Easy Challenge, CD Helmet and Sargent Nicolosi’s WW2 Entrenching Tool

[@uktony1525]

I like the fact that your sergeant kept his non regulation shovel. When I was in the army it always amused me how deferential the junior officers were to the senior NCOs. Our drill sergeant wore non regulation ammunition boots with steel studs so on the parade ground you could hear the stamping and marching but no officer ever told him about it as I think they were afraid of him like the rest of us.

[@patjohnson3100]

I've had different flavored floats, but it's the root beer floats that I remember the best. The entrenching shovel in your video looks exactly like a ww2 entrenching shovel I have. My dad bought it from a surplus store and it rode around in the trunk of the cars he owned for many years. Sharpening the edge into a makeshift machete sounds like a good military field expedient idea. My shovel is stamped Ames, which may be the same tool company that makes garden tools, including shovels, rakes, nippers etc. Thanks

[@357magdad]

Next up - The ScoutCrafter Shroom Challenge!

[@rgaborjr]

We always used “Schoop glasses” for our family’s ice cream floats. Schoops were thick stemmed goblet style glasses. A fond memory from my childhood I share with my boys!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

It was the sugar in the float that set you off. I had one of the old style tools but where it went is beyond me. That was in the early 70's. And I've had floats all my life but not now. Just ice water. I lived off orange and grape sodas in the Engineers. The water point was always messed up so I drank what we had. It was hot, they were cold and I was thirsty. About burned my kidneys out with them things. Thanks, John CS! GBWYou!

[@johnkelley9877]

What a great tutorial! Thanks for sharing all of these good subjects, especially the ice cream float.

[@stevef8993]

I love a good ice cream float using cream soda and either vanilla and/or chocolate. Add a little malt powder to make it even better. I never tried using orange soda. Great trenching shovel, always wanted one of those. The mushroom bit cracked me up, you’re a nut!

[@choppermike3329]

Nice ending John! LOL. Orange crush , ice cold in the glass bottle on a summer day👍😃 We have one of those old entrenching tools on our Rescue Squad. Flag pole and fence are looking good.

[@rossandersen942]

Love a Rootbeer float. Had a girlfriend who work at DQ in high school. I would order a small RB float and she would pour a large and charge for small. Loved it.

[@mrblauer1]

Mushrooms? Whatever floats your boat. I will stick with root beer and vanilla. My uncle was the only one from his unit to survive the war under General Patton without injury (or worse). He claimed it was because he could dig a foxhole faster than anyone else. I remember that every time I see an Army shovel.

[@edwardschrader2853]

You have become my substitute for the history channel , but no commercials. Great

[@rogermcdonald1607]

We always had A&W rootbeer floats as a youngster! Now as a senior citizen my favorite is a coca cola float! Always amazes me what you will come up with next John! 👍🇺🇸Roger

[@joemoach832]

I remember having ice cream sodas as a kid and still have myself a root beer float from time to time. Only difference is I have mine with chocolate ice cream instead of the usual vanilla. You might want to stick to floats and stay away from the magic mushrooms.

[@LostMountainRestoration]

You crack me up. You need your own TV show. Well done and thanks!

[@cheekymonkey444]

Cherry vanilla ice cream from the Lehigh Valley Dairy and ginger ale from A-Treat. Doesn't get any better on a hot summers day.

[@redneckerson8906]

I'm about your age, and when I was growing up in the south we had a similar drink we called a Lime Freeze. It was lime sherbet and ginger ale, and man-o-man would it cool you off on a hot day--especially if you were sitting on the screened porch! That sure brings back memories!

[@jpsimon206]

Scout, when you were chopping branches at the end of the video, there is a safety gas can in the foreground. I'm sure you know, but I recently discovered that those old safety cans along with the safety shop garbage bins are going for big big money on eBay. Might be worth storing it inside the garage

[@dane.1847]

Great video ScoutCrafter. About the ice cream sodas.... I wonder if that is the same flavor that Laverne from Laverne and Shirley was looking for when she would drink her crazy mixture of milk and Pepsi . I think she would use milk to avoid having to keep ice cream in her freezer all the time. 😝

[@bigvicsworkshop]

Ah, yes...The good ol'float..my ice cream is always floating....in a big puddle of chocolate syrup topped with magic shell🍦 😊 we do have on an occasion - a rootbeer float ever now and again... great episode...I cant stop laughing at the last scene..LOL! Great stuff Mr. John! Enjoyed!

