E-Tool

The Entrenching Tool, or E-Tool, is a collapsible spade used by the US Military, which can also serve as an improvised weapon. It was the Special Weapon of the Green Beret.

Description

The modern US Army E-tool consists of a lightweight tri-fold design made of plastic and steel, with a "D" handle, as compared to earlier models which were bi-fold with a straight handle.

Uses

The use of entrenching tools by military forces dates back at least to the Romans, who used both spades and the Dolabra for mineing and fighting. Spades were later used during the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, and World War I, when trench warfare reached its fullest expression. Due to their sharp blades and relatively short lengths, they were ideal weapons for hand-to-hand combat when a firearm or bayonet would be impractical.

E-Tools are still issued to numerous special warfare groups around the world, and the use of these tools as improvised weapons is still taught for situations when the soldier is unable to use his firearms.

In the show

The E-Tool was against the Spetsnaz Ballistic Knife. The E-tool was tested on a gel torso and managed to remove the brain, as well as slicing into the intestines, causing them to spill out of the body cavity. However, in a very close comparison, the Ballistic Knife was given the edge due to it's hidden suprise.