Billhooks

whitedoor said:
I second omniviking/s warning. Too much follow-threw and the point ends up in your thigh, knee, or shin.
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That applies to any chopper, really. Stand properly, think your swing through, and be prepared for the unexpected.
 
Hi - Happy New Year 2013 - if you want more information on billhooks, please visit my website billhooks.co.uk - there you will find links to manufacturers, images and explanations. The billhook is good for green wood up to 2" even 3" diameter, depending upon type and hardness... Blades can be convex, straight or concave - length 7" to 12" (common sizes are 8" to 10") - available new and second hand on eBay - some excellent value tools on ebay.it for under 20 euros (about 30$) - Angelo, Rinaldi and Leonelli offer an excellent range of models... The machete was designed for jungle use - soft fast growing lianas, vines and grasses etc - the billhook is better for woody stems.
 
I would argue that machetes handle woody targets just fine as long as a proper pattern is selected, but that billhooks are much more compact in general and make a great hatchet replacement since they also embody some of the same functions as a machete while having a number of tricks of their own. Just my experience, though! Your experience with billhooks dwarfs mine but I suspect I may have more experience with machetes. Suffice to say there are just as many patterns and styles of machetes as there are billhooks! :)
 
I have the fiskars one, works great once their usual brittle factory edge is removed.
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Just picked up this billhook today as a gift for my mom (also a c-clamp for myself):

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It was $15 and made by Cornelius Whitehouse and Sons in Cannock UK, with a hedgehog stamp.

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And it says it is guaranteed hand forged:

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I cleaned it up a bit with a brass scrubbie and some salt water, then put a bit of an edge on it with a mill bastard, a diamond file and a 1000 grit waterstone.

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I'm sure that I did not sharpen this correctly... it was definitely hard to get the curve, I suppose I need a rounded file to do that properly.

My thought was that this would be a useful tool for my mom, who enjoys clearing away a mix of wild grape vine (having read that a common use for billhooks in europe is on grape vine), branches, wild rose and raspberry etc... I'm not sure how well this will actually work, especially without a really good edge. It seems to cleave better than anything. Anyway, I'd appreciate any advice, pointers or recommendations (on technique for example) that go beyond what I've read in this thread and the couple others that mention billhooks.

Thanks a lot.
 
That looks like a good one Wdmn :thumbup:

You can try wrapping/glueing some 'sand paper' around a piece of broom handle or dowel to get in to the curve

mine
 
Thanks for the tip Sparky. Is that the original handle on yours? What sort of tasks do you use your billhook for most often?
 
The handle is home made micarta
I don't use it a lot, just some ocasional gardening and general hacking
 
When using a file a chainsaw file or half-round file works nicely. For field sharpening a scythe ("canoe") stone works well.
 
I think I posted this in another thread. A long handled billhook made by Bulldog tools, made in England. I bought it new in the early 80's. I beefed up the junction of the socket and blade, it started to bend there because of cutting too big wood.

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I have a Marttiini billhook, the one with the red blade and wooden hatchet like handle. Took it to the North West Safari get together a few years back and it was used in the two by four cutting competition. It cleaned everyone's clock, to include some very high priced custom knives, khukris, and bowie knives. I showed it to custom knife maker Bill Harsey, who used to sharpening competition chopping axes and he told me they knew what they were doing with the grind. John
 
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