[@tonylenge424]

Scoutcrafter in Wonderland! Pretty funny at the end. I have root beer floats all the time and I want to introduce my grandson to it but I’m told he is too young. But I did introduce him to Yoo Hoo😂! Use to get root beer floats from the Mister Softee truck as a kid. Great stuff!

[@ScoutCrafter]

I love YooHoo!

[@johnpossum556]

This year the past 3+ weeks I have had a rootbeer float almost every day. It's my solution to the heat wave. Usually around dusk when its a great reward for whatever work I have gotten done that day. I feel like I am almost an expert so here's my 2 best tips and tricks for making one. First a glass mug (a heavy duty beer mug works great for this) put in the freezer helps keep it colder longer. It also cools the root beer down until it turns into a slush with the ice cream that is extra good. Secondly, pour the soda pop in first and you get almost no foam. I only pour in about 1/3-1/2 of the glass which leaves room for more ice cream. I was talking to a young neighbor and the 24 year old had never seen a hand plane! I showed him one I was going to restore then my Stanley #6 because if that doesn't impress you nothing will. I think he is going to learn what a root beer float is next.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Awesome John!! 😃👍

[@scotthaddad563]

Great little shovel! I bought one at KMart back in the eighties. That was a cheap knock-off and didn’t pass my torture test. I found a nice single piece pick/shovel at an army surplus store that was new old stock dated 1941. I had to find a handle but that thing was indestructible. Too bad that there aren’t as many true Army surplus stores around anymore!

[@SteveMcQuillin]

My kids have root beer floats all the time - always takes me back to when I was a kid in the 70s. We used to visit an Ice Cream parlour called Notarianni Bros in my dad's hometown of Sunderland in the North East of England. Ice cream floats or knickerbocker glories had to be had on every trip up there :)

[@toolrestoration]

My first Coke float was age 8 John, soooo long ago! My kids have all experienced them and everybody loves them!!!!

[@saigaking]

Happy hump day love all the different topics we always associate The ice cream-soda with the USA root beer 🍺 ect man turn back time Crazy the old milk bar fun times great video scout god bless take care 🍺👍🙏🇺🇸🗽🇳🇿🍨🍦

[@Traderjoe]

I was this many days old when I learned about pouring sideways to avoid the glugugglug

[@janderson8401]

After WWII the civil defense unit in my grandparent’s neighborhood became a volunteer fire company. My grandfather, my dad, three of my uncles, and some of my cousins were members. The company was active from the late 40s till 1968. What I had heard was they were the first on the scene at the the last fire they responded to. When the “professionals” got there, they chopped the hose of the volunteers. The company remained as a sort of a social club, meeting once a month, playing horseshoes if it was nice out, cards if it wasn’t, marching in the memorial day parade, having an annual picnic for all their families, and most importantly, delivering Santa Claus to the parking lot of the Sivermine Tavern on Christmas Eve to hand out presents. My Grandfather and his sons kept an old WWII era entrenching tool in the barn. To the side of the barn door was the remains of a sand pile. When I was around 6 some of my cousins and I decided that would be a good place to dig a hole to China. After a couple of hours we decided we didn’t really want to go to China.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Absolutely marvelous story! Thanks!!!!!!!

[@57WillysCJ]

That frosty mug A&W root beer float just couldn't be duplicated when I was a kid. I think one place called them a Black Cow. The fancy flavors were at Dairy Queen. The shovels are great no matter what some say about it being a weak design. I also think the the Civil Defense was better than FEMA. I don't think there are local FEMA people while almost half the people in small communities were part of the Civil Defense including the scouts as runners and other things.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

2nd this!

