Underappreciated Historical Weapons: the Billhook or Bill

[@pirateraider1708]

Medieval Shopkeeper trying to sell billhooks: "It's a versatile, cheap, and effective weapon." Medieval college kid forced into war: "You had me at cheap."

[@TheArklyte]

It's great for opening tin cans too!

[@ryankunst668]

Like that time Cambridge University declared war on the town of Cambridge.

[@sevenproxies4255]

Fetch me some turnips as well. I'm gonna need some cheap field rations for this war.

[@konstellashon1364]

GS Abridged?

[@Cahirable]

Anyone in a medieval university was doing well enough to afford a more expensive and prestigious weapon. They were known for using swords and bucklers rather than polearms.

[@ItRemindMeOfHome]

It seems like there's two ends on the spectrum of "Farm Tools Turned Weapons". On the "Mostly Useless" end is the Farm Scythe, which the Europeans admittedly tried to find combat applications for given how widespread its use was. On the "Ridiculously Useful" end was the Billhook, a tool which accidentally proved so useful that, when most of Europe was beginning to move towards the arquebus and pike, the English kept fielding formations of billmen and longbowmen.

[@chrisgibson5267]

1. Source staff. 2. Source farm scythe. 3. Remove scythe blade from handle provided. 4. Attach blade to end of staff. 5. Hand it to your levies. www.londonremembers.com/subjects/monmouth-rebellion

[@lordfelidae4505]

Chris Gibson yep. Scythe blades just need to be re-oriented to make it a terrifying polearm.

[@skell6134]

​@@lordfelidae4505Yeah War Scythe Literally scythe blade rotated vertically and basically just a two-handed sword

[@shadfacts6465]

Shad Fact: Shad has sworn off Volleyball after a slight miss understanding about the term "Spiking the ball at the other team".

[@ASmartNameForMe]

The creativity behind each of these facts, is this just what you do in your spare time?

[@影山平ら]

@@ASmartNameForMe you can't make up something which is real.

[@ASmartNameForMe]

@@影山平ら oh yeah? How did we make our accounts? We made them up, *and they're real**

[@影山平ら]

@@ASmartNameForMe you are a man of intellect

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

@@ASmartNameForMe "Deyz real honey." *snap snap*

[@SuperDipMonster]

Seeing some of these weapons, I'm surprised *anyone* survived.

[@WardOfSouls]

"Let's stay away from all those guys with the pointy things!" *cannon has entered the chat* "Let's get as close to those guys with the pointy things as we can!"

[@joefollo4891]

@DefinitelyNotDan that’s not how history happened

[@lordfelidae4505]

@DefinitelyNotDan You sadden me, you chloroplast deficient birch wood buttplug.

[@ondras5241]

@DefinitelyNotDan Actually it was the opposite, the "whites" meaning Europeans became so prominent because of gunpowder. Ottoman Empire, Mongolian hordes etcetera were causing major problems to Europeans, until they gained this huge advantage in guns thanks to weaponizing gunpowder (needless to say, gunpowder was firstly weaponized by the Chinese, but the Europeans were the ones that really shined in using it)

[@mikefule]

Serious answer: in any war (apart from the very few that were motivated by raw hatred) most warriors survive. Enemy soldiers have a value as hostages or slaves, and who is going to work the land you've captured if you kill al the peasants? In fact, most warriors never kill anyone and most weapons are never even used in combat. Think about it: 10,000 men on each side. At the end of the battle, the victors have lost 20% and the defeated have lost 40%. 6,000 men out of the 20,000 present have been killed, and 14,000 have survived. If only 6,000 have died, no more than 6,000 people can have killed anyone. The first lot to be killed were taken out by missile fire, often before they ever managed to close with the enemy. Some heroes maybe killed 2 or 3 or 10 enemies, meaning that someone else on their side did not kill anyone. Most warriors carry 2 or 3 weapons, and use 1 by preference keeping the 2nd and 3rd in reserve. War is about manoeuvring, siege, threatening, marching, retreating, occupation of prime sites, bluffing, and eventually negotiating a peace. You only meet in open battle if you feel sure you'll win, or if you are trapped no other choice. The weapons were nasty, the wounds horrendous, but most were carried all the way there and all the way back again without needing to be used. I have a jack and wheel brace in my car just the same. I hope never to need them, but I'm willing to if I need to. :)

[@Thaumogenesis]

Underappreciated historical weapons: every pole weapon ever.

