Badass Fantasy Billhook (Axe / Sword Staff Hybrid) Tested

Is it a polearm? Is it a gardening tool? It's a beast!
Quite an interesting design, and effective too. It looks most like a billhook, but also resembles some type of voulge. One side has a curved hook with a sharp but sturdy edge for chopping and cleaving hard targets, the other is straight and extremely sharp for slashing softer targets.
It's also remarkably light and well-balanced. I could imagine it as a two-handed weapon for a ranger character in a role-playing game, or a rogue / fighter who wants both speed and power. Would also fit in the hands of the Diablo barbarian (in a larger version, I guess).
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Previous test cutting video (with hilarious outtakes):
• "I Call Hax!" - Sword ...
** Music **
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Used with artist's permission
Outtakes:
"Spirit Waltz" by Horrorpen
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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
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#skallagrim #fantasy #weapon

[@Skallagrim]

If you haven't seen the previous cutting video with hilarious outtakes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoGmZ4KClr13q5I

[@ezrafaulk3076]

Just goes to show you that a lot of fantasy designs *can* actually be practical, and the *only* thing that makes them fantasy is that they didn't exist in *our* world's history. By the way, that thing seemed to have a similar optical illusion thing to the Viking sword going on, in that something about the blade's shape made it *look thicker* than it actually is; did you notice that?

[@acemarvel1564]

*shing*

[@eldrenofthemist2492]

A Lovely Blade. XD

[@notsocrazytank707]

Ah yes, Skal finally shows respect to his Canadian heritage with a weaponised hockey stick

[@eshel4463]

Marine biologist just discovered a 900 years old sword under the red sea

[@debilita9999]

This is like a perfect weapon for Orcs. Gonna use it in my worldbuilding. Looks too awesome and is better than just an axe!

[@stormlewis5214]

I was wordering that as well but would they use it with a big shield or just use heavy Armor. Will they be fighting humans or other orcs

[@Skallagrim]

Yeah, with a more rugged style that would work nicely for Orcs.

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

Definitely fitting as an orc weapon

[@paladinslash4721]

It’s like shorter more rounded version of the Uruk Hai swords

[@debilita9999]

@@paladinslash4721 nto really. those are more liek katanas - sharp only on oen side and point is more or less dull

[@uliphotode]

“A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value - you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-to- hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mindboggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you - daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough. More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitch hiker) discovers that a hitch hiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitch hiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitch hiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with.” Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

Don't panic.

[@Victor.-.E]

Came here to post this. Word for word.

[@jarrarwinks8470]

Jojo reference?

[@Victor.-.E]

@@jarrarwinks8470 I don't think so... What's Jojo?

[@jarrarwinks8470]

@@Victor.-.E its an anime everyone thinks everything is a reference to. Kinda turning into a meme.

[@MrRancerot]

Skall makes it look easy. He may not be a “master”, but he’s definitely an advanced intermediate. Great cutting technique.

[@Giagantus]

He is very good.

[@redarogallo5154]

That is a weapon I can see being the standard weapon in a fantasy race of warriors or light infantry. It's perfect for unarmoured enemies and then, when heavy infantry arrives, they switch axe sides so they can defend while retreating.

[@benedict6962]

The main issue with spears in fantasy is that everyone has weird chunky hp bars, so a bigger weapon like this that's still simple to use sounds good.

[@hanelyp1]

The hook would be useful against armored carvery, to pull a man off his mount. At which point light infantry would have the mobility advantage.

[@phenix2403]

@@hanelyp1 i feel like the haft is a little too short for that (to do it "safely" anyway) in this model tho, unless you are really good at dodging

[@acemarvel1564]

Actually I see this being a signature weapon for an army of guerrilla bushmen warriors

[@tamlandipper29]

For dwarves. Gobbos and orcs.

[@skenzyme81]

Looks like the “aliwa” axe of the Isnag people. They live in the Apayao Province of the Philippines. Any great idea is worth having again! 👍

[@bl4cksp1d3r]

looked it up, yeah it does have a similar shape

[@KamenRider1]

Indeed. I actually mistook it for that during the cutting video posted previously. I saw one made by Hanyan Blades not too long ago on Facebook, though they labeled it as a "Sinawit".

[@aubreyackermann8432]

I just looked it up, and it really does!

