Billhook vs. Ballistic Head

[@a.r.spellman]

Very illuminating. My brain feels significantly less safe inside my skull now.

[@blacktootherson]

Lmaooo

[@TeutonicEmperor1198]

wear a helmet then!

[@myladycasagrande863]

Do you encounter billhook-wielding foes often?

[@bat6353]

@@myladycasagrande863 Do you not???

[@Lord_Akkon]

It's rather 'mind-blowing', very 'revealing', a 'blast' to the past

[@Triumvirately]

“We’re gonna start with the least invasive thing.” -Murders the poor guy

[@StrangeSignal]

It's funny, because when he said that, I was expecting him to NOT attack with the tip. His definition of "invasive" seems otherworldly.

[@mrhalfsaid1389]

​@StrangeSignal I'm not sure how exactly you don't see that the point is that it's the least likely to cause horrific gore without armour. Least doesn't mean it was not a large margin of. It's like saying that a low caliber pistol is the least likely to kill you comparing it to a rifle. Both will kill you easily, but the less powerful one will be somewhat less likely to. You are welcome for your ☝️🤓

[@asrisaran5536]

lobotomy

[@StrangeSignal]

@@mrhalfsaid1389 The point of the billhook can pierce particularly through chainmail and can reach the brain through the eye. It is the MOST intrusive of features on the billhook unless you're meaning "intrusive" to imply breaking a door down or obliterating plate armor.

[@Triumvirately]

Guys it’s not that deep. Chill

[@korblborp]

"wonder what the hook will do" looks like a frontal lobotomy

[@lord_duckian9521]

The Kennedys should’ve invested in a billhook

[@Lowlandlord]

"We're gonna start with the least invasive things" proceeds to stab into the brain😅

[@robinswords]

And yet it was

[@qwormuli77]

Still, he was _technically_ correct: The best kind of correct.

[@raf.raf.]

I thought he was going to slap it with the flat side lol

[@mrhalfsaid1389]

We're talking about a weapon meant to kill through mail. You don't get an uninvasive attack

[@Mutated-Reptile]

@@robinswords I have a sword related question for you

[@PennyTheGoblin]

This is why I wear a helmet while cycling. You never know when you’ll take a tumble off your bike and an English man-at-arms swoops in to cleave your cranium asunder.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

I mean falling off is safe, but you don't want to accidentally land on the flail someone dropped.

[@katanamaru1]

'His neck is completely broken.' That's why I don't fight with or against polearms in standard HEMA gear. I don't care that the head is rubber, the neck is the weak point.

[@benbookworm]

I don't even like fighting against foam polearms in Amtgard or Belegarth. They're so annoying, and they're a safety hazard when wielded improperly.

[@gv12351]

Seeing a Foot Soldier in full plate armor and a billhook on a battlefield must have been intimidating to say the least.

[@xphantom404x]

A standard foot soldier wouldn't have had full plate, but i agree that the image is intimidating

[@theprancingprussian]

Even an improvised bill could mess you up

[@marvelsomething1952]

Not sure why I read that as full pirate armor

[@qhu3878]

​@@marvelsomething1952 yo ho

[@Mischievous_Moth]

@@qhu3878 Careful, I caught a week long ban on facebook once for saying that... on talk like a pirate day. XD

[@polymathart]

Fun fact: Billhook is short for William Hook

[@Chris11231]

I presume he went on to become a Captain?

[@manuelito1233]

Bro no way, I thought it was William Hookinson

[@Jack-yo2bc]

Good job he wasn't called richard hook

[@cocolarge6285]

Billiam

[@roblentz81]

Ohhhhh Billllly…. 😂

[@Isteak80]

The neighbors must be like "oh my god, its escalating"

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

"I don't understand, he's always so polite and proper, and then every now and then he goes out in his backyard and EVISCERATES stuff!"

[@jayred2908]

​@@POTUSJimmyCarterWatch out for the polite ones. They've done things. 😂

[@GamesWorkshopsFlyingCircus]

"God damn it what's he up to now?" "I wonder what the hook will do?" *FRONTAL LOBOTOMY NOISES*

[@rmhaven142]

you killed him with the first stab and then just disrespected what was left

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Adding insult to injury 😂

[@BrendanSchmelter]

This just proves why Polearms, in general, were effectively used everywhere and in multiple roles. (Hot damn that weapon inflicted vicious wounds! I can only imagine the damage of a full speed strike.)

