New toy! SFA from Jack at Woodland Organics!

[MartiniDave]

A couple of weekends ago, when we were supposed to be making an early start to a day of geocaching, my wife couldn't understand why I was taking so long over preparing breakfast and packing equipment for the day out.
Then the doorbell rang, it was the postman with a parcel for me! Yippee. My new GB SFA had arrived.

On opening the package I couldn't believe how good the axe looked, once I had removed the plastic mesh from the stave that is!
The grain is just about perfectly vertical. The alignment of head to shaft is spot on, slightly better if anything than my GB Wildlife. (oh the joy of having a choice of which one to use!) The pattern of the grain is better than many shotguns I've seen. Thanks Jack, its a bute!

Over the last couple of weeks I've used it whenever time has permitted. The more I use it the better it seems to be. Sure, I've read how good they're supposde to be. I've seen Ray Mears using one "on the telly", apparently sharpening posts with ease. Now I've tried it and yes, it is easy.

I know its only a tool, but I've started to clean up the shaft and oil it with linseed oil/turpentine mix. In truth, I love this bit of kit.

Before ordering it I really struggled to decide whether to get the GB SFA, or the Wetterling LHA. I eventually let my heart decide more on the aesthetics than anything else. Truth is, I don't think there is a wrong answer to picking from those 2 types.

Cheers all,

Dave

 

[ANDYLASER]

That certainly looks like a mighty fine piece of kit. Something that is also on my to get list.

 

[EdS]

Dave,

Now try one of Jack's Newton Billhooks.

I like my SFA but I "love" my hook - except when I get my limbs in its way.

 

[MartiniDave]

I've got an old Nash billhook that must be over 60 years old. I recently re-handled it but it's taking forever to put an edge on the darned thing! I will give it a try when it's sharp though, promise!

Dave

 

[EdS]

Newton billhook, a quick going over with the DMT 1200 stone and then the Starkie sharpe strop and paste - razor sharp in 5 minutes max. And it holds it really well.

also feels safe when spliting kinderlin - seem to have more contro lthan the axe, = less likely to remove fingers.

mind you the SFA is really nicely made & I would by another one. Have you checked out the pictures of the staff? Would you trust some of them with a sharp tool?

 

[Jack]

Hi Dave.

Great post. It is always nice to hear stories like that because it puts a smile on our faces when someone is that pleased with their new purchase and it sounds like it will be well cared for.

Look forward to seeing some of your handy work..............you will use it, won't you?!

 

[Jack]

I've got an old Nash billhook that must be over 60 years old. I recently re-handled it but it's taking forever to put an edge on the darned thing! I will give it a try when it's sharp though, promise!

Dave

Nashes are a very nice hook.

But you may never be able to put an edge on the one you have. Some old hooks manufactuers used to heat weld a small band of tool steel along the edge of their hooks ( last tool steel= increased profit).

Hooks are a hard working tool and once this edge has been sharpened away you are back to normal mild steel. I have some good examples here of just that.

Jack

 

[Jack]

Dave,

Now try one of Jack's Newton Billhooks.

I like my SFA but I "love" my hook - except when I get my limbs in its way.

Eds, is right!

He knows, as well as I do, that you have Wetterlings and you have GB's but then there is the BILLHOOK!


Most people use axes as a training tool, something to play with and when they have the hang of them, they are then ready to move on up to the man's tool........a Billhook!

 

[Jack]

Jack.On a serious note though, and my be a debate starter...... I am amazed how under rated these tools are in the bushcraft world, they are light, compact- 12-16' but they are one of the most powerful, multifunctional edge tools that you are likely to ever come across. We built the Empire with them.

In my opinion, these humble tools are far more superior than any axe, people perform so many more task with a hook then they do an axe. Not every woodsman owns an axe but I can guarantee you that he owns at least 4 billhooks and as we can see from the above, they are ancient, in fact I use one on a daily basis that is at 107 years old and so does Ed - we both own Fussel hooks?

Anyone who has used one swear by them, it doesn't take people long to start to show their loyalty to them, funny enough, hooks are a bit like woodlands.......they get to you.

So why the appeal of axes?

I am off before the s**t hits the fan. Game on!


Jack.

 

[Ed]

4 posts in a row..... are you trying to quickly increase your post count?

