Opinions on Fascines and Billhooks for Outdoor Use

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
Looking for opinions of fascines or billhooks as a piece of survival equipment. How would they compare to regular machetes or Khukuris. Anyone know where to get a good one. I was reading that they were used a lot in early America. I did a search to find one but it seemed that every place that I found was in Great Briton. They seem to be more popular over there.
 
I don't own one but I have used the Gerber Brush Thinner. I believe this is also called a bill hook. My opinion of it is that it is a niche tool. It works very well for light vegetation for brush clearing and trail blazing. It would not be as versatile as a similiarly sized machete beacause the hooked tip would prevent it from some camp chores.

If you do a bit of searching there was a thread from a few months ago about these tools. One of the the brands discussed as the Gerber Brush Thinner.
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A billhook is an excellent choice for clearing and limbing. In my opinion, the hooked end makes it a better choice than a machete. It does pretty well at splitting wood too. But for tasks needing a straight point, your obviously better off going for your pocket knife. I got this one at Lee Valley and rounded off the sharp pointed end. Nothing special, made in Italy. The handle design ensures it won't fly out of your hand.

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The Condor Bush Knife is a modern bill hook as well.

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Bush Knife

I used one a bit a while ago and found it worked pretty well.

I've also been interested in billhooks for quite a while but you're correct, there aren't many available here in the States. Most of what I found was in the UK as well.
 
Hassilov said:
A billhook is an excellent choice for clearing and limbing. In my opinion, the hooked end makes it a better choice than a machete. It does pretty well at splitting wood too. But for tasks needing a straight point, your obviously better off going for your pocket knife. I got this one at Lee Valley and rounded off the sharp pointed end. Nothing special, made in Italy. The handle design ensures it won't fly out of your hand.

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This one's kind of what I was looking for. I wonder how well it would work to sharpen the back edge for jobs that needed more of a straight edge. At least maybe the top half.

The condor looks pretty good except I don't like stainless or those rubbery or plastic handles.
 
Triquetra said:
This one's kind of what I was looking for. I wonder how well it would work to sharpen the back edge for jobs that needed more of a straight edge. At least maybe the top half.
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Then you wouldn't be batoning with it anymore. (Most of it is straight anyway.)
 
I did find some more traditional ones on Ebay from time to time. I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet though.

Also, there's this one I've eyeballed as well.

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It's nice that it has a sheath (I had to make one for mine). Looks like it's more handle than blade.

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I have a Fiskars brush thinner/bill hook, exactly the same tool as orrey 45`s Gerber, and can definitely reccomend it. It is a specialiced tool, but it does its job extremely well. I use it a lot in our somewhat overgrown garden. And last summer, when my brother had to cut down a huge, triple-trunk birch three, it really did shine. It cut all the brances off the whole three, up to apprx. 2", into pieces ready to put in the fireplace.
When cut off from the tree, I held them at 45 degree angle off the rim of a stomp, and cut away. A wrist loop is strongly recomended for such work. Expect the arm to become a bit funny after some hours.
But those who watched this, really stopped doubting my sword cutting abilities:D
timann
 
They perform best when used on light brush and brambles, as well as hedging and making woven fences. I own the Condor Bush Knife which is patterned after a Yorkshire bill hook if I remember correctly. It's a lovely compromise between machete and hatchet.
 
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