[@bajeebus-j2p]

This makes me wonder-why are swords so much more popular in culture nowadays? Couldn’t you have a shorter polearm you could carry around in place of a sword?

[@d3tuned378]

@@bajeebus-j2p Then it wouldn't be a polearm. It would have less leverage. And shorter hafted versions did exist.

[@fatmanoutdoors]

@@bajeebus-j2p My take is that swords are "sexier" than polearms and make for better action scenes. Hence Hollywood focused on swords in movies and swords are now embedded in the collective consciousness. Plus it is easier to carry a sword in general. Walking down the street may draw looks, but imagine if you were carrying a 10-15 foot polearm down the street....

[@Greatly_Incompetent]

​@@fatmanoutdoors a longsword duel is generally more exciting than two groups poking at each other just out of range

[@millinom]

longswords are the weapon of choice amongst fully armored combatants. Too long and it becomes clunky in a fight that generally leads to a grapple, too short and you dont have enough leverage to avoid a disadvantage in the grapple. That also says nothing as to the versatility of longswords. Not only is it a deadly weapon in the cut and thrust as most people understand, but if you flip it around and hold it by the blade, it's suddenly a rather large club. The versatility offered by the longsword is what made it so favored by elite fighters. If we're talking fully unarmored combat, then you probably just go for a halberd or pokey stick.

[@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy]

Alas, poor Yorick. You slew him

[@5Demona5]

Best comment here so far

[@gmkgoat]

…well

[@DoubLL]

Yeah, it really makes sense that even with full protective gear, during sparing polearms are only used with synthetic heads. The force they can apply is absolutely disgusting. That's a really nice billhook you have there by the way, it looks great!

[@mslim8412]

Get billhooked. My new favorite insult.

[@Dawn.tless.]

Will unironically start using that, thank you good sir

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

There's a reason older Brits still use the phrase "poleaxed" (they stopped spelling it pollaxe in such usage) to refer to someone getting just absolutely shut down, usually out of shock or disbelief.

[@ErnestLordGoring]

@@POTUSJimmyCarterI haven’t read that expression in ages, thanks for the reminder!

[@chazaqiel2319]

According to the research of a friend of mine (he studied as a philologist), the billhook was at some point the weapon my hometown's militia was most known for during the Middle Ages. Really exciting to see the kind of damage it can deliver!

[@slimjim2584]

I enjoyed how your hands grew progressively redder as you handled the test subject.

[@JoeWedgwood-ik9zo]

Definitely my preferred weapon for the zombie apocalypse 👍🏻

[@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy]

Aww, no love for the bec de corbin?

[@aloespirit1880]

i do think it would hold up well because it is long, powerful, and has many ways to mangle a zombie

[@zpainr00ls]

Sir Robin said it himself: a blunt object is more useful in a zombie apocalypse since what you want to do is shatter the zombies' skull, and spears can be both sharp and blunt

[@Bonelesssousage]

Think about it. It would be terrible and messy. Youll get zombie matter all over and possibly inside you. Changing you into said zombie!!

[@ShovelLettuce]

I think this could get stuck on the zombies a lot of the time but I mean you got that flexibilty and range It'd be a good time to test it out

[@_claymore]

"they are kinda ok if they don't mind a shaving off their skull" .. "nah man, I'm totally fine, it's nothing a good night's rest can't fix!"

[@williamedge5130]

Average D&D character

[@DedicatedTryhard]

“Just take a long rest.”

[@bellatrix8247]

A question: While you have a cutting edge, a hook, and multiple spikes, what I wonder is if the back if the thrusting point could almost be treated as a sword spear or something along those lines? Seems like a long flat and sharp area that could be used for that purpose. If it is, then that's a little indulgent considering the billhook is already the swiss army knife of polearms. Now for a Fun Fact: the portion of the skull stabbed though at a minute in, is called the "Glabella" and is the thickest part of the human skull. A dulled point still punched that deep into the part of the skull that can save you from a low-caliber headshot. And now for a suggestion: if you guys ever try this again, I wonder if it would be worth to set up a small yard pool with water or with pillows that you don't mind getting stained red, to try and save the skull from any excess ground collision for a more consistent showcase of the weapon's damage. Or at least set out a tarp for easy cleanup. And a cinder block with some rope is a wonderful tool for stopping stands like that from tipping over

[@michaelguth4007]

Might add a drill to it somewhere...

