The first hatchet covers
Hatchets replaced the Bolos due to their usefulness on the battlefield when it came to removing woodier foliage and branches. Following the Spanish American War, the Army introduced a new cover for the Army-issued hatchet. The cover was made of leather and closed with a buckle. A Krag-style hanger allowed the hatchet to be hung from a belt. Later, the leather changed to a canvas construction, no doubt because of expense in production. It still had a buckle closure and the Krag-style hanger. Some examples can be seen with the later wire hanger, which allowed it to be hung on a pistol or cartridge belt.
M-1910 Canvas Hatchet Cover
The M-1910 Canvas Hatchet Cover was the accompanying cover of the M-1910 Hatchet which was issued one per squad. They were khaki in color and featured a canvas strap that would wrap around the cover in order to secure the head. It also featured a wire hook on the back that would attach to a pistol or cartridge belt. The cover and accompanying hatchet changed very little in design from WWI to WWII other than coloration from tan canvas to a tan or olive drab canvas color, as well as transitioning from straps to Lift-The-Dot fasteners. However, some canvas covers still featured the canvas strap like their WWI counterparts. The main definer of a WWI cover was on the back of the cover, underneath the wire hooks, where various maker stamps can usually be found. However, some of the covers can’t be distinguished due to the stamps being faded over time.
The Leather Hatchet Cover
This style of hatchet cover was made following the canvas hatchet cover, and was more durable. It featured six rivets on the edge of the cover for reinforcement (The canvas one had no such reinforcement), two small posts for closing, and a long strap which wrapped around the head and secured through a metal ring. The shown example is dated 1918 and was made by G&K.
American Militaria Reference
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