Thai Billhook Knife...pretty darn cool

DeadFall27 said:
Who puts it out? That looks sweet :cool:
I would go condor for the bush knife but the hook seems a little to 'aggressive' to me.
Click to expand...

Actually, looking back at it I'm pretty sure that billhook is by A. Morris & Sons. As far as the Bush Knife goes, I may pick up another one and modify the hook to "open it up" a bit. A dremel with a cutoff wheel, a 1x30 belt sander, and a lot of patience go a long way. :D
 
To reply to Forty Two Blades, the 'Yorkshire' socket billhook does indeed look like a Morris (from Dunsford in Devon, England) - the company is currently run by Richard Morris and his nephew who work in the Old Iron Mills, formerly used by T Helson from Exeter. Richard's dad, Alex, who ran the company when I last visited died some years ago, but I think I am correct in saying his dad used to work for William Gilpin in the Midlands, and saw an opportunity to take over the Helson business in the 1930's (he may have worked for Helson after leaving Gilpin in the 1920's).

After many years as an independent company they were taken over by Bulldog (English Tools Ltd) and later just became a local distribution depot, but still making a few tools within the family. At their height they employed upwards of 20 men, but when I first visited they were in the process of buying the premises and business name back from Bulldog, and restarting as a family business. Because of the antiquated nature of their equipment, they do not meet modern H&S standards, and additionally the cost of employer's insurance is prohibitive... Thus Richard runs the company with the help of his nephew, undertaking all stages of manufacture and heat treatment - they even turn their own ash handles with a copy lathe... Of the remaining British edge tool makers, they still produce a good quality tool at a reasonable price.

They don't have a website, and do not sell directly to the public (unless you happen to visit in person).

Their tools are available through
The Woodsmith's Store: http://www.woodsmithstore.co.uk/shop/Products/Tools/Billhooks, Slashers and Grass Hooks/

There is a video of Richard making a billhook in 2007 at the MERL website: http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/online_exhibitions/ruralcrafts/thefilms/edgetoolmaker.html
 
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