[@patjohnson3100]

Good point . Local is better.

[@davidspinney2664]

Hi Scout crafter I always remember seeing those ice-cream floats never had one I will. What I do remember having was having a milk shake made in one of those blenders they hade at every diner they were made with real ice-cream and milk they were a real treat.

[@jessicagreene1773]

You can only by a "Soder" in NY. Elsewhere people will need to purchase a soda! :)

[@essentialhandyman]

I cannot believe you posted this. I've literally just bought a tub of vanilla ice cream, because my kids have never had a float and I was gonna make them a coke float and a lemonade float. Great minds !!! You literally had me laughing out loud with the shroom skit.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Awesome Ian!!!! 😃👍🇬🇧

[@alanmullock381]

Cream soda pop plus raspberry ripple ice cream! 50 years and still love them!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Sounds awesome!

[@patrickduley405]

I have a Vietnam era 1966 US Army shovel same year I was born with the pick. And a 1966 mess hall coffee cup. Served me well the twelve years I spent in the army

[@donaldallison]

My mouth is watering I remember having a float at my Grandmothers.

[@jackthompson2132]

I’m a root beer fan myself. I guess I’ll have to make my grandkids one for the challenge. I use to play with my dad army shovel when I was younger. Wished I had it now but don’t know where it is. Thank You for sharing

[@bigmikeh5827]

Have one of those e-tools in my garage. Bought fir a song but was rusty and locked up. Along with the handle rotted. Will get it inspection ready. Send ya a pic when I’m done. Miss those pop cycles as a kid. Root beer float. Orange cream and the bullet pop.

[@nicknicoletti9778]

That was a huge magic mushroom… you’ll be spinning for a week! And as you, my favorite float is the vanilla and orange soda. Just like a creamcicle. Very good combo.

[@joeheilm]

I laughed when i first saw the Cold Steel "Tactical Shovel", my buddy bought me one and i love it....great stuff. Cheers

[@mercuryrising9174]

That's cool John I have ice cream sodas all the time lol. I love that green glass!! I've never seen that particular pattern. My usual is 7up with orange or lime sherbet.. edit: we used to call those aid raid helmet's. That was the kinda stuff we played with as kids !!!

[@richardross7219]

You reminded me of a gizmo I had in the 1960s. I ordered it from 7up(probably a freebie). It was a plastic container that split in half to put a scoop of ice cream in it. You put it back together and then stuck one end into a bottle of 7up. When you drank from the other end, it was 7up with ice cream melted into it. Have fun. Good Luck, Rick

[@RyanGr33n]

I Love this! I remember going with my Grampa and my dad to the A&W Drive In to get root beer floats in my Grampas 1970 Renault! It smelled like tobacco and gasoline…. The best times!

[@805ROADKING]

You're Goofy enough Mate!! You don't need no stickin' mushrooms!!☺

[@patrickmeyer1967]

But did you see the dragons in his kitchen,,,LOL

[@markrandall1456]

I was waiting for you to dig a slit trench in the yard and then use it. 🤣 . I was not issued the folding entrenching tool. We still had the one with the pick which was a great addition. I hated those things attached to my belt. My legs are short and it was always banging my calf. I look forward to the challenge. Blue Bell ice cream and a Dublin Dr.Pepper. True Texas traditions. 😋 From the sunny banks of the Underwood Branch, thanks for the fun.

[@adude7050]

I still Have my shovel from when I was in Scouting. A great tool.

[@wadel6]

My favorite float is dutch chocolate ice cream with iced coffee. Absolutely decadence!

[@kenny8351]

Nice job with the entrenching tool. I will pick one up when I get a chance. Nice video!

