Billhook

The billhook is a traditional cutting tool used widely in agriculture and forestry for cutting smaller woody material such as shrubs and branches. It is very common in the wine-growing countries of Europe. In other parts of the world where it is used, it was either developed locally—e.g. in China, India, and Japan—or introduced by European settlers—e.g. in North and South America, South Africa, and Australasia. It is also known as the bill hook (although this more usually (US only) refers to either a metal or plastic hook used to hold bills, common in the US, or a part of the knotting mechanism on a reaper binder).

Design

The blade is usually made from a medium-carbon steel in varying weights and lengths, but typically 20 to 25 centimetres (7.9 to 9.8 in) long. Blades are straight near the handle but have an increasingly strong curve towards the end. The blade is generally sharpened only on the inside of the curve, but double-edged billhooks, or "broom hooks", also have a straight secondary edge on the back.