I've been curious about this for ages, and I've never found anything definitive on the subject. I've owned a '37 pattern entrenching tool carrier since I first got into the WW2 scene, and I believe it's one of the later versions, as it has a strap that goes over the end of the tool handle.
The question is, just how late exactly is this pattern? I portray late war Parachute Regiment (who doesn't?) but I'm worried this is a bit of an anachronism, like the pouches with the pull tabs.
'ABSIT OMEN'
The extra strap added to stop the helve falling out is a post-war thing, it was introduced in early-mid 1945 - some try to claim "but I've got a [insert war date here] dated one with this extra strap", but these are war-time produced carriers with this post-war modification performed upon it. I have a mint unissued '43 dated carrier, with the extra strap, and it's easy to tell apart the original webbing and the later added on part. Post-war produced carriers have this as part of their manufacture.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Excellent, mate. It'll be getting chopped off before long, then. 
'ABSIT OMEN'
Before you cut it off, keep in mind that the modification was introduced to stop you losing the handle, I can tell you from experience that it does tend to slip out of the straps.
If you put a drawing pin through the loop under the retaining strap into the wood of the handle it holds it in place nicely.
Cheers
Martin
"Mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be rectified" Helmuth von Moltke
Toys: AGM MP40, Cyma M1A1, TM M14/G43/SVT40, TM VSR/K98, SnS No. 4, ASG Sten, Ppsh.
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If you put a drawing pin through the loop under the retaining strap into the wood of the handle it holds it in place nicely.
Cheers
Martin
Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. 
'ABSIT OMEN'
Alternatively tying a bit of string tight around the base of the loops seems to have done the trick for me, dcheetham89 did it for me at the Crete game and the same bit of string is still on there.
Cheers, Moss.
Alternatively tying a bit of string tight around the base of the loops seems to have done the trick for me, dcheetham89 did it for me at the Crete game and the same bit of string is still on there.
Cheers, Moss.
Also a good one! I appreciate the response, guys. 
'ABSIT OMEN'
Excellent, mate. It'll be getting chopped off before long, then.
As already said - don't cut it off!
Firstly, it's still a valid and valuable item of collectable militaria!
Secondly, you can just tuck it inside the carrier for WW2 games to get the look more correct
Thirdly, it'll not be a perfect conversion back to its previous form (if it is a war dated one) anyway, due to the random brass popper stud left on one of the helve loops.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Alternatively tying a bit of string tight around the base of the loops seems to have done the trick for me, dcheetham89 did it for me at the Crete game and the same bit of string is still on there.
Cheers, Moss.
Haha can't believe it's still there! Brilliant
It went through the wash just before Kasserine too!
Excellent, mate. It'll be getting chopped off before long, then.
As already said - don't cut it off!
[...]
Thirdly, it'll not be a perfect conversion back to its previous form (if it is a war dated one) anyway, due to the random brass popper stud left on one of the helve loops.
Christ, I'd forgotten all about that popper. 
Very good points though, mate.
'ABSIT OMEN'
Alternatively tying a bit of string tight around the base of the loops seems to have done the trick for me, dcheetham89 did it for me at the Crete game and the same bit of string is still on there.
Cheers, Moss.
Bit fiddly when the sarge makes you dig in though, isn't it? 
I did think it'd make it difficult to remove, but it just makes the loop slightly tighter. It can still be used if needed, though I always end up with sore hands after using mine.
