Billhooks

[dtalbot]

Hi All,
I just picked up an old (probably antique) Staffordshire pattern billhook cheap on ebay to give them a try.
Just been chopping some firewood in the garden, a job I normally use a hatchet for, it is a brilliant bit of kit, I'll be using billhooks for ever now!
David

 

[Brynglas]

Hi All,
I just picked up an old (probably antique) Staffordshire pattern billhook cheap on ebay to give them a try.
Just been chopping some firewood in the garden, a job I normally use a hatchet for, it is a brilliant bit of kit, I'll be using billhooks for ever now!
David

A Billhook is certainly a versatile bit of kit, which for me has a degree of flexibility over a hatchet or small axe. I often go out cutting wood from which to make walking sticks or staffs, for this I use a Devon pattern which is quite light and easy to use and a larger Llandeilo pattern for slightly heavier jobs. The bonus is that a decent billhook from Morris of Dunsford is about half the price of a good quality axe.

Happy chopping

 

[Ed]

Another convert.... Jack will be pleased ;-) Do you have any pics?

Ed

 

[JakeR]

I bought a billhook from axminster before i knew of Jacks billhooks (sorry Jack!) it is still a brilliant thing despite it being poor quality. Massive chinks in the bevel where the machine was. And a completely uneven edge! Perhaps i should ditch it, but i have put in a lot of effort getting it "okay"!

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Brynglas]

Another convert.... Jack will be pleased ;-) Do you have any pics?

Ed

No pics I'm afraid, but I'll see what I can do.

I've used billhooks for a number of years, living in the country they're something of an essential tool for me to keep my hedges in check, also as I have some woodland which I coppice for firewood a billhook chainsaw and brushcutter are something of essential gardening tools for me.

Certainly the best one's I've found are those made by Morris of Dunsford, I get mine from my local farmers co-op, but I know that Woodland Craft Supplies sell them mail order as well as axes and other tools. I've used them for other stuffand they have good prices and offer an excellent service.

Their website is on: http://www.fxferry.demon.co.uk/

 

[Ed]

Perhaps i should ditch it, but i have put in a lot of effort getting it "okay"

The problem with poorly made hooks is that they don't keep an edge to well and you will spend alot of time getting it back to the 'okay' state. Its not the sort of thing you would want to work with all day because as it get blunter it will sap your strength.
Getting a good quality hook today is hard. There are very few foundries makeing traditional tools like billhooks that are well tempered. I own a fussels of frome hook... an excellent bit of kit.... but they went out of business in the late 1800's so they are quite hard to get hold of.... though they do come up for sale occasionaly at auctions.


Ed

 

[JakeR]

Do you still use that old hook? Impressive.
Your probably right, i might just order one from Jack sooner or later, perhaps next time i camp.

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Ed]

Do you still use that old hook? Impressive.

Yep!! over 100 years old and still doing the job it was designed for. As they say... "They don't make 'em like they used to". Actualy, after my knife its my second most used tool, as I don't own an axe.


Ed

 

[Ed]

Certainly the best one's I've found are those made by Morris of Dunsford, I get mine from my local farmers co-op, but I know that Woodland Craft Supplies sell them mail order as well as axes and other tools. I've used them for other stuffand they have good prices and offer an excellent service.

Their website is on: http://www.fxferry.demon.co.uk/

Cheers for that, I'll check it out

Ed