Aug 4, 2023 · Stories about troops using a shovel as a weapon continue well through the Vietnam War. Even the modern E-Tool is designed as a call back to the glory days of it being an unexpectedly deadly weapon. For more information on and the inspiration for this article, watch the video below.

In old China, Buddhist monks often carried spades (shovels) with them when travelling. This served two purposes: if they came upon a corpse on the road, they could properly bury it with Buddhist rites, and the large implement could serve as a weapon for defence against bandits.

A Sub-Trope of Improvised Weapon and closely related to the Powerful Pick, shovels are primarily used for excavation but can instantly become a weapon if the need arises. The handle gives the weapon a good reach while the head provides a weight allowing it to …

Jan 11, 2018 · The value of the entrenching tool, or “etool,” which is a shovel issued to soldiers and Marines, has come back into the spotlight in recent days after Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell used it to...

Nov 3, 2016 · Yes, a simple shovel was an astoundingly effective weapon during WWI. Soldier’s shovels were relatively compact. They had a sturdy handle and wide, sharp blade which could be sharpened to make it almost as effective as an ax.

Oct 30, 2020 · World War I soldiers found that using their bayonets could result in their primary weapon being lodged in the viscera of an enemy troop, leaving that guy dead but them at the mercy of anyone else whose bayonet was not lodged in an enemy.

Mar 4, 2022 · Let's have a look at the SHOVEL and see how effective it is as a weapon, and its combat use in history.

It has been used by rank and file military personnel in the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and its successor states since the late 19th century. While nominally an entrenching tool, the MPL-50 has seen wide-ranging wartime applications, from a close-quarters combat weapon to a …

tl;dr I believe you forget that the shovel is a forceful two-handed weapon that cannot be so simply grabbed. This is with a baseball bat, but same effect. Attack is around 1 min mark. The guy getting attacked steps in and blocks the bat near the guys hand, before it can get up to speed, and where he has good leverage on it.

Technically speaking a shovel is an improvised weapon, normally covered by the Tavern Brawler feat and little else. However, in this case, because you have permission from your DM, I would recommend one of the following: Battle/handaxe, as you could sharpen one side, like a an e-tool.