pattern, round point, No 2, blade width 91/2" Blade length 11 3/8" in., length of handle 26" (type IV, size 2) was stocked the same way. The contract for the tool would specify that it be painted OD or not.
Many Supply Sergeants in order to have a neat looking supply room with neat stacks of items would paint and trim axe and shovel handles in order to have uniformity. No big deal, as GI labor was plentiful and cheap.
Sanding and hand finishing was not an issue as the Axe and Shovel was unpainted at the time of manufacture, no prescious GI time was wasted. The specifications required that the tool handles have a smooth finish for obvious reasons.
I have GI issue NOS WWII Issue axes and shovels on the CCKW and MB that were on our shelves since the 40s, none were painted.
Sift thru various ORD 7 SNLs from WWII and it is possible to find that Tools were listed as painted OD.
Supply Rooms were also issued items to be used in the care and cleaning of tools, Linseed Oil was one of thos items.
The GI 4# Axes I have observed from the 60s thru 80s have been unpainted when new issue.
NOTE:
There are TM, FMs, TBs, etc issued by the Army that specify use and care for all that is issued.
Collectors do not always have the luxury of all the manuals, and sometimes have to look to collectors websites for help. The information posted is great and runs the full spectrum of sources from "Colonel of the Urinal" to the correct TM.