[@irugelgumiho5195]

acurrate

[@skylarheitzman7958]

You mean every weapon that isn't a sword, spear or I suppose axe or mace. While I don't think axes or maces are exactly underappreciated, they are definitely undersold how good they are, and underused in pop culture. Spears as well I'd say.

[@ruben307]

put a useful tool and extend the reach with a pole seems to make most stuff better. A Billhook or a knife or whatever else they think is good.

[@darkblood626]

It's like if people of the future ignore the machine gun.

[@guntherdoesaliltrolling5757]

The Virgin Sword vs The Chad Polearms.

[@wildtanuki6556]

I love how some of the most interesting weapons are formed from field tools.

[@sirjaroid4725]

including the axe

[@nikmenn2751]

@@sirjaroid4725 and pole-flail.

[@doctorofallrats]

What's better with a sharp pointy stick? That's right, a sharp pointy stick with other pointy sticks on it! What's not to love?

[@Gauntlet1212]

I want one!

[@Dinoslay]

Sticks on sticks on sticks on sticks on sticks on a stick.

[@오주환-b1n]

Ratman Jeff: What's not to love? Me: The fines for an illegal weapon.

[@incredibilisman2909]

Knifes with other knives are also good. But that's the Kpinga which a completely unrelated weapon.

[@Benzy670]

I love the idea of just calling your weapon, “Bill,” like it has a mundane name. I’d have two of them so I can call the other one, “George”.

[@stein1919]

not Ted?

[@DieGoetterdaemmerung]

In german it's called a Roßschinder which translates to something like "horse tormentor"

[@nikmenn2751]

@@DieGoetterdaemmerung ironically it was made to torment the horseman.

[@sameerthakur720]

Call one Clinton and the other, Gates.

[@ericlayton8888]

Surely the other should be Ben after Bill & Ben the Flowerpot Men?

[@AdamSmith-jb2lf]

*opens every attachment on a Swiss Army knife *puts it on the end of a stick

[@user-vp5dn3uz8t]

😂😂😂 TOO TRUE BRO

[@falsefight]

Where's the corkscrew, though? Nail file?

[@user-vp5dn3uz8t]

@@falsefight the world may never know

[@lars0me]

@@falsefight Thats how it connects to the stick

[@akezhantoleukhan2510]

larsme great comment

[@juliahenriques210]

"Someday I'm gonna be a Haaaaaaaalberd... But today I'm still just a bill."

[@scoman91]

I understand that reference.

[@kevingooley9628]

@@scoman91 me too!

[@mvmlego1212]

Those were the good old days. Now they just do everything executioner's orders... I mean, executive swords, uh...

[@WhatsTheTakeaway]

Giggity!

[@alkatron768]

Shad, YOU are underappreciated

[@haillobster7154]

He won't be for long.

[@jannikschmidt8511]

@@haillobster7154 why is that.

[@haillobster7154]

@@jannikschmidt8511 he will be appreciated better soon.

[@therustedshank9995]

Just as the prophecy foretold.

[@Titanic_Tuna]

Shad: No, no, *you're* underappreciated!

[@PHENOXSPARTAN]

No wonder people named their kids after this.

[@zigzaghyena]

You jest but that almost definitely happened.

[@Matagu1]

Swiss people name their kids Bill after Wilhelm Tell. Wilhelm or female version Wilhelmina are many variant names for the nickname "Bill". Wilhelm Tell is the most Legendary figure from Switzerland. :3

[@PHENOXSPARTAN]

GhiraLink Nice to learn. I was joking, but that’s a cool fact to learn.

[@neilwilson5785]

I don't know many kids called Shadiversity but I'll take your word for it.

[@Dinoslay]

Kill Bill.....with a Bill?

[@MrPanzerCatYT]

Mounted opponents have left the chat

[@AVGyerra22]

Lance: NOT YET.

[@camper1749]

You're not a real mounted opponent unless you can destroy billmen with ease.

[@derrickstorm6976]

@@camper1749 you're not a real billman unless you can destroy a mounted opponent with ease ,')

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Medieval Sergeant: What is that thing? Medieval Peasant soldier: Wot? This? This is me bill, I use it to trim hedges. Medieval Sergeant: But can you kill Frenchies with it?

