Tool found in Gloucestershire. Any ideas?

[adammmam]

Can anybody shed any light on this? Was dug up on some farmland in Gloucestershire. I’ve done a bit of research and from the markings I have an idea on the dates.
Does anybody have any knowledge of this type of thing and if it would be worth/of interest to somebody?

Many thanks

 

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[robertk]

Was dug up on some farmland in Gloucestershire

It was dug? With the wood handle intact like that? Either it was just recently buried, or you have some amazing ground.

In either case, the Holtzapffel tool company operated in London between 1794 and 1928, so it's a nice old piece. I don't know what it's worth, but it's sure a nice looking specimen. Nice find!

 

[adammmam]

It was dug? With the wood handle intact like that? Either it was just recently buried, or you have some amazing ground.

In either case, the Holtzapffel tool company operated in London between 1794 and 1928, so it's a nice old piece. I don't know what it's worth, but it's sure a nice looking specimen. Nice find!

My thoughts exactly in regards the handle. That’s the dates I found, does seem an interesting piece indeed. Thanks for responding

 

[GDub62]

A chopper for sure imo. Sugar cane, corn or anything with a thick stalk. Seems like handle would have been shorter though to be swung with one hand

 

[pepperj]

Can anybody shed any light on this? Was dug up on some farmland in Gloucestershire. I’ve done a bit of research and from the markings I have an idea on the dates.
Does anybody have any knowledge of this type of thing and if it would be worth/of interest to somebody?

Many thanks

Can you give a reference for a measurement please.
Is it 4" long or 4' long?
It always helps with trying to put a date/use to an item thanks.

 

[ironhorse]

Known as a fascine knife...for chopping brush and clearing.
Popular farm tool.in colonial days
Heres one I dug years ago

 

[adammmam]

Thanks for your message, I am not with it right now, I would say it is around 1.5m long. I can confirm later on. I may be completely wrong.

 

[pepperj]

Known as a fascine knife...for chopping brush and clearing.
Popular farm tool.in colonial days
Heres one I dug years ago

This knife if known as a BillHook also.

The tool has developed a large variety of names in different parts of Britain, including bill, hedging bill, hand bill, hook bill, billhook, billook, brushing hook and broom hook. In American English a billhook may sometimes be called a "fascine knife".

The French firm of Talabot boasted in their 1930 catalogue that they held over 3000 different patterns in their archives.

 

[Blackfoot58]

I’ve never seen one with such a long handle. Broom makers used a shorter version to cut straw. Pepperj shows there were many uses. Very lucky to find the handle so well-preserved.

 

[pepperj]

Thanks for your message, I am not with it right now, I would say it is around 1.5m long. I can confirm later on. I may be completely wrong.

That would make it nearly 5 feet in length.
When you get a chance measure the blade/handle/total length and width.

I couldn't find an example of anything as this one, it an interesting tool.
The company did make Kukri knives, so everything wasn't for the local market

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet.

Nice find. Since the mark is “Holtzapffel & Co.” You can date it between 1825 and 1938. Before 1825, the company was known as Holtzapffel and Deyerlein. They ceased trading in 1938.

Unfortunately there are no illustrations, but this is from their 1844 catalogue (with prices ranging from 5 shillings to 12 shillngs):

 

[AU Seeker]

Known as a fascine knife...for chopping brush and clearing.
Popular farm tool.in colonial days
Heres one I dug years ago

This knife if known as a BillHook also.

The tool has developed a large variety of names in different parts of Britain, including bill, hedging bill, hand bill, hook bill, billhook, billook, brushing hook and broom hook. In American English a billhook may sometimes be called a "fascine knife".

The French firm of Talabot boasted in their 1930 catalogue that they held over 3000 different patterns in their archives.

View attachment 2137257 View attachment 2137258

While some would call the item he found a "fascine knife or a billhook" but both of those have short handles, but it having a long handle and here in America it's what I and everyone I know have always called a "bush axe".

bush axe - Google Search

 

[Digger RJ]

Can anybody shed any light on this? Was dug up on some farmland in Gloucestershire. I’ve done a bit of research and from the markings I have an idea on the dates.
Does anybody have any knowledge of this type of thing and if it would be worth/of interest to somebody?

Many thanks

Nice!!! Congrats!!!