[@robinswords]

Yeah, that section can absolutely be bladed. Mine is, but I didn't have high hopes for the edge I put on it. I didn't want to risk bending it because of a wonky dull cut.

[@CRO_Bash95]

Yeah man, that fun fact is crazy! When he did that stab, when he went for the eye, at first I was disappointed that he missed, but then I realised what happened! Hahahaha Glabella is the thickest part of the skull and IIRC there are photos of guys with AK bullets stuck in their foreheads 😂😂😂 Those AK rounds must've been ricochets or something tho. That first stab would be deadly, i think 🤔

[@mxpants4884]

​@@CRO_Bash95 Or at least personality altering a la Finneas Gage

[@amycox5733]

My zombie apocalypse shopping list just got a little bit longer.

[@zanderdev57]

Would you say, perhaps, about 8 ft longer?

[@papap6557]

Good to see my subscription money go to good use.

[@Lunageldia]

I think this was a good demonstration of "headshots are all crits" because i dont think anyone would walk away from ANY of those hits. Like, maybe the first forehead thrust but that still went through the skull and into the squishy enough that they needed a second person to help wrench and twist it back out.

[@Calvados656]

Mr. Bones is not okay.

[@vinnipolicastro5683]

This makes me want a left 4 dead style game set during the plague

[@jabz1582]

Vermintide 1 and 2 would be right up your alley

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

Blight Survival made the rounds on gaming journalism sites a while back, but I haven't seen much of it since and my gut tells me it might be one of those overpromise and underdeliver situations. I do hope it's not, though.

[@baronbacku9984]

just wanted to confirm what the guy above said about Vermintide. sounds like the game you might be looking for

[@waffler-yz3gw]

@@jabz1582ooooOOOH IT EXISTS?? i gotta see edit: looks lame nvm

[@gaigeriel]

Love the billhook!! Such a jarring looking weapon, but so cool. Would love to see you do a tier list ranking weapons some day!

[@TheLord0Ice0Wind]

This makes one realize just how gruesome battle would be in the era this was common in a very visceral fashion

[@roblentz81]

This was macabre and FUN to watch. Great progression of strikes with the separate parts of the weapon, and a cool way to explore the possibilities with each. Thanks for giving this so much sweat effort 💪

[@yalkn2073]

Its scary how easily even a dull pole-arm goes through a skull

[@laevateinx9163]

So we're just going to make a small incision. *Pierces through the forehead into the brain*

[@Austin_Red]

pleaaase do more actual videos like this, its so interesting to learn about medieval weaponry

[@dlatrexswords]

Great showing of the bill! I sympathize with how hard it is to rig this type of target: resisting such a powerful strike is no easy task, especially when you’re trying to approximate a human. The scooping along the briancase is certainly a type of historical strike we see on archeological artifacts so well done: both the skull and your attempt interfaced as may have happened once upon a time!

[@robinswords]

I wanted to try the bike stand because it'll yield with enough pressure. I think I need to weigh down the base to prevent full tipping. Just as a target that's mounted too loosely yields artificial results, so too does having it mounted inflexibly. I'm trying to get somewhere in-between. I want it to reel from hits, but still give enough resistance to not just fall over.

[@dlatrexswords]

@@robinswords have you considered a an inflatable clown bopper 🤡 In seriousness I’ve been at my wits end with the same problem dealing with these heavy newspaper targets; doubly so as I need something that will stay out of sight out of consideration to the Mrs. It’s certainly a tricky bit of engineering doing test cutting some days!

[@digitaljanus]

@@robinswords I remember when Tod Cutler of Tod's Workshop assembled his team to test the actual effect of longbow arrows, they had their ballistic dummy strapped to a wheeled office chair and put a tall wooden board a couple of inches behind it so it could only rollback so far. That might be too elaborate for your purposes though.

