Entrenching spade, infantry units, sealed pattern, 1882

Blade is wrought iron, rectangular and tapers to a rounded point. It's impressed with the maker's name: Edward Lucas and Sons, Sheffield. The socket is a flange of two parts and the shaft is ash with an eye shaped hole. The crosspiece handle is formed as a combined pick and borer and bound with a continuous thick iron band.

A sealed pattern label originally attached is inscribed, 'P-2681 Implement, entrenching Light Infantry Mark 1 Approved 2.5.82.'.

A 'sealed pattern' is a master pattern of any item that the British Army issued to soldiers. It provided clothing or equipment suppliers with an example to copy.