Out Of The Trenches

Lucky Shot Continues the Tradition of Using Military Scrap for Unique Memorabilia Pieces

- Steven Paul Barlow

Trench art. For soldiers, it was a distraction, a way to take their minds o the horrors of the battles they experienced and the thoughts of the combat that was yet to come.

During their down time between battles, soldiers from as far back as the Civil War in this country used discarded war materials to craft unique items—trench art—that now have become collectible military memorabilia. During the two world wars, for instance, soldiers often fashioned shell casings into such items as ash trays, bottle openers, cigarette lighters and tobacco jars. Some of these items were wonderfully engraved.

Now, one company keeps the idea of trench art alive with new products still made from surplus items, many based on original wartime designs.

THE IDEA LIVES ON

Doug Ingalls started Lucky Shot in 2011. The company began by introducing a bottle opener made from a 50-caliber shell casing and now offers more than 300 gift items all crafted from military scrap.

“The majority of our products have been inspired by some of the hundreds of pieces of trench art that I’ve been collecting throughout the years,” said Ingalls. “People love the history, so we have actually established www.madeinthetrenches.com for more information on these items.”

Ingalls’ enthusiasm is readily apparent when he talks about his company’s replicas of these war relics.