Goodbye hatchet; goodbye machete; hello billhook!

J

J. J. Magnum

Joined
May 4, 2000
Messages
228
I know this is probably going to raise the hackles of the Busse brood and the crowd which believes that a hatchet in addition to a knife is the way to go, but I have been made a believer. I recently talked with the kind folks at Kellam Knives (in Charlotte at the NRA Convention) and was introduced to the "billhook". At first glance I shrugged and thought it looked like a CHEAP gardening tool. Then Harriet (one of the nicest people you could meet) told me what it cost. Scratching my head I said "How Come?". Then she showed me the edge. Wow! What a nice piece of steel. Hefting it and taking a few practice swings (carefully because of the crowd) I began to envision this tool in an entirely new light. A great camping/survival tool!
Needless to say I ordered one, and in testing it for the past two days I am completely won over. For the price of one Battle Mistress I can have two of these and enough left over for all the other knives and sharpeners I could want. This thing will take out 1" branches or trees with one swipe, anything bigger takes a couple of more. It replaces the hatchet and machete for me (by the way Dad, if you wondered where your Eastwing hatchet disappeared to a couple of years ago, look again I bet its back
wink.gif
). It weighs less than a hatchet which is going to make it ideal for backpacking.
I won't discuss its possible utility as a self defense weapon as one look will give you all you need for your own imagination (Hawkeye in the movie Last of the Mohicans could have used this).
No, I won't be replacing my Randall #18 with this, but it will make a great addition to the pack. My next task will be to design a sheath or a method to hold the guard in place to ensure safety while travelling. Kellam makes a sheath for it and I may go that route... or maybe Kydex?
If you are looking for an alternative to the usual hatchet/machete/BIG chopping knife at @$90 retail you too can become acquainted with this great tool! Give the nice folks at Kellam knives (www.kellamknives.com) a look.

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Where no law exists there still must be justice- Dan Mahoney
 
After my dad died back in '74, a friend of his gave me a Finnish billhook my father had given him, and I have it to this day. They're quite a piece of equipment. Hell on Alders and will strip a sapling of it's branches lickettysplit.
 
I think I've sen one of those before. Could someone post a picture though ?

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Speaking of sharpening under field conditions, I happened to mess up the other day and struck a brick while trimming vines out of an old planter near the house. Sure enough, "Ta-TING!!!" went the blade and just as surely a chip appeared in the otherwise pristine edge. After alot of invecative and other assorted language use I proceeded on to finish the job. Afterwards I pulled out my two sided DMT stone (the one that looks like a butterfly knife) and went to work on the "canyon" I had made. The stone did its magic of cleaning up the edge (a light grinding wheel would have been probably better, but hey, its a working tool... and I don't have a grinder). A few strokes over my Myerco Sharpen-it and almost good as new. Still slices and dices (though I haven't tried julienne fries yet
wink.gif
).
As far as a point is concerned, I don't plan on sticking it in anything anyway. Probably won't be much good for pounding nails either, but not many nails in the emergency shelter business (although the hole in the end of the blade could be used as a nail puller in an emergency).
 
I think I've seen some of those features on another bushwhacker:


modes2.jpg


WOOD5d.jpg


[This message has been edited by sopmodm4 (edited 05-31-2000).]
 
It makes sense doesn't it?I have a russian
machete pic that might go well with your Kalashnikov:

200610.jpg


I would prefer one of these over anything else if they were just a little bit longer in the reach department.Have you seen any evaluations of these?

[This message has been edited by sopmodm4 (edited 05-31-2000).]
 
sopmodm4- I believe American Survival Guide did an evaluation of those a few years back, as far as I remember they were favorably impressed.
 
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