Hedgerow and Agroforestry Billhook

Functionally like a cross between a machete and an axe, the billhook is an ancient and marvelously useful tool for forestry, perennial agriculture, hedgerow management, and habitat restoration. It’s the tool that can:

• knock back tough invasive weeds,
• prune a grape vine, 
• harvest dogwood stakes for a habitat planting,
• coppice small trees for firewood and biomass production,
• and, create a simple wattle fence out of willow or hazel shoots…

…all in the same day!

We’ve owned, tested, and trialed numerous billhooks on our own farm over the years, and this is has been our consistent favorite. Produced by the Finnish blacksmith family business, Härmän Taonta, this slasher is a total of 23-inches in length, with 9-inches of cutting surface, and 11-inches of ash handle. It’s a perfect length for one-hand use when doing light work, and two-hand work when doing heavier cutting. Total weight is about 1.75-lbs.

Constructed of medium carbon steel, and powder coated, we use this blade to cut through hawthorn limbs up to about one-inch and willow limbs up to about two-inches in a single slice, and alder limbs up to about 4-inches in diameter with multiple slices.

Excellent for general bushcraft: no gas, no fumes, no noise, no fuss. Made by a family, not an anonymous sweatshop. No plastic, no cheap rivets, no excessive branding. Ergonomic and pleasing to use. A tool for the rest of your life. Enjoy nature and do good work!