Billhooks or handbills: an introduction. Traditional, versatile and efficient edged tools.

An introduction to 'hooks, which in the British Isles tradition come in all sorts of shapes and sizes with regional styles and names and evolved for a huge variety of jobs. In skilled hands they can be an efficient tool capable of precision. We look at a random small selection of old hooks (and a 'new' one made in the early 1980s) and some of their features. Post on sharpening is here:    • Billhook sharpening and care for working i...   . Post on handles is here:    • Billhook handles need to fit you and the h...   . Post of me using the Yorks hook in the woods is here:    • Using a Yorkshire billhook to cut hazel be...   . Not the very best tool for this job but it was the one that was in the van. Yorkshire billhook, spar hooks (Southern Counties pattern), a coppicing hook and a side-sharpened hook for hewing.