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Billhook: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:billhook.jpg|right|frame|caption|An example of a Newtown pattern billhook.]] | [[Image:billhook.jpg|right|frame|caption|An example of a Newtown pattern billhook.]] | ||
The '''billhook''' is a traditional cutting tool used mainly in | The '''billhook''' is a traditional cutting tool used mainly in European [[agriculture]], but also common through out most of the world where it was introduced by European settlers, e.g South America and parts of Asia, or developed independently e.g. in Japan and West Africa. The blade is usually made from a high carbon steel in varying weights and lengths, with an increasingly strong curve towards the end. The blade is generally sharpened only on the inside of the curve, but double edged billhooks, or broom hooks, also have a rectangular secondary blade on the back. | ||
Typically the blade is 20 - 25 cm (8" - 10") long with a wooden handle (usually made from ash due to its strength but unique ability to deal with repeated impact) of 12 - 15 cm (6" - 8") which may be caulked or round, and usually fitted by a tang passing through the handle or with a socket that encloses it (although some had scales of hardwood or horn fitted - more common in other countries but often found on 'gentlemen's' or 'lady's' tools - and now often found on cheap imported hooks). The edge of the billhook is bevelled at a relatively obtuse angle in order to avoid binding in green wood. Some hooks, e.g. the Kent model, have a single bevelled blade, available in both right and left hand versions, others e.g the Machynlleth (Wales) have dished blades, or a pronounced thickened nose, e.g. the Monmouth pattern, the origins of which are now lost. | Typically the blade is 20 - 25 cm (8" - 10") long with a wooden handle (usually made from ash due to its strength but unique ability to deal with repeated impact) of 12 - 15 cm (6" - 8") which may be caulked or round, and usually fitted by a tang passing through the handle or with a socket that encloses it (although some had scales of hardwood or horn fitted - more common in other countries but often found on 'gentlemen's' or 'lady's' tools - and now often found on cheap imported hooks). The edge of the billhook is bevelled at a relatively obtuse angle in order to avoid binding in green wood. Some hooks, e.g. the Kent model, have a single bevelled blade, available in both right and left hand versions, others e.g the Machynlleth (Wales) have dished blades, or a pronounced thickened nose, e.g. the Monmouth pattern, the origins of which are now lost. | ||
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=== Northern and Midland Designs === | === Northern and Midland Designs === | ||
* | *Leicester/Warwickshire:<br />Favoured by midlands style hedgers, is a one handed tool with a 6" handle and a 10" blade. It has a curved blade at the front and a shorter straight blade at the back, the front blade being used for general purpose and the back blade kept extremely sharp for delicate trimming, topping off stakes and other work which will not damage the blade. | ||
* | *Yorkshire:<br />Used by a small percentage of Midlands style hedgers, this is generally a two handed tool with a 14" handle and 10" blade, again it has the curved front and straight back blades, in some cases the handle can be up to 36" long. The disadvantage of this variety of tool is its weight. | ||
*[[Llandilo]]/[[Carmarthenshire]]:<br />Have a 9" handle and a 10" blade they lack a back blade but have a small notch at the top known as a hedge grip which allows hedgers to push [[pleacher]]s and [[brash]] into place without using the hands. | *[[Llandilo]]/[[Carmarthenshire]]:<br />Have a 9" handle and a 10" blade they lack a back blade but have a small notch at the top known as a hedge grip which allows hedgers to push [[pleacher]]s and [[brash]] into place without using the hands. | ||
*[[Pontypool]]/ | *[[Pontypool]]/Monmouthshire:<br />Have a 6" handle and a 10" blade but lack the back blade or the "hedge grip" of the Llandilo. | ||
*[[Knighton, Wales|Knighton]]/ | *[[Knighton, Wales|Knighton]]/Radnorshire:<br />With similar measurements to the Pontypool/Monmouthshire style, this style has the least curvature of any hook and is almost a straight blade. | ||
*[[Newtown, Wales|Newtown]]/ | *[[Newtown, Wales|Newtown]]/Montgomeryshire:<br />Has slightly more curvature than the Knighton. The picture above shows a Newtown pattern billhook. | ||
=== Southern Designs === | === Southern Designs === | ||
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[[image:Devon_Billhook.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Military style billhook made by W.Gilpin in 1918, thick nose with handle crudely replaced.]] | [[image:Devon_Billhook.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Military style billhook made by W.Gilpin in 1918, thick nose with handle crudely replaced.]] | ||
* | *Devon/[[Dorchester]] Half Turn:<br />Has a heavily weighted nose, a 6" handle and a 10" blade. | ||
* | *Bristol:<br />Slightly lighter than the Devon with a bulge in the middle which accentuates the curve further up the hook, it has the same measurements as the Devonshire. | ||
* | *West Country:<br />Lighter again than the Bristol with its much more traditional shape and identical measurements to the Devonshire. | ||
* | *Spar hook:<br />Very light with a 6" handle and an 8" blade, it could be used for snedding of felled limbs, but its main use is the splitting of spars (from hazel) for use by thatchers | ||
=== Other hooks === | === Other hooks === | ||
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== Modern usage == | == Modern usage == | ||
Billhooks are currently in common use by [[thatch]]ers, [[coppice]]rs, [[hurdles (agricultural)|hurdle]] makers, | Billhooks are currently in common use by [[thatch]]ers, [[coppice]]rs, [[hurdles (agricultural)|hurdle]] makers, charcoal burners and often by other traditional craftsmen, farmers and woodsmen. It is also the primary tool for Hedgelayers. | ||
== Use as a weapon == | == Use as a weapon == | ||
