Billhooks: The Forgotten Choppers of the Western World

This is my go-to tool for an awful lot of things. :)
CondorBush.jpg

(picture not mine)

I think it would be ideal if it was just a bit longer (say, around 16-18") so it hit harder, could pull down branches better, and tackle brambles without my hands getting too close.

A good pic of a large/long billhook
billhook.jpg
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
This is my go-to tool for an awful lot of things. :)
CondorBush.jpg

(picture not mine)

I think it would be ideal if it was just a bit longer (say, around 16-18") so it hit harder, could pull down branches better, and tackle brambles without my hands getting too close.

A good pic of a large/long billhook
billhook.jpg
Click to expand...

How the heck would you baton with one of those, though?
 
Use either the section at the base of the blade (as in the case of the one on the bottom), pick a model that has the back edge far enough down that there is a place to strike at the tip, or (and here's the real trick) is tilt the billhook so you can strike along the back of the hook.

Another easy method is to just wail away on it and not care if you chew up your baton. A billhook makes fashioning another one a breeze! :D
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Use either the section at the base of the blade (as in the case of the one on the bottom), pick a model that has the back edge far enough down that there is a place to strike at the tip, or (and here's the real trick) is tilt the billhook so you can strike along the back of the hook.

Another easy method is to just wail away on it and not care if you chew up your baton. A billhook makes fashioning another one a breeze! :D
Click to expand...

Knowing me, I'd probably go for option number three: just whale away.
 
Honestly, as long as you keep the baton 90 degrees at the time of impact you'll be making a flat cross-grain blow on the baton. It'll notch the baton a little, but it'll hold up for a long time. :)
 
1066vik said:
I'm awful fond of my "ditch bank tool" - which is pretty much a bill hook stamped out of 12 or 14 gage steel, sharpened all the way around, and set on a 3' handle. (also called a sling blade)
it does truly blessed things to honey locusts - without me having to get close enough to get bit.
Click to expand...

Down here its called a bush axe, I have one in the shed thats seen a fair amount of use.
 
phaserrifle said:
here you go!
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708272
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch! Looks like it'll be a fun project--and I can see one beauty of a billhook lurking under that rust!

Looks like it has a good combo of features going on, too--a slightly more open hook with a bit of gentle bulge in the belly. Even though it's only a single-edger you shouldn't have too many problems of clearance with the hook. Looks like a Bristol pattern if I'm not mistaken. (Bottom of the image below)

brades%202.jpg
 
Hi
The billhook is still relatively common in Europe. Links to a few makers below:

Suppliers and makers of Billhooks :
UK :
Simon Grant Jones: http://www.simongrant-jones.com/ Hand forged to order – Expensive but the BEST !!!
Spear and Jackson: http://www.spear-and-jackson.com/products/garden-tools/agricultural/hooks-and-slashers
Bulldog: http://www.bulldoghandtools.co.uk/bulldog-cutting-tools_bulldog-hooks.html
Richard Carter: http://www.richardcarterltd.co.uk/
Morris (Dunsford): http://www.woodsmithstore.co.uk/shop/ Do not sell direct to the public – no website
Martindale: http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk/
Tyzacks: see Burgon and Ball
Burgon and Ball: http://www.burgonandball.com/
Jenks and Cattell: subdivision of Bulldog Tools
Italy :
Angelo: http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/default.asp?tcat=459&
Leonelli : http://www.leonelliattrezzi.com/catalogo.html
Panzeri : http://www.panzeri-tools.it/attrezzi_agricoli.htm
France :
Talabot (MOB) TALABOT OUTILLAGE - BP 1 81160 SAINT JUERY CEDEX France - Phone : +33 563 450 789 Fax : +33 563 451 209
Gouvy http://www.gouvy.fr/frame-oe.asp
Leborgne (Fiskars) http://www.leborgne.fr
Revex REVEX FORGES SA - Les Forges BP 9 38140 RENAGE France - Phone : +33 4 76 91 16 13 Fax : +33 4 76 65 23 97

Austria:
Muller: http://www.mueller-hammerwerk.at/hammerwerk/index.html
Germany:
Oschencopf: http://ochsenkopf.com/de/contact/index.html
Stubai: http://www.stubai.com/index_englisch.htm
Finland:
Fiskars (sold in US as Gerber, in UK as Wilkinson Sword): http://www3.fiskars.com/
Metallituote Saarela http://www.metallituotesaarela.com/metsa.htm
Härmän Taonta Oy http://www.harmantaonta.fi/paasivu.htm Highly recommended
Used or Second Hand (UK):
Timeless Tools: http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/
Old Tools: http://www.oldtools.co.uk/
Handles of Old Woking Contact: Mr Clive Gunning: 29 High Street, WOKING, GU22 9ET (UK) – Phone: +44 1483 773 461

If you want any advice please contact by PM, or via my web site: www.billhooks.co.uk
 
Erlkonig - your custom made billhook looks very much like an Italian roncola, especially with the curved tang extension providing a hand guard.

