people are so snobby about big blades for some reason, anything over like 6 inches is automatically a "rambo knife" and if you use one you are clearly an idiot in the eyes of some :P
Couple of points .... Please dont hit the backs of bladed tools with steel, you could shatter the tool at worse, or atleast peen over the back of the blade. If you use a wooden Mole, which you could make by hand with the billhook from one of your logs lying about.
The tool that looks like a cleaver is actually designed to be exactly that, for making faggots for fire lighting. If you search for ... Froe ... and look at how it is made and used you will find this a far better tool.
Great hook. It looks like it was originally mounted on a pole. I agree with you, why reinvent the wheel? This was one of the most commonly used tools just 100 years ago.
No, it's an old family tool. I'd like to try forging something like that, though. I still didn't manage to find an anvil and have too much other things to do :3
I think this probably offers greater facility for survival or tramping than does the British army 'survival' (read combat) knife. I cant think of a better tool (the hook) for gathering green wood for shelter building. You've shown it has no problem in cleaving (dry?) wood. I'd like to see more on how you use this knife with and without a pole. Any felling to do?
It's a bit heavy hammer, could once have been used as forging hammer, don't know the weight exactly, my estimate is about 2kg, and no I think heavier would be too unpractical, if I'm not getting along with it I'll take the sledgehammer or a maul, but with wedges not with the billhook^^
Not so unique as it seems, back in the day every farmer family had such a blade with a broad variety of usage from cleaning branches from logs to harvesting maize. Bill hooks are evidenced in Europe since the Bronze Age. They are the native machetes of Europe. Thank you for commenting on my video.
@HomoGnosticus That's true but the man's right too, if he means that first one, it is a "unique design " for a "bill hook". In fact I wouldn't say it was a bill hook at all, it is realy a cleaver with a hook on the back.. The second one is what I understand to be a bill hook. Anyway useful tools, good to see them at work.
You are right, actually the one with a hook on its back is not a billhook and I probably shouldn't have them mingled both together in one video. The first one is indeed unusual and meanwhile I found out that it's called Praxe in German, and it was used for similar tasks like a billhook (delimbing) but also for slaughtering poultry.
Nice vid showing how the old kit can be as good.I came to the same conclusion and have ordered a billhook for my trips.Thank you.
SuperDeltaRomeo 2 months ago
people are so snobby about big blades for some reason, anything over like 6 inches is automatically a "rambo knife" and if you use one you are clearly an idiot in the eyes of some :P
ImEuanAndIGotsSkeelz 5 months ago
Couple of points .... Please dont hit the backs of bladed tools with steel, you could shatter the tool at worse, or atleast peen over the back of the blade. If you use a wooden Mole, which you could make by hand with the billhook from one of your logs lying about.
The tool that looks like a cleaver is actually designed to be exactly that, for making faggots for fire lighting. If you search for ... Froe ... and look at how it is made and used you will find this a far better tool.
BeepBeepBoing 6 months ago 2
Great hook. It looks like it was originally mounted on a pole. I agree with you, why reinvent the wheel? This was one of the most commonly used tools just 100 years ago.
Djemps 1 year ago
Hi did you make those yourself?
cheeco8 1 year ago
@cheeco8
No, it's an old family tool. I'd like to try forging something like that, though. I still didn't manage to find an anvil and have too much other things to do :3
HomoGnosticus 1 year ago
I think this probably offers greater facility for survival or tramping than does the British army 'survival' (read combat) knife. I cant think of a better tool (the hook) for gathering green wood for shelter building. You've shown it has no problem in cleaving (dry?) wood. I'd like to see more on how you use this knife with and without a pole. Any felling to do?
TheBeebopper 1 year ago
What's the hammer weight you are using to drive the hook and would you go heavier?
TheBeebopper 1 year ago
@TheBeebopper
It's a bit heavy hammer, could once have been used as forging hammer, don't know the weight exactly, my estimate is about 2kg, and no I think heavier would be too unpractical, if I'm not getting along with it I'll take the sledgehammer or a maul, but with wedges not with the billhook^^
HomoGnosticus 1 year ago
@HomoGnosticus Ah, thanx for the answer. Keep up the good work ;)
MyT01 1 year ago
I have a very old billhook.Its very usefull,It works both as a machete and an axe
klgdv 1 year ago
what is the hook for? other then that i like it
MyT01 1 year ago
Very unique design.
thanks.
SECRETBOL 1 year ago
Not so unique as it seems, back in the day every farmer family had such a blade with a broad variety of usage from cleaning branches from logs to harvesting maize. Bill hooks are evidenced in Europe since the Bronze Age. They are the native machetes of Europe. Thank you for commenting on my video.
HomoGnosticus 1 year ago
@HomoGnosticus still see em all the time in rural England.
lordsummerisle87 1 year ago
@HomoGnosticus That's true but the man's right too, if he means that first one, it is a "unique design " for a "bill hook". In fact I wouldn't say it was a bill hook at all, it is realy a cleaver with a hook on the back.. The second one is what I understand to be a bill hook. Anyway useful tools, good to see them at work.
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer
You are right, actually the one with a hook on its back is not a billhook and I probably shouldn't have them mingled both together in one video. The first one is indeed unusual and meanwhile I found out that it's called Praxe in German, and it was used for similar tasks like a billhook (delimbing) but also for slaughtering poultry.
HomoGnosticus 1 year ago
@HomoGnosticus Yikes, that's why youre chickens have made themselves scarce! (:
raysteer 1 year ago