[@anoninunen]

I tried looking up "aliwa" and "Isnag" axes, and came up with enough variation to fill almost every variation between the Igorot ax and the Skal-hook. Weapons are built to a need, not a name, so classifying blades can be an adventure

[@valentinmitterbauer4196]

South east asia and africa have the most "fantasy" looking blades. If you showed me a Mambele or Nzappa Zap, i'd say it's complete fiction, but here we are.

[@maleindividual7437]

That would actually be fantastic for pruning and trimming lighter branches and the sturdy hooked end for clearing the brambles and bracken or general scrub around the base of hedges or trees you want to work on, stick it in an English smallholding and it wouldn't look out of place amongst the billhooks and slashers and would probably see just as much use

[@Martyhero]

Now you're making me imagine a fantasy world where this weapon was invented by hobbits as a gardening tool pressed into combat service by the local militia

[@trevvonhiggle1980]

@@Martyhero I mean, back in the day that's what a lot of polearms were. When a lord pressed his peasants into the fyrd/levy, not many would have real weapons. They'd march to war with farming tools that they may modify slightly if given time. Even looking at weapons like the Gurkha kukri, that was originally primarily a tool for a cutting through brush and undergrowth.

[@FreebirthBoccara]

they sell them in the gardening aisle. look for a bamboo/cane axe or cane machete.

[@JagerLange]

"Polearm or gardening tool" - I want to see a review of the potential melee offerings at Skall's local garden centre now.

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

Removing limbs is removing limbs...

[@IlkkaVuoristo]

90% gardening tools are actually bladed weapons. We even sharpen our shovels.

[@Earthenfist]

There was this one, "Ditch Blade" at Lowes or HD I saw once. Basically a sort of thin (blade width- edge-to-edge it was really rather wide) double-sided guandao blade on a 2 foot handle.

[@aniquinstark4347]

@@IlkkaVuoristo I didn't know about sharpening shovels until like a year ago. I then took a file and trued up the edges and it legitimately made digging easier.

[@FreebirthBoccara]

its literally a gardenign tool.. its called a cane knife.

[@stampsu]

I can't express enough how glad I am to see good old blade tests and reviews again on this channel. They are so relaxing to watch

[@szurmatpl]

Indeed!

[@DS_DoggerX]

I think it's really good that you include yourself, a seemingly more experienced and a seemingly less experienced practitioner. It shows exactly the kind of technique that has to be used for an effective cut and serves as really good entertainment as well. Great video!

[@zoltanleafy8746]

Yep, I need one of these. It's clearly an essential life tool.

[@zombiesteve566]

I use billhooks for clearing land, I favour the Yorkshire bill for its extra weight and axe blade on the back, but I really would like to see your billhook take on a patch of blackthorn as it clearly makes a great weapon but is it still a great tool. Love your vids 👍😁

[@KamenRider1]

Already mentioned here previously but this sort of reminds me of the Sinawit or the Binaroy, the Apayao variant of the famous Igorot Headhunting Axe. My favorite local bladesmiths here in Benguet (Hanyan Blades) actually made a few not too long ago... always wanted one for my collection. 🇵🇭🙏❤

[@vgman94]

This looks like a practicalized version of a reaper scythe to my eyes and I love it. Also interesting that both this and the Igorot Headhunting Axe have a similar concept: a sharp slicing-having surface and a spike on the back with a blunter edge for getting through armor or thicker material. And according to the comments, this has a Filipino origin too. Interesting how the people of the Philippines have history as masters of weapons, that runs to today (look up the gunsmiths of the Philippines if you don’t know what I mean).

[@KamenRider1]

Filipino/Igorot/Kali-Arnis practitioner here. 😁 That's humbling to see. We are indeed an enduring race with the Warrior spirit in our blood. This makes me want to buy a Sinawit/Binaroy from one of my local bladesmiths.. it's a very fascinating piece indeed and a worthy addition to anyone's collection. Mabuhay and God bless. 🙏👊🇵🇭

[@MikaelKKarlsson]

Feels like this overall shape should scale really well into various sizes. For differing levels of combative gardens.

[@Getpojke]

I love my billhooks. I used them at work as a forester as well as collect & restored many old ones. They are also probably my favourite "bushcraft" tools too, they can do fine or heavy work pretty well. Always surprised that we don't see more of them in some of those shows where people compete cutting up various things!?

[@robinmarks4771]

As a person named Rowan, I love all the rowan trees in the background of these videos.