Fiskars still make a double handed (long handle) bush knife - personally I prefer wooden handled billhooks, and if you want to support a small regional Finnish maker, try a 'vesuri' from Härmän Taonta Oy link: http://www.harmantaonta.fi/kuvat/vesurit.jpg

vesurit.jpg


Angelo B of Italy also make their own version of the ubiquitous 'European' Fiskar's plastic handled billhook - another small regional maker still holding their own against the multi-nationals.. http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/product.asp?xx_dd=074730&

They also make a plastic handled 'camping' billhook with a leather carry case: http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/product.asp?xx_dd=081400&
 
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I just ordered a vintage Meat Cleaver that looks a bit like the one pictured below. Very much old school also! (Just remembered this thread. A zombie, but a good one)


1556136_P.jpg
 
Billman is quite correct, the use of billhooks is still common in Finland. Not lost tool type by any means. Billhook was the first chopper I used as a young boy in our farm for all kinds of fun and work. For reference, I was well over ten years of age when I was allowed to do axe work.
 
I've got a baby billhook by Belloto. They call it a debico small sickle. 6" blade, 18" handle. Never used it in the wilds but it does pretty well in the back yard going after low hanging branches from the maple and avocados.

Frank
 
Holy crap! Zombie thread! Glad to see this one make a comeback, though! :D:thumbup:
 
Billman1949 said:
Hi
The billhook is still relatively common in Europe. Links to a few makers below:

Suppliers and makers of Billhooks :
UK :
Simon Grant Jones: http://www.simongrant-jones.com/ Hand forged to order – Expensive but the BEST !!!
Spear and Jackson: http://www.spear-and-jackson.com/products/garden-tools/agricultural/hooks-and-slashers
Bulldog: http://www.bulldoghandtools.co.uk/bulldog-cutting-tools_bulldog-hooks.html
Richard Carter: http://www.richardcarterltd.co.uk/
Morris (Dunsford): http://www.woodsmithstore.co.uk/shop/ Do not sell direct to the public – no website
Martindale: http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk/
Tyzacks: see Burgon and Ball
Burgon and Ball: http://www.burgonandball.com/
Jenks and Cattell: subdivision of Bulldog Tools
Italy :
Angelo: http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/default.asp?tcat=459&
Leonelli : http://www.leonelliattrezzi.com/catalogo.html
Panzeri : http://www.panzeri-tools.it/attrezzi_agricoli.htm
France :
Talabot (MOB) TALABOT OUTILLAGE - BP 1 81160 SAINT JUERY CEDEX France - Phone : +33 563 450 789 Fax : +33 563 451 209
Gouvy http://www.gouvy.fr/frame-oe.asp
Leborgne (Fiskars) http://www.leborgne.fr
Revex REVEX FORGES SA - Les Forges BP 9 38140 RENAGE France - Phone : +33 4 76 91 16 13 Fax : +33 4 76 65 23 97

Austria:
Muller: http://www.mueller-hammerwerk.at/hammerwerk/index.html
Germany:
Oschencopf: http://ochsenkopf.com/de/contact/index.html
Stubai: http://www.stubai.com/index_englisch.htm
Finland:
Fiskars (sold in US as Gerber, in UK as Wilkinson Sword): http://www3.fiskars.com/
Metallituote Saarela http://www.metallituotesaarela.com/metsa.htm
Härmän Taonta Oy http://www.harmantaonta.fi/paasivu.htm Highly recommended
Used or Second Hand (UK):
Timeless Tools: http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/
Old Tools: http://www.oldtools.co.uk/
Handles of Old Woking Contact: Mr Clive Gunning: 29 High Street, WOKING, GU22 9ET (UK) – Phone: +44 1483 773 461

If you want any advice please contact by PM, or via my web site: www.billhooks.co.uk
Click to expand...

Nice to see you join the discussion here! I've been a big fan of your site for some time.

When I started the thread I meant the "forgotten" part to refer not to its common us in Europe, but rather to the way that we here in the US have overlooked it for about 100 years now. :eek:
 
Hey, 42Blades, ave you ever tried making your own billhook? Something like a cane knife could result in your ultimate billhook. I'll be happy to take one as payment for this earth shattering revelation.
 
My billhook is a copy of this
jr-457-b.gif


This billhook was a Meiji period (1868 until 1912) army issued item, it did not looks like tranditional Japanese nata, during Meiji period , they copied everything from western world.
 
kage said:
Hey, 42Blades, ave you ever tried making your own billhook? Something like a cane knife could result in your ultimate billhook. I'll be happy to take one as payment for this earth shattering revelation.
Click to expand...

While cane knives have a lot of width, they're way thinner than a typical billhook, which is more of knife-like thickness. :o:thumbup:
 
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