[@frankg3072]

Well John you’re younger than me but did you ever go to Jahn’s in Flushing next to the Prospect theater or Bertlesen’s on 150th St. in Whitestone or how about Milk Maid on Francis Lewis and Willets Point? All great ice cream places. I don’t think they have ice cream parlors any more. Just about every candy store in Queens used to make ice cream sodas and how about egg creams!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hello Frank! Yes!!! Jahns was a step back in time! Remember “the kitchen sink”. If you finished it was free! I bet we crossed paths on more then one occasion! 😃👍. Thanks

[@johnjacop]

I’m so glad someone else mentioned Egg Creams. I knew I wasn’t the only one, you should see my comment. Fox’s U-Bet Syrup should ring a bell in your mind, if you Used any other brand of syrup you’ve done it wrong!

[@horriblebastard1374]

Finally someone mentioned egg creams and U-bet!! Brilliant episode. We had a Milk Maid in white plains on Mam’k Ave. Then Bob Hyland bought it and turned it into an early sports bar. That place was the best. Make your own sundaes with self service toppings.

[@kathieharine5982]

My older sister had a boyfriend in high school who would run a public swimming pool. In the concession stand they had soft drinks and frozen items like ice cream bars. He sold an item he called a Black Widow. It was a glass of 7 Up that he'd put a chocolate covered ice cream in it. It was just the cost of the 7 Up and the ice cream bar. That way you'd get a ice cream float /soda without having to scoop out the ice cream from a container.

[@gordon7005]

Strange ending 🤣 We used to have ice cream with cream soda but we called them snowballs here in the UK. Love that entrenching tool

[@jameskelly1680]

I was fortunate to find an A&W mug at a Goodwill many years ago. A frosty mug with a root beer float is the best. Recently someone suggested getting a Mexican coke in a glass bottle (with real sugar) and get that ice cold and make a Coke float. They are delicious on a hot day after working outside.

[@jpsimon206]

That's crazy! Before Microsoft, Bellevue Washington was a handful of farms. I'm shocked that anything besides lumber was manufactured there. It only took 10 years or so for Bellevue to turn into East Seattle basically.

[@robertgibson7716]

in s cotland we use American cream soda to make them lovley

[@sarahhardy8649]

That photo you showed of the chap reclining on a seat with a W on the helmet related to WWII Air Raid Wardens. They needed the heavy steel helmet because of their duties during the blitz. Me, I prefer coke floats.

[@bobjoncas2814]

...gotta like those entrenching tools , simple , but useful...stay safe

[@mitchjohnson4970]

We call it a "coke float" in TN. Regardless of what kind of soda is used.

[@jackofswords7]

Ice cream in "cream soda" which was a vanilla based soda (in Britain). was my favourite drink as a kid. And yes, I introduced many people to it in Germany.

[@valsforge4318]

LOL on the ending and yes I would love to hear your orange crush story. As a kid that was my favorite soda.

[@TheSuperwrenchGarage]

Emily and I will definitely be up to the challenge 😀

[@michaelkowalski1130]

We've always called them "pop floats". I prefer to add soda first so you don't get as much foam. I'll be sharpening my shovels tomorrow!

[@mrbenmall]

To reduce the carbonation and avoid having an unreasonable amount of foam on Root Beer floats, the ladies at the Rexall near my house (1960s) would stir it up a bit before they put in the ice cream.

[@foxwood67]

The ending was funny. Love it when well tempered steel edge sings

[@lotsatrains]

Love my root beer floats for sure and that creamsicle one you made too and that shovel tool makes one heck of a tree chopper I never knew you could do that with them that’s so cool!

[@TomGunnTools]

I carried a E-tool for a long time I’m my trunk butt never used it, now I’m wondering where it is. Love the challenge! Grew up making ice cream sodas! The end of the video had me rolling! So funny!

[@johnjacop]

I love a good float and it’s been years so I’ll take you up on this challenge. But the classic drink my father passed down to me, and if you’ve spent any time in Brooklyn…you’ve had an Egg Cream and it had to be made with U-Bet syrup!

[@ScoutCrafter]

JD- I have had countless egg creams and you are so right- Foxes U-Bet syrup is the bomb!!! 😃👍

[@johnjacop]

@@ScoutCrafter There was no doubt in my mind that you’d be familiar with Egg Creams, that’s why I mentioned it!

