machete or Hawk

42B,

I read somewhere a bit about bill-hooks they indeed sounded like the perfect tools for the woods of the NE. A good dose of machete but also a little bit of axe in them. The problem I have is... no one really seems to sell them in the states.

God bless,
adam
 
I hope to import some of the higher quality ones at some point down the road--though that's a ways off. I love billhooks, especially the double-sided designs. The one problem with single-sided ones is that the hook can sometimes cause clearance issues, as well as losing an easy-to-use point, and for that reason I made the hook on the Baryonyx the secondary edge. ;):thumbup: This one is a bit on the large side compared to most billhooks, though--it's a real tank! I designed it to be able to handle everything from dense grass to hardwood, and everything in between.

There have been a lot of attempts to hybridize axes and machetes, but I feel that billhooks in general really hit the sweet spot, as well as having some tricks of their own. There's a fellow on here who goes by Billman who's an expert on them. He's not on often, but maybe he'll poke his head in here. :)
 
42B,

Let me know when you get the imports in. If I have the funds available I'll liberate one from ya.

God bless,
Adam
 
Like I said, it may be a while--maybe even a year--as it's a long term goal due to being a small outfit with budget constraints, but it's in the cards! :D:thumbup:
 
On a hunting trip I would go around this hypothetical thorn bush and probably would carry neither. Just a tool to skin the beasties.
 
wow.
major zombie thread -- but I love the way it's gone OT!
42B -- when are the other copies of your hybrid going to be available?
(and of course, if you're looking for product testers, I'm game!)
 
The sword/machete hybrid? The Oberst model will be available as soon as I finish a few minor touches. Darrin didn't realize quite how much micarta those scales were going to use when he quoted me originally so the next batch of them might cost a little more. I hope to save a little money on some other parts of the process, though, so we'll see. :)
 
1066vik said:
wow.
major zombie thread -- but I love the way it's gone OT!
42B -- when are the other copies of your hybrid going to be available?
(and of course, if you're looking for product testers, I'm game!)
Click to expand...


ROFL I never checked the dates! That's hillarious! You sir just won at this thread.

God bless,
Adam
 
I checked the dates, but only the ones halfway down the first page. :p
 
Well since the thread is up I'll put my 2 cents in. ;) For clearing bush use a machete. For gaining entry into a home use your foot.
 
Nice necro by mohd. I still think a Khuk is the best option, but depending on what I was going to do, I wouldn't necessarily be averse to carrying a hawk also. I don't generally mind carrying more weight in blades, because you can use a blade to build a lot of the things you would otherwise be packing in. In fact, it's possible to survive for a long time with just a knife or two.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Nice necro by mohd. I still think a Khuk is the best option, but depending on what I was going to do, I wouldn't necessarily be averse to carrying a hawk also. I don't generally mind carrying more weight in blades, because you can use a blade to build a lot of the things you would otherwise be packing in. In fact, it's possible to survive for a long time with just a knife or two.
Click to expand...

...and clean reliable water and food sources, and raw matterials to use your blades on.

Also you can do plenty with a knife, but you will be greatly aided when you Carry an approprate Axe/Hawk/Hatchet/Machette complimented with a good knife. Nessmuk's knife pattern may be nothing special but there's a good thought behind his trio.

God bless,
Adam
 
Guess if it was only between a hawk or a machete, it would depend on where I was going. Pick the tools for the environment.
 
Some form of bush sword. :D i.e. Along the proportions of a machete but built stouter and much better. Whether you want it to be a golok, parang, dha, willow leaf dao, some shape that doesn't necessarily fit into a particular classification, as long as it matches what you're going to be dealing with.

People seem to underestimate what a machete is capable od doing. And in my own terminology, a bush sword is a souped-up machete, really where they should be.

I love axes. You can do amazing things with an ax. But given a little more time (if even that!), one can do with a machete (or bush sword) most of what can be done with an ax and then some.

On the other hand, for a modern close-quarters combat weapon, I think a well-designed tactical 'hawk is hard to beat. There are a lot of goofy designs out there, and one needs to know something about it to avoid getting the crap (seriously? A stainless steel 'hawk? That is then given a tactical coating that would prevent rust anyway? :confused:), but there are a number of good offerings out there and there will be more. :cool:
 
For fascine knife read billhook (also bill hook) in the UK - with over 200 regional blade shapes, available in varing lengths from 8" to 11" blades, with single edged, double edged, single bevel and double bevel, short handle, long handle, tang or socket fixing - you will find something to meet your requirements.... If that's not enough, in France there was even more variation of blades shapes (Talabot boasted in 1935 they held over 3000 patterns - but only showed 250 in their catalogue) - then there is Italy, with at least four makers still offering a wide variety of regional patterns (today in the UK only three of four shapes are being made, and in France it is not much better)....

