Scandinavian billhooks
The billhook is known throughout northern Europe, and around the Baltic. Currently I have very little information on those from Russia, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) or Denmark.
For Norway, Sweden and Finland, the shapes show as many regional variations as those in southern Europe.
A typical 'lauvkniv' from Norway - literally a 'leaf knife' they were used to cut fodder for cattle to see them through the long and harsh winters.
A new hand-made example with a reindeer antler handle and a leather sheath.
A square bladed example used to cut kindling wood.
A typical Finnish socket handled 'vesuri'.
The range of vesurit by Harman Taonta, a small independent forge. Until recently they make a wider range of other tools, including 'kassara' and 'havurauta'.
A smaller 'kassara' with a tanged curly birch handle (image copyright: Lapin metsämuseo - the Lapland Foretsry Museum).
A 'havurauta' (also havukirves or hakokirves. Heavy versions are use to chop firewood, the back hook being used to gather the next piece to be chopped. Lighter versions are used to chop fodder for cattle on a wooden block. The names are thus frequently inter-used).
The coat of arms of Keralia, a province on the Finnish Russian border, famous for its wooden churches. It is unclear what is above the vesuri being held by the bear - is it a range of different blade shapes???
The ubiquitous Fiskar's brushing hook (sold as Gerber in the USA, and Wilkinson Sword in the UK). Aggressive marketing has destroyed the market for many smaller local edge tool makers throughout Europe. They use to make nice wooden handled tools - this over-designed monstrosity will be OK for a few hours use, but a sweaty palm on hot day will soon become sore with the plastic grip....
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