[@eyeballpapercut4400]

I was startled, I watched this on mobile, and I have Vindsvept songs in it. I thought it suddenly played while KZbin is on which couldn't have happened unless YT actually decided to add that feature that every music enthusiasts hoped it had. Then I realised finally you made a vid with Vindsvept in it again.

[@matthewmorris6378]

The weapon looks cool! I would def like to see it on plate or chainmail, as well as comparing weight, length, and usefulness compared to other weapons. That stuff can also go in another video, nobody will complain about more content 😁

[@Arafax]

I really like the shape of this thing. Would be interesting to see what a sized up version of it could do, slightly longer in both blade and handle.

[@mattedmands2085]

even with the size head it has I feel like it needs another foot on the handle to wielded properly on the axe side

[@shaidrim]

Yeah, you’re not the only one lamenting some problem with YT algorithm but honestly I always got notifications about your vid. Glad I’m not missing any of them ;)

[@johndododoe1411]

I got the premiere listed on front page, but had other things to do. While watching, I got a popup notification of a video I watched before your premiere. YT algorithms are totally garbage because they have isolated themselves from feedback and thus have no idea what works. Kind of like makers of ceremonial and movie weapons.

[@chrispeng5502]

Weapon reviews are by far my favourite videos, keep the great work!

[@moeleicester9179]

This is the most beautiful weapon I've seen in a long time. Pure, efficient brutality. Perfection

[@roberttauzer7042]

A beard and bear stomach are perquisites to enter middle aged sword enthusiasts club. I'm a proud member too!

[@a_wild_Kirillian]

That really looks like a nice weapon for a variety of situations that you would make from a scrapped piece of metal in an apocalyptic setting (only hot hammering and sharpening available). Probably would want a stabbing point for it to be more universal. I've been trying to write more comments lately since your channel is struggling with views. Let's hope it helps

[@12SickOne34]

Eet cuts. Eet keels. And it scares me. But I'm loving it.

[@Dondlo46]

Billy Hooks and cuts really well.

[@oscardna1041]

0:04 In Mexico these are known as "casangas", they are very popular tools since you can cut almost anything with the edge and enough force, you can cut grasses, sugar canes, wooden logs, palm fiber, cut coconuts in half. They are even lethal weapons, I have seen people end up with single cut mountain boars.

[@mondomendez5165]

It looks similar to the Tramontina or Imacasa sugar cane machetes. Broad blade with a back spike.

[@LodestarLogado]

Love the blade profile here, there’s something so pleasing about a big boxy blade on a stick, the hook makes it seem hefty but that’s good cause in reality it’s a really quick blade and that’ll only add to the shock factor.

[@rogerp4612]

What an absolutely wicked blade. Much lighter and faster in action than the static photos suggested. Impressive finish overall as well.

[@nickgreene2971]

That thing's cool, I could see it being some main characters weapon in a fantasy series.

[@xxwarsmithxx]

It looks pretty functional. For foot soldiers it would be better on a taller pole, say about as tall as a man, for increased reach and power. I would also add an alpine spike to the other end to protect it and gain some use while traveling.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Gotta tell you, Skall. These videos with Rick are wholesome entertainment.

[@SkyTowerKurogane]

Unique piece. I like the design aesthetic, never seen anything like it.

[@niklasfischer3915]

Finally some cutting action again! Also I really like that Billy Hacker (love that name). This is one of the rare cases in which two types of edged actually make sense and are done well. I can easily imagine a soldier on the battlefield using the thinner edge to fight commoners with nothing but thick clothing, and as soon as he faces a knight, he switches to the armour-piercing side.

[@grantharriman284]

The multiple partial cuts on th pumpkin leading to it just disintegrating on the vertical chop set off a giggle fit for me. So good.

[@thelucondrix391]

I've made similar styles for machetes in the past, works great in the fields as a multi purpose farm tool, if you round the top also makes a great root cutting trench shovel as well, while adding a little bit more but not a lot more weight to the blade. This is a beautiful design. I loved the video.

[@kerryrwac]

It's really difficult to see Rick's work when every knife in the gallery has a giant sold banner across the middle of the picture.

[@FortyTwoBlades]

There's a number of Italian pennati still produced as tools today that have a similar shape to them, with a socket for pole-mounting. Rick's a great guy and knows his stuff. A pleasant surprise to see him appear on the channel.