List of makers/suppliers in Europe:

Suppliers and makers of Billhooks :

UK :
Simon Grant Jones: http://www.simongrant-jones.com/ Hand forged to order – Expensive but the BEST !!!
Dave Budd: http://www.davebudd.com/otherwork.html Hand Forged to order – no other details
Nick Johnson: http://www.knivesbynick.co.uk/tools.htm Hand Forged to order – no other details
Andrew Kirkham: T: 01709 363127 Hand forged to order – no other details
Greenman Ironwork: Steve Darby T: 01403 710460 M: 07771 521115 Hand Forged to order – no other details
Michael Stanton: T: 01783 810063 fraughtwrought@btinternet.com Hand Forged to order – no other details
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: now a 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
Rinaldi: http://www.flli-rinaldi.it/roncole-accessori.asp
Falci: http://falcitools.com/It/Home/Home.aspx (limited range of billhook shapes)

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
Feiner: http://www.feiner.at/produkte/forst/sichel.htm - see spanmesser, braxe, häpe & sichel

Germany:
Oschenkopf: http://ochsenkopf.com/de/contact/index.html
Stubai: http://www.stubai.com/index_englisch.htm

Finland:
Fiskars http://www3.fiskars.com/ (sold in US as Gerber, in UK as Wilkinson Sword):
Metallituote Saarela http://www.metallituotesaarela.com/metsa.htm
Härmän Taonta Oy http://www.harmantaonta.fi/paasivu.htm A small independent maker - Highly recommended

Spain:
Flores Cortés don Benito s.l. http://www.florescortes.es/modules/mimodulo3/ pdf ‘catalogue jardineria y campo’
López de la Isidra http://www.lopezdelaisidra.com/sub.aspx?f=14&s=112 see corvillos and tajamatas
R Rocamora http://portalganga.es/r_rocamora/index.php/main_page/product_info/cPath/8/products_id/11

Portugal:
Ferfor http://www.ferfor.pt/index_ferr.php?lg=PT#4 very limited range available
Ferramentas ACM http://www.ferramentasacm.com/viewprod.php?pid=41 very limited range available

Used or Second Hand and New (UK):

John French: T: 01424 772371 M: 07887 652693 juanitofrances@yahoo.co.uk
Ian Swain: T: 01342 842075 M: 07810 771122 ian@theluddite.com www.theluddite.com
Peter Hanman: T: 01435 860760 M: 07966 176015 peter@thetools.wanadoo.co.uk www.hanman-tools.co.uk
Gerry Dawson: http://www.secondhandtools.co.uk/index.htm - post The Toolbox and Pennyfarthing Tools
The Toolbox: http://www.thetoolbox.org.uk/ - originally founded by Gerry Dawson
Pennyfarthing Tools: http://www.pennyfarthingtools.co.uk/ - originally founded by Gerry Dawson
Stan Jordan: Grove Road, Corsham, Wilts - +44 (0)1249 712806 (only open Saturday mornings)
Handles of Old Woking: Contact: Mr Clive Gunning: 29 High Street, WOKING, GU22 9ET (UK) – Phone: +44 (0)1483 773 461
Timeless Tools: http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/
Old Tools: http://www.oldtools.co.uk/tools/edge_tools/billhooks/billhooks.pg1.php
The Vintage Garden Store: http://thevintagegardenstore.com/thestore.aspx
TFSR: http://dotnetv2.development1.sequence.co.uk/3to3/1127/1140/1248?diablo.lang=cym
Woodsmiths Store: http://www.woodsmithstore.co.uk/shop/Products/Tools/Billhooks, Slashers and Grass Hooks/
The Old Tool Store: http://www.oldtools.free-online.co.uk/billhooks.htm
Richmonds: http://www.richmondsgroundcare.co.uk/index.php/site/product/category/axes_and_slashers/P12/
Kellam Knives: http://www.kellamknives.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=430
1066Tools: http://www.1066tools.co.uk/tools/billhooks.html
Tony Murland: http://www.antiquetools.co.uk/about.php
 
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