Billhook question

[Squidders]

Hi, I recently won a billhook on ebay because there was an auger in the same auction item...

If anyone knows anything about billhooks, they may be able to help. It's a big sturdy thing with WS on the blade... I doubt very much its wilkinson sword... I'll try and get a picture of it. If anyone is in the know, any knowledge would be nice.

Thanks!

 

[Cap'n Badger]

....sounds liken ye've got hold o' a 'William Swift'!!........upload the photo matey.....they've got quite a distinct logo...

 

[Cap'n Badger]

Check it against these mate...
http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/tradelogos.htm

 

[Squidders]

This is it

This is a closeup of the logo... It didn't show up well initially so I rubbed a pencil over it - that's why it looks weird

I won it and a very nice old wood auger for £6

 

[Squidders]

Thanks for the link Cap'n Badger, it looks like the first one on this page perhaps?

It looks like these William Swift ones are pretty common... any thoughts on tidying it up a bit?

Cheers,

Joe

 

[falcon]

An interesting find Joe....looks like it's made so as to offer the option for double handed use. I acquired a very old one (different style from a former elderly neighbour) which I use for winter garden maintenance jobs mainly. I fettled it up with WD40 and steel wool then worked on the edge with a DC4....I'll show you sometime...

 

[Squidders]

That would be good! thanks falcon. What are your thoughts on re-handling?

 

[falcon]

Mmmmm.......can't quite make out the handle detail.......does it have a stick tang or is it (what shall we say) a tube handle something like a spade? If the latter - whch seems the case - you could adapt a stale shaping the handle with a surform to insert into the tube (having drilled it out) secured with a rivet peigned over....

 

[Squidders]

It's a spade tube type handle fitting... I was thinking ethically more than practically as I suspect its got the original handle on it. looks ancient.

 

[falcon]

If you're intending to use it and as long as the wood is not decayed with woodworm (ie. it's safe) then I'd leave it alone. I reckon mine's about 70 years old and while the end rivet on the handle is a touch rusty, the wood is perfectly sound and has withstood a fair bit of pressure during recent winters with the clearance jobs of holly, rhodedendron and sycamore we've taken on. Better to save the original if you can....perhaps give it a "gentle " try so as to ensure your own safety and test its resilience?

 

[woodwalker]

If anyone knows anything about billhooks

hi there!

Here's a couple of links that might help you out. The is a site with just a mass of billhook info and the bottom one is a thread I started when I inherited my billhook early this year.

online handbook

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=12577

hope that helps

woodwalker

 

[Squidders]

thanks woodwalker... that's quite interesting.

I have had a think though and i'm probably going to sell it on, I have a few machetes and I just don't think I need the billhook. Plus, it'll get me some brownie points with my girlfriend to get rid of anything

 

[Ed]

it'll get me some brownie points with my girlfriend to get rid of anything

I know what you mean mate.... I'm down to just the one billhook now... but i will be keeping 'the one'

Ed

 

[nitram55]

It looks like an interglactic william shatner model to me