Billhooks

Noddy

Noddy

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Jul 13, 2006
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Billhooks

I don’t think I have ever seen one of these either in Canada or the US, not that I have looked overly hard or in any of the most likely places – farms, rural hardware stores. The billhook is a very useful outdoorsy tool, used mainly for aboriculture and for controlling brush. They are an ancient thing, often used by European mediaeval peasants in times of war – affixed to a long pole. Hedge-laying is perhaps their best known application now. I wondered if anyone here was familiar with them or their use

It is true that to usefully wield the bigger ones you need to be built like a bull, but the lighter ones are dead handy for any number of camp jobs, riving kindling, sharpening stakes etc.

Usually I use a light axe for all that. But, for a while I used a big old Fallkniven bowie, then went through a phase of using 8” leukus – which I sold, and I think I probably shouldn’t have, as they worked well.

Over the past 2 years, however, I have been getting handier with a billhook, and really can see the big advantages of them.

Pictured below are a Devon pattern and a lighter Newton. I am looking to get an even lighter, nearly flat edged Knighton (bottom) some time soon

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pic borrowed from British Red
 
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I have an MOD marked one , dated 1943 if I recall right , made by Elwell . Quite a heavy tool , I dont use it much , but as you say great heritage . Can still get them new at the horticultural supplier in the village .
 
The USA made WOODSMAN PAL could be considered a Billhook

Spear and Jackson still sells Slashers
 
Hi

I have put a lot of information on billhooks on other posts on the forum...

But briefly the billhooks was made and used in the US, and was a tool often included in early immigrants tools manifests.

American Axe Co made one, and Collins listed one (although most I have seen are stamped Made in Germany) - at least one Italian maker set up in California..

They are found in Canada, often in French speaking provinces, and I have seen one, made about 10 miles from where I live in the UK, in the McLaughlan (sic) Woodworking Museum near Kingston in Ontario. Stamped JOHN FUSSELL MELLS, it dated from about 1830.

And don't forget its military cousin, the fascine knife - what am I saying, it's the same tool......
 
Gerber makes a what they call a Brush Thinner Machete that is shaped very similar. I've got one and it works great for clearing vines and limbs. It's got a plastic handle, so plan to add grip tape to it.
 
Seems like a very useful tool for clearing underbrush - something I definitely need to do. The Spear and Jackson Southern Counties and Stafford bill hooks seem perfect, if only I could get one in the U.S. Their Heavy Duty Single and Heavy Duty Double look like the perfect things for storming the castle.
 
There was a reprint of Edward Elwell's Catalog of Tools (ISBN 0-904638-13-8) that includes a couple of pages of billhooks and many other long gone tools for working garden and wood. It shows and names almost fifty variations of billhooks.
 
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