[@scavanger1000]

This just got recommended on my home page, this is my first blade test video I've seen and I absolutely loved it, looked like you were just having fun at the end,👍very cool

[@cajbajthewhite4889]

BILLHOOKS BABY LET'S GOOOOO

[@ViniZiello]

I can't help but admire Skall's edge alignment. So smooth. Cheers mate

[@blookarakal4417]

I love these practical yet fantasy looking weapons, they are doubly awesome.

[@a.z7469]

I think this weapon would be perfect for use with grappling, or parred with a shield. Very interesting design, I'd like to see it used against heat treated plate armour at some point.

[@Khrene]

I've always wanted a hybrid Ji, with one side like the older style - the Chinese Dagger Axe - and the newer style - the crescent moon halberd type. To be used for very similar purposes. I like this design better, its simpler and it being double bladed with two grinds instead of 2 hafted blades you get waaaay cleaner cuts.

[@gryaznygreeb]

The music from Fable gave me a nostalgic mental flashbang - in a good way!

[@stormlewis5214]

I've specifically looked for your videos mah Lord

[@DeusEversor]

@Skallagrim this reminds me of Uruk'hai swords. Id do a 1/3 less handle bu 2x longer blade. This is interesting area to explore, swords with hooks/spikes on other side instead of fauxegde Obviously this puts more weight on the "weak of the blade" which necessitates longer handles. But to keep it more to swords than poles handle needs to be shorter than blade and i think 3-4hands length is enough, but i wouldnt go below 2 hands length as minimum or near 2/3 of blade length as maximum

[@bucksorel6805]

Hey i was thinking the same as soon as I saw it! Would be really cool in a longer blade sword mod with a one handed handle!

[@135Fenrir]

Honestly, that would look awesome with a geometric chisel style grind like on some modern Tantos

[@Baggytrousers27]

Not only is it excellent for defence but damn that'd make an excellent gardening tool.

[@yup949]

I saw your poll and then watched the video. It did not show up upon you posting, alas, loved the video.

[@leemcgann6470]

Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy! Always have a towel handy!

[@Troommate]

Surprised by how well that Billhook cuts beautiful weapon

[@mushroomwizard1175]

I love seeing you guys have fun, warms my morning.

[@lachlanmckinnie1406]

I'm jealous of the young fella. Being able to play around with swords and bills when you're young with (presumably) your parents would be awesome. I know I loved the times I was able to clear things out with machetes.

[@bigmac8309]

skall why are you trying to decapitate this happy looking man

[@ryngobrody1627]

Now I cant unsee it lmao

[@xilpes6254]

*soon*

[@williamp.5253]

Hey Skal, enjoyed the video, thanks for making it. I think it would be fun to watch you review /comment on some fam submitted cutting tests (just for the lols or serious comments) if you were interested in that.

[@himlyk]

I instantly want to see what this thing would be like with a blade on either end balanced well. Your mention of follow up strikes made me think of that.

[@jackcanox4015]

That balde is absolutely amazing!

[@elikraft9159]

I now know what my first bladed project will be, the leaf spring sitting beside my forge needed some inspiration.

[@davidvondoom2853]

What??? Skallagrim showboating with a flourished backhand cut??? 😏 I never thought I'd see the day.

[@richardchisenhall387]

This was awesome, if I could make one request I would've liked to see a double strike, using a false edge cut on the second to see what sort of damage that type of combo could incur. Great video I loved watching the Billy do it's work

[@Zorev32]

Looks awesome. I didn't expect such clean cuts.

[@davidwooden3878]

This is a tasty piece of work, thanks for sharing !

[@dan_the_dj]

Would really love to see an in depth video about this one! Its rare to see something look so cool and is insanely effective at the same time... Its weirdly similar to a design I did a while back, just meant as a tool, rather than weapon. Cuts trees like a champ though, so I dont think it would struggle too much with, emm, finer medium xD

[@Interrobang212]

It looks like a lacrosse stick, but with a blade. Love it!

[@Zonkotron]

I will totally make a copy of this one. As a gardening tool. Period.

[@NotoriousTim]

Wow, that thing is incredible, definitely a cool fantasy design.

[@JoshuaC0rbit]

That thing would be great for gardening and clearing brush. I have a long-handled brush hook that works pretty well for trimming big bushes but something like that you could use on limbs. Very cool

[@Somewhat-Evil]

You certainly have been loving the weapons of the common man recently. First that modified scythe, and now the billhook planning a peasant revolt by any chance?🤫😉

[@BenKlassen1]

Pumpkin was a good, timely and festive choice!

