Bill Spike mystery sword? Farm implement? ID??

Bill M · 23rd September 2006, 05:11 PM

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I am rephotographing my collection. I started numbering at 100.

I came across this mystery piece and wondered if anyone knows what it might be?

32" long, double edged and sharp. The sharpended edges begin where the blade widens out about 6" from the hilt. The edge runs along the inside edges of the curves. It is flat on one side and convex on the other. I suspect it is some kind of farm implement. Horn hilt. Well made.

The second pic shows the curved side up. The third shows the convex side.

The fourth picture shows a maker's mark, I guess, of some kind.

The seller did not know much about it, but called it a "Bill Spike." One of the reasons I got it was I like the name!

not2sharp · 23rd September 2006, 07:08 PM

It looks like a European farming implement; most likely French. But, I have never seen one with a double bill? see also "fascine knife".

Pretty cool!

n2s

spiral · 24th September 2006, 02:10 AM

An unusual Elephant goad Id guess, Ive seen hundreds of English & French bill hooks, its not one of those..

Spiral

M ELEY · 24th September 2006, 03:15 AM

I agree with n2s that it is probably a farming impliment, but my guess is that it's Spanish colonial/pre-Mexico. The half metal guard is a common feature on many Span Colonial pieces such as machetes, fascine knives and such. Likewise, the notches near the top of the blade by the hilt seem like the common line-type decorations found on Span colonial pieces. Of course, this patterning is also common on Philippine bolos, is it not? Like all those "Confederate Bowie" Phillipine bolos we keep seeing. I still lean toward Span Colonial with the horn hilt. I've always wondered if this notching near the blade top was influenced by Spanish/Portuguese presence in the Philippines?

Billman · 21st February 2011, 11:50 PM

Hi
I have just come across this post, so my answer is a little late. This is definitely Italian - the handle style is typical of the roncola (plural roncole) or billhooks of Piemonté in northern Italy.

I have seen one without the point before for sale on eBay.it - I am uncertain of its purpose, but long single edged tools are still available today - e.g. http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/p...x%5Fdd=074100& where for some reason it's called a mushroom billhook (Roncola funghi) also roncola frattarola (can't find a translation for this...) also sfrattarolla....

The point is shown on early illustrations of Roman vine pruning billhooks, where it is called the Mucro (see my website: http://www.billhooks.co.uk/Etymology.htm)

The makers mark (GC) is very similar to one that I have in my collection, from Sicily, and is typically 19th century. Long roncole in the Swiss/Italian borders known as beidana (plural beidane) were used as weapons at a time when owning a weapon was forbidden (these developed from the shorter pattern of roncole with a back hook used in Swiss villages) - see: http://alpicozie.legart.it/beidana/beidane65a.html

Perhaps this one was also intended as a weapon, but could be legally called a tool. Note the back hook can only be used back-handed, the hand guard prevents turning the tool in the hand to use it fore-handed (Italian double edged pennato (plural pennati) or double edged billhooks usually have round handles, and if fitted with a hand guard it is at right angles to the blade, not in line with it).

Single bevelled billhooks were fairly common in the UK, France, Germany and Italy - available for right handed and left handed users. This tool has both a right hand and left hand blade - but only one is usable (see above) - however it confirms its origin, and possibly its use, as a tool....

The beidane below is from Pino Costa (maker of reproductions) and the roncole on the red cloth from Carlo (both from Piemonté in North Italy)

Tim Simmons · 22nd February 2011, 12:11 PM

What an interesting place this is.

23rd September 2006, 05:11 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Bill Spike mystery sword? Farm implement? ID?? I mentioned in an earlier thread that I am rephotographing my collection. I started numbering at 100. I came across this mystery piece and wondered if anyone knows what it might be? 32" long, double edged and sharp. The sharpended edges begin where the blade widens out about 6" from the hilt. The edge runs along the inside edges of the curves. It is flat on one side and convex on the other. I suspect it is some kind of farm implement. Horn hilt. Well made. The second pic shows the curved side up. The third shows the convex side. The fourth picture shows a maker's mark, I guess, of some kind. The seller did not know much about it, but called it a "Bill Spike." One of the reasons I got it was I like the name! Attached Images

21st February 2011, 11:50 PM	#5
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Roncola Hi I have just come across this post, so my answer is a little late. This is definitely Italian - the handle style is typical of the roncola (plural roncole) or billhooks of Piemonté in northern Italy. I have seen one without the point before for sale on eBay.it - I am uncertain of its purpose, but long single edged tools are still available today - e.g. http://www.angelo-b.com/ab/catalog/p...x%5Fdd=074100& where for some reason it's called a mushroom billhook (Roncola funghi) also roncola frattarola (can't find a translation for this...) also sfrattarolla.... The point is shown on early illustrations of Roman vine pruning billhooks, where it is called the Mucro (see my website: http://www.billhooks.co.uk/Etymology.htm) The makers mark (GC) is very similar to one that I have in my collection, from Sicily, and is typically 19th century. Long roncole in the Swiss/Italian borders known as beidana (plural beidane) were used as weapons at a time when owning a weapon was forbidden (these developed from the shorter pattern of roncole with a back hook used in Swiss villages) - see: http://alpicozie.legart.it/beidana/beidane65a.html Perhaps this one was also intended as a weapon, but could be legally called a tool. Note the back hook can only be used back-handed, the hand guard prevents turning the tool in the hand to use it fore-handed (Italian double edged pennato (plural pennati) or double edged billhooks usually have round handles, and if fitted with a hand guard it is at right angles to the blade, not in line with it). Single bevelled billhooks were fairly common in the UK, France, Germany and Italy - available for right handed and left handed users. This tool has both a right hand and left hand blade - but only one is usable (see above) - however it confirms its origin, and possibly its use, as a tool.... The beidane below is from Pino Costa (maker of reproductions) and the roncole on the red cloth from Carlo (both from Piemonté in North Italy) Attached Images Last edited by Billman; 22nd February 2011 at 12:15 AM.

23rd September 2006, 07:08 PM	#2
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	It looks like a European farming implement; most likely French. But, I have never seen one with a double bill? see also "fascine knife". Pretty cool! n2s

24th September 2006, 02:10 AM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	An unusual Elephant goad Id guess, Ive seen hundreds of English & French bill hooks, its not one of those.. Spiral

24th September 2006, 03:15 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	I agree with n2s that it is probably a farming impliment, but my guess is that it's Spanish colonial/pre-Mexico. The half metal guard is a common feature on many Span Colonial pieces such as machetes, fascine knives and such. Likewise, the notches near the top of the blade by the hilt seem like the common line-type decorations found on Span colonial pieces. Of course, this patterning is also common on Philippine bolos, is it not? Like all those "Confederate Bowie" Phillipine bolos we keep seeing. I still lean toward Span Colonial with the horn hilt. I've always wondered if this notching near the blade top was influenced by Spanish/Portuguese presence in the Philippines?

22nd February 2011, 12:11 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	What an interesting place this is.