On 23/07/13 20:44, Tom Gardner wrote:
On 23/07/13 19:08, Christina Websell wrote:
I dug one up in my garden a while ago, very rusty and with no handle.
I got a kind friend of mine to sharpen it on her grindstone and have it back
suitable to slash anything in its path. Just need a new handle and watch
out those brambles ;-) My friend says if I can get a new handle, she will
cut the top stop off and put it on for me.
Here we call them "hedge splashers"
Mine has a top blade too.

They are an amazing price to buy on the internet:
http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/billhooks3.htm

I remember thoroughly enjoying using one when I was a child,
when pruning apple trees. The one I used (which was probably
1930s vintage) had far more of a hook-shaped blade (like a
capital letter J) than any I've seen since.

Must remember to try to find another...

It turns out there was no need to find another.

Much to my surprise I found the billhook buried in some
of my father's tools. After sharpening it works just fine
and is as pleasant to use as I remember.

Plus the blade was just as hook-shaped as I remember,
with the edge curving round about 120 degrees.

Happy daze.