[@ChimpFromSpace]

If you're willing to spend a few hundred bucks, you might be able to rig something up using one of those weighted boxing dummy guys. They're called Bob(body opponent bag). They are made to approximate a human's weight, and balance.

[@jacksonmulville2200]

These heads are not cheap! Thanks for the video

[@ArykSapien]

So stoked! This channel is single-handedly making me appreciate billhooks more and more.

[@Ey3contact]

The dummy's blood being red makes the bill look rad after a strike

[@cookiecraze1310]

If you forget to sharpen your billhook, don't worry. Now you just have a pointy hammer.

[@soyevquirsefron990]

Big budget production! The red shirt was a good idea

[@jewishswordsman9199]

"Welcome to North Carolina. The weather knows your plans and hates them." You staying dry there in The Triangle btw?

[@robinswords]

Hah, no 🌧️

[@jewishswordsman9199]

​@@robinswords well as you may know I lived in Raleigh a while (2017-2023) so I'm glad to hear you've not floated away like my other friends and fellow sword enthusiasts. Eric Lowe had particularly bad timing on his trip home from RLO. My wife almost got a gig in SC and we'd have been moving there nowish if it had gone through. Instead we're now in Omaha.

[@robinswords]

We had four separate tornadoes in the area yesterday. That was an undesirably exciting night! Some water damage in our ceiling too to deal with now. Silver lining is that the branches we lost over night will nicely replenish our firewood supply.

[@DragonMaster360]

Lots of rain in North Carolina? Sign me up!!

[@jewishswordsman9199]

@@DragonMaster360 you mean the torrential flooding from the tropical storm?

[@noahwagoner5291]

I commented on a post a few days ago saying billhooks are the superior low-training/High effect weapon. Makes me happy to see it getting some love.

[@mirzatopcagic9609]

We are getting closer and closer to a Kentucky Balistics collab; I bet Scott would call a billhook the "Medieval Bottle Opener"

[@liviuursegr]

4:32 "well that was an incredibly easy in and out. went in" - * made mashed potatoes of his brains - "right out"

[@meatballdivino8955]

Fun fact, after the armored duel with poleaxe fell out of fashion in italy it was replaced with the billhook duel the unarmored, billhook duel

[@DanielMWJ]

4:55 He's dead, Jim.

[@MrAlexH1991]

And on the VERY FIRST THRUST… not even at 100%… and you CRACKED HIS ENTIRE FACE OPEN… with JUST THE POINT. ……… I’ve got nothing for that… absolutely nothing. That’s legitimately terrifying.

[@michaelslowmin]

I like how this guy looks like he's gonna take another drag from his cigarette before putting it out and then setting aside his whiskey on the rocks before showing me how to brutalize my opponents. All in black and white with nice orchestral soundtack ofc

[@JVarley9001]

This is a great PSA for helmets

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

Feels like Halberds and Polaxe have nothing on that billhook. What an absolute beast! Thanks for sharing!

[@JustGrowingUp84]

- Halberds: fewer spiky bits, less chance to get stuck/entangled (especially in armor, but also in the body). - Pollaxe: usually shorter, better suited for close combat - and if you're wearing full plate armor, there's a good chance you can actually get into close combat against someone with a longer polearm. If it has a hammer head, you can deliver powerful strokes that can damage the target even if they don't penetrate the armor - and also, it can't get stuck in the armor, unlike using a spike head. - Both the halberd and the pollaxe usually have a wider area around the spear-point - meaning you will have an easier time catching and manipulating enemy polearms. - If you want a video explaining more about pollaxe - especially against the bill - please watch the video: Armored Knight's POLLAXE DOMINATED Medieval BATTLES with VERSATILITY from the channel scholagladiatoria.