I am amazed how under rated these tools are in the bushcraft world, they are light, compact- 12-16' but they are one of the most powerful, multifunctional edge tools that you are likely to ever come across.

The problem is the quality...... your average hook sold in this country tends to be really naff quality and might aswell be a pry-bar with an egde that doesnt hold.... this has done alot to damage their reputation amongst the uninitiated ;-) .... they are **** for bushcraft.

A decent hook on the other hand is a different matter..... but was bloody hard to get hold of until you started selling them jack Your still the only place I know who sources their hooks from a decent foundry.

If more traditional uk woodsman had been at the forefront of this new 'bushcraft' scene then maybe the hook would have had a place along time ago... imagine if kepheart or jaeger had used a hook ;-)

Don't worry jack.... the hook wont die until the last hedgerow and tree are gone from this island.

Ed

 

[Jack]

Sorry Ed, I went a bit post crazy there for 5 minutes!..............don't worry, it will take me forever to catch you up! :yikes:
Good points as usual, and you are right on the quality aspect of 'available' hooks. They will of course, never die out, in fact they are becoming more and more popular as each week goes by and this is thanks to a new breed of people coming back to the woodlands.

It will be interesting to watch the rise or indeed, the fall, of the Bill in the Bushcraft world over time as more and more people are exposed to them, the good ones and the bad ones. It's looking like I won't be able to make the Meetup, which is a pain as I would be interested to know what people think of them compared to an axe..............perhaps open some eyes :?:




Jack.

 

[Bex]

Fiskars make a modern bill hook. I've got one of their Gerber branded ones. I've not gotten around to using mine yet, but I've read very good things about them:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268415

I like the look of that Newton hook. Might have to get myself one...

 

[Ed]

in fact they are becoming more and more popular as each week goes by and this is thanks to a new breed of people coming back to the woodlands.

I even saw one on TV today.... flicking through the channels I came accross a programme called 'The Green Room' on 'uktv bright ideas'... and bloody hell... its you!!! our very own BCUK Mod, Jack, billhook in hand showing off his skills as a hurdle maker.... Well done jack for promoting the billhook on TV are they going to give you a series ;-) ?


Ed

 

[Jack]

I even saw one on TV today.... flicking through the channels I came accross a programme called 'The Green Room' on 'uktv bright ideas'... and bloody hell... its you!!! our very own BCUK Mod, Jack, billhook in hand showing off his skills as a hurdle maker.... Well done jack for promoting the billhook on TV are they going to give you a series ;-) ?


Ed

Well life is funny thing, one minute I am the stunt double for James Bond then I have a film crew in the woods filming Hurdle Making.

TV is a strange beast, sometimes they get it right and then sometimes they get it wrong. Most of the programming that you this on TV these is way of the mark, especially anything to do with the countryside. People seem to think that if you point a camera at a Huntsman or a twee thatch cottage then you are encompassing everything 'rural', which of course, isn't........some may view this as dis information.

The whole topic of rural TV is, as you would expect, close to my heart. I get very frustrated when I see programmes like the recent series of 'Jimmy's Farm', what they hell was all that about then........the only time we get to see any rural programming is when it has to involved some sort of themed programme, involving someone who has no love for the country at all but has the money to 'buy a life style of the peg'.

Roving Rich and I have always said that they should bring back Jack Hargreaves, Out of Town. Now that is what you call a rural programme.

As for me, well I do far bit behind the scenes in one way or another and some content
you see in programmes you see today, comes from this mighty key board. Just recently advised on the new Alan Titchmarsh series that will be on our screens this Autumn and also I working on some other projects.

Strangely though, it's not something that a lot of people know ( until now) as it isn't something that I shout about...............



Jack.

 

[bushblade]

also feels safe when spliting kinderlin - seem to have more control than the axe, = less likely to remove fingers.

How would you manage to remove fingers when splitting kindling with an axe? :?:

 

[MartiniDave]

Another "old" TV show that sometimes had some good rural lifestyle stuff was "Bygones", filmed up around here in Cambs/Norfolk. I remember seeing things like hedge laying and old small holding practices.

There's a farm up near us that's had quite a bit of hedge laying done a few months back, with different stretches of hedge being done in differing regional styles. Fascinating to see.

Keep up the good work Jack, and yes, the SFA is getting used, although Elaine wasn't happy to find me slicing tomatoes for a salad with my wildlife hatchet!

Dave