Bill hook recommendations

[Mike L]

I am needing a bill hook for some cutting back of bramble/branches etc, any recommendations from users?

 

[Chris Richardson]

Fiskars are pretty good used them a lot for clearing round pens and highseats

 

[Tim.243]

I am needing a bill hook for some cutting back of bramble/branches etc, any recommendations from users?

Always used a long handled slasher never a bill hook as it keeps you away from getting torn to bits, also you can flick stuff out the way.

 

[Dragonfly Ordnance]

I use a Stihl Swiss Bush Hook, does the job well and not an expensive item either.

This one here.

 

[tarponhead]

Antique stores often have an old tool section - some great blades there but Mole Valley is my tool source for cutting stuff.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Antique stores often have an old tool section - some great blades there .......................

This ^
May need significant re-sharpening but almost always better steel than today's offerings.
K

 

[valevelo]

Ellwell if you can find them or Morris of Dunsford. Done plenty of hedge laying with them and they are far better than some of the cheap mass produced stuff.

 

[SimpleSimon]

I like the Fiskars for that type of work, some of the proper bill hooks as you'd use for hedgelaying are too heavy,made for chopping rather than slashing.

 

[Mike L]

Thanks gents, good info for me!, I take my pole saw but sometimes just need to hack a low path.

 

[Hambone]

Fiskars are sharp but brittle. Hit any hidden wire or nails and they chip badly (at least mine did). Also the handle is quite slippery to grip when wet.
As said above a second-hand older one might be a better bet.

 

[Tim.243]

This ^
May need significant re-sharpening but almost always better steel than today's offerings.
K

I have a rare item which is a carborundum stone which is used for axes bill hooks slashers scythes, it has a wooden handle with the rare part of the stone it is whole! As they get dropped and break into small parts, god knows how it is still intact but it is.

 

[weblyish]

I am needing a bill hook for some cutting back of bramble/branches etc, any recommendations from users?

Bill hooks can never be purchased new, they arent even sold in shops, thats crazy talk
They are like Biros, no one knows where they come from, they just appear, already rusty with a big nick in the blade and some hammer marks on the back - you use them for as long as you have them and then they move on to who knows where

In all honesty having set up a few forest schools and bought my fair share, modern ones are a bit naff - the ideal bilhook is fairly stubby and thick bladed with substantial weight at the far end of the blade - modern ones tend to be more like a Japanese Niwaki design which are too sharp and too light for woody hedgerow plants you find in the uk
if you find an old one it's probably best but the B&Q double edge one is better than most and has the right weight to it

 

[jall55]

Thanks gents, good info for me!, I take my pole saw but sometimes just need to hack a low path.

I just use hedgecutter Mike - very fast and easy

 

[.25-06]

Yorkshire Double Edged Bill Hook - Farm Forestry

Hickory handle 360mm Weight 1.2kg. blade 305mm £25 + VAT + delivery

www.farmforestry.co.uk

 

[Cyres]

Elwell are the best. I have 3 bill hook slasher and one other. Also 2x carborundum stones. They take a very good edge. I have picked them all up v cheap decades ago. Now v collectable.
They are very well balanced. Bill hook is great on nettles and brambles. Slasher for thicker woody stuff.
Modern ones are far too heavy and unbalanced.
D

 

[Cris]

The one I got from my Grandfather along with his silver cup for hedge laying. Oh and his long handled slasher.

 

[Mike L]

Thanks for the info and pm’s gentleman, much appreciated.

M

 

[Old Pultney]

I think there’s a small company called Woodland Craft Supplies on Facebook, who sell decent bill hooks etc that take and keep an edge. I’ve bought tools from them in the past and they were very straightforward to deal with.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for the info and pm’s gentleman, much appreciated.

M

This belonged to "Merv" the farm worker who welded it very badly to a piece of pipe, when they were knocking down the barns for houses I took Olly "farmers son" as was told go take what you want as it was being demolished later that week, I told him to pick up the 7 old petrol cans also then took him to the antiques center showing him the art of dealing as I said to him put them back in the van with the dealer offering more money lol
Not much left so I dressed a bit of pipe cut in half to extend what was left it has been in use for the last 20 years.
Old steel nice and thin with the new ones being "fat" swung fast it is savage in the past our ferreting crew would hear "get out the way" lol

 

[Mike L]

That looks good steel, I had a pm with some good web addresses for old tools, much better quality.