[@FriendlyGoblinWasTaken]

Counterpoint: Lucerne

[@jonharker9028]

Yeah, I mean they’re all good weapons. Different commanders preferred the bill or the halberd over the other, but most seem to have agreed that they were both superior to the greatsword. I do like Matt Easton, but I don’t think there’s much to say about halberd vs billhook other than personal preference. Fencing sources like Pietro Monte, Achille Marozzo and Joachim Meyer all treat them as effectively the same to fight with, as do others. Many of the Italians of the time preferred the bill, as did parts of the British Isles, but Swiss and (possibly) French contemporaries preferred the halberd, and both Mair and Meyer include the halberd prominently. If you pick one or the other, cool!

[@RheaMainz]

psh, Halberds don't need this disrespect! They're basically the same thing as billhooks! Owed to their mutual lengths, both hit way harder than pollaxes though

[@JustGrowingUp84]

@@jonharker9028 Personal preference is true. But they do have differences, which become apparent in actual practice, both in individual and group sparring. Those differences may not be very dramatic, but they do provide different advantages and disadvantages, and are important to understanding the weapon and how it may have been used. A glaive, for example, is generally not suited for hooking with a pull motion, because it doesn't have with what to do it - but there are exceptions. Most halberds and some bills can be effective at striking people on their helmets, because they have a lot of mass near the tip, and so they cause a strong impact - which might force the target to retreat for a breather. Other types of bills are pretty bad at striking people on the helmet because they are very slim, and so would cause only a minor to moderate discomfort - but they are better at thrusting, because they are faster (due to a lighter head). Yes, they are all similar, but they also have a wonderful diversity, so saying that they're essentially the same weapon is doing a disservice to that diversity. And a disservice to us, modern people who are interested in these old weapons. Each has its own beauty, and calling them all "the same" limits our understanding of that beauty. It's like saying that all longswords are essentially the same - insert the "well yes, but actually no" meme.

[@aliengoboom]

Nice video!! surprisingly great results, you are a master when it comes to these weapons.

[@guy4036]

Turns out weapons exist for a reason. Humans are good are figuring out how to make them effective, regardless of time period and method

[@Jarulf4477]

That escalated quickly. Love the billhook, really a weapon for me.

[@rsa0137]

Damn, my head felt that drop on 1:53 all the way here in Asia 😅

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

One has to imagine it would still be almost exactly as abrupt and forceful even if it were dragging a body down along with it.

[@matthewmarting3623]

Even as a big medieval weapon fan, that was horrifying. I’m glad you shared this. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the fantasy of what one imagines things might be like instead of looking at the reality of it.

[@DonovanSailor-f9u]

I love these types of episodes, it not only shows the weapon in action, it also shows the lethality of the weapon. Also as a side nlte, do you plan on making more of these types of videos, when you can afford more of the ballistic gel heads?

[@robinswords]

I have another I bought on sale. I'm just waiting for this tropical storm to pass.

[@arathergrumpyturtle]

I was at the raleigh open recently and I saw your longsword matches! You're a very skilled and technical fencer. I can never be sure about the advice with some "hema influencers" because I don't know if they are practitioners themselves or not but I'm glad to see you are.

[@robinswords]

Thanks! I'm glad I didn't disappoint!

[@evelynlamoy8483]

Love a billhook. Pretty sure they developed from plant trimming blades.

[@krisgamer008]

Noted, dont mess with the pole arm guy

[@aleksandersanya1817]

3:28 I imagined a guy on the battlefield actually surviving that and bringing it home as a keepsake

[@Reptar156]

Honestly, thank you for the true retrospective on what our forefathers dealt with. Would love too see more on what full helmets do for protection, vs what basic footman protection did.

[@babilobaid5306]

Really nice video short concise and really is nice to actually see these weapons in action to a none fencer who cares more about the affect then the specifics keep going

[@flammenwaffenfries3039]

Didn't need a demonstration to know you don't want to be hit anywhere with that

[@genghiskhan6809]

Why polearm meta persisted for almost all human history:

[@imokguysivetoldyoutoomanyt2427]

As a personal fan of the Italian Billhook, I appreciate the use of the bill for a well-done overhead attack. It's always a nice sight to see underappreciated weapons get some time in the spotlight!

[@grimweaper-s5k]

I love the billhook it looks like it is fantasy but it's not

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

"I've stuck as much danger as I possibly can onto every facet of this stick, I am genuinely struggling to determine where else I could put a pokey or choppy bit. Now, I shall go test it on the French, to see if overlooked anywhere."

