The Gerber Brush Thinner

C

clearblue

Joined
Oct 22, 2002
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As a teenager,with mid-summer coming on the farm, and folks generally waiting for crops to ripen---I knew the "bush axes" were coming out of the shop. :(

For the next month mid- july to late August, the filler work was clearing brush off of ditch banks. :grumpy:

Heading to the field at first light with a 5 gallon can of gas and a tin throwing cup for the everpresent wasp nests and loading into the wagon the double edged bush axes - actually named "The Heavy-Duty Ditch Bank Blade",signified that there was 12 hours of hard work ahead. A day that meant you were usually in a deep sleep by 9:00p.m. that night. :yawn:

To see this tool :
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Hand_Tools-All-Bush_Hooks_and_Blades


The bush ax blade used back then, as you can see,looked similar to this "Gerber Brush Thinner Machete".

http://www.knivesplus.com/gerber-knife-gb-42773.html
Gerber Knives: Gerber Brush Thinner Machete, GB-42773

I don't have one of these Gerber's but I suspect for light brushing or touching up yard ornamentals and fruit trees, it would be handy. :)
 
Josh Feltman said:
Some folks call it a sling blade, but I call it a Heavy-Duty Ditch Bank Blade, mhmmmmmmm. :D
--Josh
Click to expand...

Hey Doyle you ask what I'm gonna do with this here Kaiser blade-- well I'ma gonna kill ye. ummmhuhhhhhhhhh ;)
 
Hey, Clearblue--is that actually the style of blade he was talking about in the film? I've always wondered about that.
--Josh
 
I still have an old Ames Heavy Duty Ditch Bank Blade ("bush axe") in the tool bin. Used it to clear our building lot in NC. With the butt of the handle tucked high under your arm for leverage, it will take out 3" pine saplings with no effort. With a little more grip and effort, 3" oaks are a one-cut affair. These are totally wicked weapons. Saw the results of an argument between two farm workers wheeled into the ER while we were there. Two men on two carts, but it appeared that one was being held together by the cover sheets, and the other was just piled up on the cart and covered up.
 
Maybe I should get one for the next peasant revolt. I'm thinking it'll be more effective than my pitchfork. :rolleyes:
 
One of my greatest fears is one day opening my door to find a mob with torches and pitchforks yelling "Burn him!"

Frank
 
Manual of Arms for a pitchfork is "thrust, plant foot and pull to clear weapon". The bush axe is sorta "self clearing"...stuff...er....parts...well, if it gets stuck, you just saw a little bit, and everything sorta slides off. There goes the clam chowder I had for dinner.
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
One of my greatest fears is one day opening my door to find a mob with torches and pitchforks yelling "Burn him!" Frank
Click to expand...
Been experimenting again, Frank?
 
36" length handle, 3"x12" blade in single or double edged, single mounted like the Gerber ( front of handle ) double mounted behind the handle. $35 to $38 plus shipping.

Weld a SKS cruciform bayonnet to the top and add a longer ash pole and you have a bill right out of the history books. Can't remember what style it was called.

Funny how tools end up as weapons. Or rather weapons turn out to be slightly altered versions of older tools. IIRC, the Sikhs were allowed Khukuris as tools but not allowed to posses swords, thus the khuk is taught in Gatka to this day, and the Okinawans permitted wood flails for harvesting ( nunchukas ), and the side handle flail became the PR-24 baton. That was Asian.

Here's an example from Europe. The Scythians are another.
 
English bill or billhook. Where english pole arms came from. Scythes were modified for war by remounting them straight off the top of a pole, and straightening the tang part.

Keith
 
Josh Feltman said:
Hey, Clearblue--is that actually the style of blade he was talking about in the film? I've always wondered about that.
--Josh
Click to expand...

I strongly suspect --from Karl's description/confession --that the bank blade
with the single edged, hooked tip, was the instrument used to remove Jesse Dixon's head.


Extract from Karl's confession:
" I seen Jesse Dixon a layin' on top of her. He was a havin' his way with her. Well, I just seen red.
I picked up a kaiser blade just sittin' there by the screen door. Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kaiser blade. It gotta long wood handle, kinda like a ax-handle. With a long blade on it, shaped kinda like a bananer. Mm-hmm. Sharp on one edge, dull on the other. What the highwayboys use to cut down weeds and what-not. Well, I went in there in the house, and I hit Jesse Dixon upside the head with. Knocked him off my mother. Mm. I reckon that didn't quite satisfy me. So I hit him again with it in the neck with the sharp edge, just plum near cut his head off. Mm-hmm."

Movie:Slingblade


http://www.americantrails.org/resources/info/tools3.html
Bank Blade (Hook Blade/Swing Blade/Bush Axe/Kaiser Bank Blade): Bank blades are used to cut brush, briar, or undergrowth. The heavy blade sharpened on both sides and 40 inch long, sturdy hickory handle keep you well away from the vegetation you are cutting.
Safety tip: Never use an overhead swing. Keep the brush hook in front of you at all times. :)
 
The brush axe reminds me of a naginata, it's a heavier version for
sure. I have to admit that since I have learn how to put a razor sharp convex edge on a blade that I have been lingering at the " pole arm" section at
home depot. I just need to find a few forms to practice ( before I sharpen it) and I'll be seriously thinking I will have to get one. Not that I really need to do that, it's just so tempting , Like if I was going to start a peasant army,lead a revolt or something and had nothing else to do ( like work, doing the yard work, drinking beer or watching tv).

I think what it actually gets down to is that weapons are tools as well, they are tools of war. Just about anything can be a weapon if you think about it(some of course are better than others).

So here from my office , I am capable of deliverying some horrible paper cuts ( and a stout tougue lashing ) to anyone attacking me at my desk. I keep my paper statigically stacked (fair warning to all with ill intent).
 
like the ditch bank blade, myself....
 
Arms & Armor sells Bills and other pole arms from $330 to $520. Makes the $35 to $38 cost of the Ames hooks seem really reasonable.

SFN - dreams of peasant mobs at your gate - you have them too?
 
1.jpg

...good for keeping pesky neighbors from crashing the backyard barbecue too :)
 
clearblue said:
Hey Doyle you ask what I'm gonna do with this here Kaiser blade-- well I'ma gonna kill ye. ummmhuhhhhhhhhh ;)
Click to expand...
I think Karl used a lawn mower blade to do Doyle in. ;)
 
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