[@connorandrews2859]

That thing could clearly make a weapon of preferrred choice for me.

[@theoverpreparerlamenters3r436]

Looks quite effective. I'll be making a power weapon based off of this.

[@Bleuf0963]

im obsessed with the design

[@AusyG]

I once took a cheap $30 bill hook bush axe with a 5' handle and made it sharp enough to shave. I was regularly able to cleanly cleave through oak and maple saplings 3" thick in one swing. I have no doubt they they would have been absolutely devastating weapons on the battlefield

[@horrorhouse16]

i know you're struggeling with the amount of vieuws you're getting lately. but im glad you're still uploading frequently. i still always enjoy all of your videos. keep up the good work! im looking foreword to more videos! ( sorry if my english isnt the best )

[@loganswalk8621]

Simple yet effective everything a weapon needs to be.

[@v1k1ng80]

My only concern with this weapon is really defense. As it is short, for a polearm:ish weapon, it doesn't keep enemies away from you, and it doesn't have a point at the top, wich would make it less dangerous to point at someone, and thus they are more likely to aproach you. The entire "catching area" for blocking enemy strikes is quite small and generaly makes it easy for the enemy weapon to slide to the users upper hand. It has no crossguard like features to combat this, like swords do. For example, if a person with a longsword were to block a strike, diagonal from above, and then they could just stab at you, as their crossguard would keep them safe from you, but in the contrary, if you managed to block an attack against them, they could just slide the sword down the shaft and cut your fingers of. Otherwise, extremly good weapon! You can really get a lot of force in each swing and then just swing again!

[@thomasdevlin5825]

I never thought pool noodles would make such a satisfying sound when you slash them with a blade

[@codyclick190]

That first tatami cut sold me

[@silas1173]

Has a badass, destructive weapon to test anything with “Let’s start with hand sanitizer”

[@rakatika]

I almost exclusively watch from my subscription feed and I go to your vids first

[@Dabeyoun]

That second cut... Probably the cleanest cut I've seen in your channel so far. :p

[@meleardil]

I watched that frame by frame. The top part moved less than a centimeter when the blade already passed. VERY clean.

[@CazadorSlayer]

*Y E S!* Not only does that look like it'd be a DEVASTATING weapon, I bet it'd be a supremely useful tool, too. A sturdy curved edge for trimming small branches, plucking fruit from trees, clearing vegetation. A clean, sharp edge for beheading your bastard neighbor for stealing your freshly-plucked fruits! Truly the perfect tool for all situations!

[@thegreatcheese4806]

I love the look of it. For myself I think I would try a longer pole, looked like a fun day.

[@FazekasPK]

One could say, this blade is cutting edge technology!

[@tysonknapp9116]

Glad to see these videos again. Glad to see this team up. Its awesome that you have made friends in your area, can't wait to see more content.

[@Advance493]

This reminds me of a weapon I designed. Basically a small one-handed version of the poleaxe with an igorot axe blade.

[@KamenRider1]

Already mentioned here but this actually has a similarity with the Apayao variant of the Igorot Headhunting Axe, one of my local bladesmiths here (Hanyan Blades) made a few recently, labeled as the Sinawit but also called the Binaroy.

[@666louis]

That thing looks like it would be a badass gardening tool.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

Skall, it's like you have managed to cross golf with tameshigiri 😂

[@Kpsla]

Looks like the kind of weapon a fantasy nomad hunter/fisher tribe would use. Pretty cool.

[@omari2306]

Before i die, i need to see you expose the Berber weapons from the Numidians of the Atlas mountains: The Berber Hammer. The Flissa a thrusting slashing sword. They are usually yelded with shield or dual handedly. From, there, thus the Berber stick fighting. Big fan of yours, Skallagrim.

[@lasersponge]

Great video, thank you for continuing to make excellent content!

[@celtic5897]

I unironically love that thing

[@gordonpromish9218]

that worked a lot better than I had expected

[@White_devil1980]

Very cool idea ❤a great variation on the bill hook 😊

[@Deadly_DoRight]

damn that background music for the first cuts was a banger

[@seanthomasdowd]

Billiant weapon and back to your best kind of content I think

[@coalcreekdefense8106]

I get the feeling a longer haft would make this a real beast.

[@whirving]

Wow, I would give that a try for brush clearing. I usually use a machete or a Sandvik brush axe but this is sort of both but probably better!