[@frankg3072]

That’s all the candy stores used to use was Fox’s U-Bet. Delicious! The egg creams we used to get when I was a kid in the candy stores were two sizes. Small was a nickel and large a dime!

[@johnjacop]

@@frankg3072 Man I would have loved to be around then. When I was a kid in the 90’s, I’m pretty sure the only thing you could still purchase with a Nickel was a single piece of Bazooka Chewing gum! Safe to say I’d much rather spend that Nickel on an egg cream!

[@zipshed]

Used to play with them shovels as a kid all the time!

[@melkc345]

My dad introduced me to root beer floats about 65 years ago and I still drink them on a regular basis. Either A&W or Frosty were the only brands to use and always in a frosted beer mug. Talk about the good old days! I must not get out enough because I can never find any of the good stuff you seem to find on a regular basis. And I assume the orange crush saga will be part of TGIFriday's video. Jim

[@planejet42]

I’m a big fan of root beer. It’s pretty interesting how historically, basically any root has been used to produce root beer. I love root beer floats! I’ll have to have one soon

[@diYotamCh]

Will defintly try this float with root beer or orange soda... Would also like to try a piece of that mushroom ... LOL My kid has a 3 way folding shovel. Never thought of sharpening one edge like an axe. Great tip 😁... Will get to sharpening it... So thats another chalange for me... Thanks ScoutCrafter as always great fun...

[@alexstools]

Being Dutch the float is new to me. I'm going to see if somebody imports that crush stuff here, I'd love the story on it. I own one or two of those shovels, putting it in my car is one of the smartest ideas, I'm going to have to put one in my car now. Have a great day and I look forward to Fridays!!

[@mikecurtis2585]

I had ice cream floats for years there great. Thanks 😊🙏

[@michelecrown2426]

I don't know anyone who hasn't had an ice cream soda so will have to pass on your challenge. Root Beer floats are the best, but I love orange and crème too, so may give that one a try. Cracked up with your mushroom skit LOL!

[@willymissouri]

21 year old with old parents here my mom bought me an entrancing tool when I was little it has a leather sheath I believe it's from some foreign army not sure which one but many hours digging in the woods later and it's still going strong I thought you might end the video by digging a foxhole but that ending was even crazier

[@stephenrides1434]

I've got a 1943 model a found in a shed a was demolition few years ago no cover made by Amos or something

[@billmiller7138]

Those entrenching tools are great, I’ve had one ever since I was a kid. Just don’t use them in sand, very hard to get sand cleaned out of the threads. Ask me how I know.

[@woo2you]

Of course we want to hear your Orange Crush story. :-)

[@cradd00]

It looked like you enjoyed that mushroom as much as your ice cream float! Great ending!

[@kenneyk5260]

Best episode ever!

[@ROD59]

Fantastic video but we are intrigued now, how does the orange soda became your favorite , don't leave us hanging lol

[@johnduff6436]

I like the pouring advice. I empties all 756 lbs. of Bud Light cans in my recycling barrel (located in my shop, appropriately enough) in exactly that manner!😏

[@jacksshed2450]

Oh yeah! Can't beat an ice cream soda! A real treat :)

[@corydriver7634]

Coke floats here in the south. Thanks for the memories. BTW What’s a soder? 😂

[@alansmith4734]

If you have kids, while making a Soda Float, try using a Red Vine or Twizzler as the straw! This straw is edible! I use an Iced Tea Spoon (long handle) and stir up my Coke Float, until the Ice Cream & Coke are blended together. I spoon feed myself, one spoon full at a time! =P

[@terrysanders2817]

Club Soda, vanilla ice cream and Hershey's chocolate syrup - yum!

[@timeflysintheshop]

I have only ever had the orange creamsicle or rootbeer float before. Maybe I will try something different for the challenge. Coca-cola and chocolate? Oooo no Dr.Pepper and chocolate! The mushroom bit was great! 😂

[@lordcelticfrost8686]

I got the same shovel at home...mine is from a jeep from world war two...now im using that shovel to dig holes with the metal detector...