[@Mordred478]

Never mind the billhook, that 'stache and those pants could kill at twenty paces.

[@lt.kitkat]

The casual brutality of this is crazy. An entire battlefield of people getting hit by this type of shit would be horrifying. I'm so glad that I'm too autistic to think that this any other than cool as shit.

[@no1mayorofsimpleton]

thinking to myself "surely he's not going to stab at the mangled remains of the head. it's already done for surely he's not going to do it again" right before the grayscale thrusting

[@Jeremycook_]

A weapon designed by bad dragon "toys" on a 6ft pole is scary...confirmed.

[@godgaveyouhands2848]

I don’t think I’m going to be breaking into this guy’s house any time soon

[@kingjohn8980]

I feel like more characters in fiction should use a bill hook, especially villains.

[@Chunk_McSniffer]

Sick mustache dude

[@geronimo8159]

Now that's a lot o' damage! Ouch, ouch, ouch and ouch!

[@gunfun7772]

Imagine looting armor off of a dead dude and his helmet is full of brain soup.

[@ryanhampson673]

Hollywood always focuses on swords for movies, but polearms are just terrifying and I think they need more love in movies.

[@tatumergo3931]

So terrifying that they accounted for the majority of casualties in war. But Hollywood has never been interested in reality, so......

[@BrigantinosDoRoudos]

KZbin asked me to review this video, I said “Very Helpful” and “Calming” :)

[@Preston241]

Turns out the billhook was no joke.

[@gabe1298]

I like the scuffed, low-budget feel. Makes it feel like the golden age of youtube again.

[@darkartsdabbler2407]

I used to watch deadliest warrior with no problem, but now as an adult… yikes man, this is legit a little hard to watch Brutal! Very cool

[@troydodson9641]

You do fine work. Mr. Bill has always been a favorite pole of mine

[@Skelator_Sikelator]

I don't know why but you look like 17 year old spanish farmerboy just decided to become a mercenary.

[@Enthymene]

Thank you for further reinforcing the bill hook as my zombie apocalypse weapon of choice

[@bagel_guy9495]

In short. That billhook will mess you up

[@WilcrezTheWanderer]

*1:04* (TFS Mr. Popo voice) "HE DEAD."

[@ticket2space]

Wow this video is nuts. That's some pretty gnarly damage there, scary stuff! I cant imagine being the guy on the other end of that, or even his buddies that are battling beside him

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

2:32 pretty sure he's already dead

[@aarondevaldez9134]

This just confirms why the billhook is in my top three melee weapons of choice.

[@MarcusVance]

Quality science

[@PODSMPSG1]

Looks like a Billhook is perfectly capable of killing Zombies.

[@iri5583]

unreal, love this sort of video rob!! would love to see more mate keep the great work up x

[@lukasmadrid1945]

More of these longer videos pls!

[@judsongaiden9878]

One of the meanest and most practical medieval infantry weapons. Btw, yes, there are people in this world with the name "William Hook."

[@cr4sh25]

I wasn't prepared for that to make me cringe all the way to my bones

[@Aeiouuoiea777]

I bet that all the neighbours are very courteous and friendly

[@JohnNathanShopper]

“It’s only a flesh wound.” “Your cerebral cortex is off!”

[@davidlewis8814]

Serves that guy right for going on the battlefield without a helmet! Who does he think he is, a Hollywood star?

[@r.t.972]

Talk about a 1 and done kind of weapon. Impressed with the damage the hook did.

[@Matt_Alaric]

The billhook was the most common weapon of the medieval English soldier, while the longbow was the most common weapon of the medieval English bowman. Apparently the phrase "bills and bows!" was common slang for the army to suit up ready for a battle.

[@shaeisgae8952]

Love these videos, its so interesting to see how these weapons would actually work. Also a bit horrifying lol

[@Derbearltd]

Great video. Would love to see more of these!

[@manfredconnor3194]

I can just imagine your neighbors looking out and seeing you doing all of this.

[@buggiegaming193]

Imagine seeing your neighbor test out medivial weaponry

[@WBF_III]

Gotta say, this one was tough to explain to my wife listening from the other room 😂