17th Century Scottish Iron Bill

Timo Nieminen · 5th August 2018, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madnumforce

These, with the large hook in the back, are specifically designed for debranching: you chop the branch, and the hook is used to catch the branch and bring it down if it is stuck.

The hook is also good for standing the billhook stably, point down on, e.g., a stump, for sharpening.

bvieira · 5th August 2018, 10:56 AM

Hello,

It's a agriculture tool, early XX Century.

Regards,

BV

Helleri · 7th August 2018, 01:21 AM

An anecdotal aside. Someone once at a yard sale tried to push a "medieval halberd" on me... It was a brush axe. Didn't feel like arguing much about it with him. But I still bought it because it was in good shape and he wanted $5. Cleaned it up a little and sold it for $60.

Pukka Bundook · 7th August 2018, 01:46 PM

A question if I may;

On the farm I have used a billhook of varying types for the last 50 years, but being from Northern England the style I used did not have this pointed projection on the back.
Apart from standing on a stump to sharpen as Timo mentions, What practical use has it?
If it was bent back down towards the handle, (like a hook) it could be used to pull down branches, but facing up to the tip, it has me puzzled.

Any thoughts on the idea behind it?
(My only thought is for hedge laying, where the partly cut sapling is bent over at an angle. Could be used for pushing I suppose.....)

Thank you all for your time,

Richard.

fernando · 7th August 2018, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

...(My only thought is for hedge laying, where the partly cut sapling is bent over at an angle. Could be used for pushing I suppose.....)

Yes Richard; pushing, not pulling. I have checked with a local; after pruning the branches, those that hang in there and don't fall by themselves, you pushed them up with that back hook, to set them free to fall.

Helleri · 8th August 2018, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

A question if I may;

On the farm I have used a billhook of varying types for the last 50 years, but being from Northern England the style I used did not have this pointed projection on the back.
Apart from standing on a stump to sharpen as Timo mentions, What practical use has it?
If it was bent back down towards the handle, (like a hook) it could be used to pull down branches, but facing up to the tip, it has me puzzled.

Any thoughts on the idea behind it?
(My only thought is for hedge laying, where the partly cut sapling is bent over at an angle. Could be used for pushing I suppose.....)

Thank you all for your time,

Richard.

I know these are also present on brush axes (about the largest category of billhook?) Which is basically the more heavy duty version of a scythe. You get at the actual undergrowth with it that a scythe couldn't handle. Unwanted bushes and saplings. Often there is a branch already broken off long ago nested in there. Best not to just grab it. There could easily be a wasp nest on the under side. You give it a few prods. Then pike it and toss it if all seems well. Even after jostling it to check for wasps there could still be scorpions, spiders, or venomous snakes habitating on or under it.So again it's best not to grab it bare handed or even with a glove on if you don't have to.

fernando · 16th September 2018, 11:20 AM

One being sold in a current local flea market. You can still see the price stamp.

.

machinist · 4th October 2018, 04:05 PM

As for the spike on the back I have thought a reason may be to have a two man team working together, one capturing the branch in the space between his spike and blade so as to steady it and the other lopping it off right against his team mates bill. Otherwise you are trying to cut often flimsy branches that bend away from the cuts, My only source for this is having spent a lot of time cutting branches.

16th September 2018, 11:20 AM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	One being sold in a current local flea market. You can still see the price stamp. . Attached Images

5th August 2018, 10:56 AM	#2
bvieira Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 108	Hello, It's a agriculture tool, early XX Century. Regards, BV

7th August 2018, 01:21 AM	#3
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chino, CA. Posts: 219	An anecdotal aside. Someone once at a yard sale tried to push a "medieval halberd" on me... It was a brush axe. Didn't feel like arguing much about it with him. But I still bought it because it was in good shape and he wanted $5. Cleaned it up a little and sold it for $60.

7th August 2018, 01:46 PM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	A question if I may; On the farm I have used a billhook of varying types for the last 50 years, but being from Northern England the style I used did not have this pointed projection on the back. Apart from standing on a stump to sharpen as Timo mentions, What practical use has it? If it was bent back down towards the handle, (like a hook) it could be used to pull down branches, but facing up to the tip, it has me puzzled. Any thoughts on the idea behind it? (My only thought is for hedge laying, where the partly cut sapling is bent over at an angle. Could be used for pushing I suppose.....) Thank you all for your time, Richard.

4th October 2018, 04:05 PM	#8
machinist Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 93	As for the spike on the back I have thought a reason may be to have a two man team working together, one capturing the branch in the space between his spike and blade so as to steady it and the other lopping it off right against his team mates bill. Otherwise you are trying to cut often flimsy branches that bend away from the cuts, My only source for this is having spent a lot of time cutting branches.