From 2010 to 2011
Ebay and visits to brocantes when in France, plus a network of friends and accomplices in France, Italy, Spain and Germany mean that I spend far too much each year on old rusty bits of metal that are vaguely billhooks shaped. I occasionally buy them in good condition, or pay over the odds for an unusal one, but my target price is under £10 (15 USD or 12 euros) and often I pay less, but with postage for those on eBay the price rises..
A decorated blade with a tubular steel handle, with a hand guard. Although bought in Germany, this is probably from Austria (possibly Italy) - both tubular handles and this type of decoration are commonly found in the Alpine regions of Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France. Acquired in 2010.
Two decorated billhooks from Pohlheim in the Gießen region of central Germany. I had to buy the nasty machete as well because the seller would not separate the items... Acquired in 2010
Stamped T JOINER KNAVES BEECH. Acquired in 2011
A visit to France in April 2012 allowd me to collect a few purchases from eBay.fr that had been sent to my step-son's house in Haute Savoie (74). As well as billhooks there are a few other tools including two 'arrache betterave' (beetroot fork) and a 'plane de boisettier' (box maker's drawknife).
A 'coutelle' - a type of billhook from the Basses Pyrénées in the south west of France, with the maker's mark SAUTIÉ. Often with a horn handle and single bevel to the blade its actual usage remains a mystery. More conventional billhooks with shorter and wider blades, but of the same genre, are also found in the region. This one acquired in March 2012.
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