[@tomcarola5068]

Gotta get a stainless steel glass with a stainless steel spoon and get U-bets chocolate syrup and make a old fashioned egg cream …….nice the old soda floats

[@big_steven2226]

I was always American cream soda and vanilla ice cream. I’m from Scotland so I’m sure there was nothing American about it but it tasted gooood lol 😂

[@stevenc6256]

Ive got one of those shovels, also. Great tool. I also used it to scoop out the icecream to make my icecream soda. Hows that for resourcefulness??

[@stevebark4873]

Ha! Am drinking a root beer float right now. Timely. When I was a kid (15 years old) I lived in a central California coastal town . This was only 10 years after the end of WWII and there was still a threat of a sea borne invasion from Japan. I w as a member of the “ Ground Observers Corp”. Part of the civil defense system. One day a week I would man a watch tower overlooking the Pacific Ocean and report any ship or aircraft I spotted. I would advise heading and appx. speed to a central command post. Boy I thought I was big stuff.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

I think I’ll have to give that challenge a miss for a few months. To bloody cold here at the moment -5 last night or 23 F. I never found out why but in Australia they were called a spider or ice cream spider. I always liked mine with Fanta. That last mouth full from the glass was always the best bit. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

[@ScoutCrafter]

Wow! I forgot you are down under and are having Winter! Believe me Stuart the extreme cold and extreme hot are both uncomfortable. However I don't miss the bugs in the Winter! =D

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

@@ScoutCrafter I’m staying inside as its a putrid day here, it’s raining and only 42 F but that’s a pretty normal winter’s day in NY.🥶 I can see the snow on the mountains from my front door but it’s a touch to warm to stay on the ground at my place. To make matters worse we had to cancel our trip north for the winter, again, and our friends that went keep sending us photos. They’re up near Darwin which is full tropical so they’re getting mid to high 80’s. Unfortunately my workshop is just a tin shed so there is about a month in winter and a month in summer where it’s almost unusable. Once all the accident stuff is finished I’m going to knock down the mish mash of a workshop and get a proper all weather, waterproof workshop built with insulation, heating and cooling. And a bed if I keep annoying Lea. Cheers my friend.

[@davidcoats1037]

Now there’s a challenge I can get behind. Let’s hear the story about why you love Orange Crush!

[@terencefautley5480]

CRUSH is my preferred orange soda.

[@BRay.549]

You can also cook a meal on that shovel over hot coals -- for survival purposes.

[@patrickmeyer1967]

I am on the KETO diet and was unable to have a rootbeer float UNTIL my dear wife found a brand of ice cream and a brand of root beer we could have (no sugar or other nasty things) So we are all set. I got my grandmothers lard scoop and put the ice cream in the glasses, I opened the can of rootbeer and began to pour....something wasn't quite right, the rootbeer was clear. however it tasted amazing. We also used some approved (sugar and nasty stuff free) ginger beer. It was awesome as well made me feel like i was 10 again.

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

Great video John 👍 😊

[@paulsworkshop4179]

I will definitely introduce my kids to a float.

[@rawbacon]

Always loved a Good Root Beer Float...........I had to laugh because a few days ago some 8 inch diameter Mushrooms popped up that I'd never seen before.......I looked around the internet and they appeared to be edible but I still didn't trust the ID so I diced up about a quarter of one and fried it up then only ate one little piece that night.........After not dying overnight I ate the rest for breakfast then fried up the other 3/4 for lunch.

[@vladimirbrkusanin3581]

Those Showels were used in 1 and 2 ww as trench weapon and were so good in their job that enemu solider who being caught with sharpened showel is being killed on the spot... Tradition of those kind of showels is keept nowadays in Russian special forces Specnaz... They are training close combat with them...

[@stewartew]

Thanks for the challenge, I love ice cream floats (Root Beer) this gives me an excuse to buy some ice cream, and Root Beer. Thanks Again.

[@tomhughes4980]

I still make them for my grandson today, don't forget about the egg creams.