[@CazadorSlayer]

Medieval Peasant: Well, it kilt me neighbor Robert when he tried te fuck me goat, so...Ye?

[@robertdevito5001]

@@CazadorSlayer Robert attempted no such thing!

[@CazadorSlayer]

@@robertdevito5001 Ah, of course not. It was Roberto, his evil twin! That dastardly fiend!

[@oneofmanyparadoxfans5447]

@@CazadorSlayer Was he really that desperate?

[@CazadorSlayer]

@@oneofmanyparadoxfans5447 Robert(o)'s wife died of the Black Plague last spring, n' he was banned from the local brothel after he stabbed another patron with a pitchfork fer buyin' his favorite girl, so...Ye. Ye he was.

[@zvonimirtomac7896]

Some blacksmith: So what weapon do you want on a wooden staff? Knight: Yes.

[@ls200076]

@Ebiegberi Adonkie you: Weird comment. Commenter: no

[@edwartvonfectonia4362]

@Ebiegberi Adonkie nobody: Adonkie: Yes

[@dreysantillan]

@Ebiegberi Adonkie looks like someone has no sense of humor

[@deadmansdeeds3787]

​@Ebiegberi Adonkie You made a similar joke a few comments below are you trolling or just that dull?

[@undyingUmbrage]

@@Skedge THaTs nOt HUmOuR

[@thegreatsilverone1629]

Thrusting is very useful - shad 2019

[@Darth_Enigma]

XD underrated comment

[@graywolfdracon]

Well he does have several kids......

[@robertdevito5001]

He's not wrong, without thrusting, humanity would've gone extinct by now, as well as all mammals

[@michaelharder9737]

@@robertdevito5001 there are other ways to accomplish the task, but humans seem to be the only ones who employ them.

[@crukih7527]

My girlfriend won't let me buy a billhook for house defence reasons. Please talk sense into her :o

[@NeocrimsonX]

Lol

[@someaussieguy140]

Crukih at this point I think it’s time to start thinking about whether or not you want to stay in that relationship.

[@bigredwolf6]

What country do you live in? Lol. As awesome as that would be, studies have shown you’re 5x more likely to be injured defending yourself with a weapon other than a firearm. I’m pretty sure you’re just joking, but I’d rather you be safe than be on the news for getting killed for trying to defend yourself with a billhook.

[@crukih7527]

@@bigredwolf6 But what if a burgler breaks into my house wearing full plate mail? How am I meant to defeat his armour and end him rightly? :(

[@bigredwolf6]

Crukih Well, if you’re an American you’re obviously going to have a cannon filled with grapeshot pommels at the top of your stairs. Need I say more?

[@iansmith4702]

"Bills and bows!" Common English call to arms.

[@scottmantooth8785]

whoa!...a Billhook modified with a small crossbow on the pointy end? ...how awesome would that be...

[@wahoo2384]

No, the length of the bill hook is the body of a 5,000 lb crossbow

[@GargoyleBard]

No, a ballista that shoots bills attached to giant rubber bands (gotta get that hooking action in somehow)

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@wahoo2384 something of that magnitude would definitely qualify as a hand held siege weapon...something that might be wielded by a troll employed by the Ankh Morpork Watch

[@haillobster7154]

Bills before bows.

[@danc6167]

everyone: name a more iconic Bill than Nye. Shad: hold my water.

[@IgnusIncubus]

*mead

[@therustedshank9995]

@christopher snedeker Correct, Shad does not require liquids or food to survive.

[@akezhantoleukhan2510]

The Legion sounds like one of the shadfacts comments

[@akezhantoleukhan2510]

Dan Cooper Hold my blue gambeson

[@donjuantuno7447]

(revision suggestion) Shad: Hold my kite shield

[@CephusSmith]

Another point to consider, billhooks (given their simplicity) were also faster to produce than most other comparable medieval weapons. This is a significant advantage if one had to suddenly and rapidly provide arms to a large number of soldiers for a war.

[@reichspepe1587]

Holy Sigmar, bless this ravaged weapon!

[@irugelgumiho5195]

oh yes

[@bigredwolf6]

Reichspepe Is this the fearsome weapon kekistani peasants wielded so well in battle?

[@thedamntrain3467]

Based

[@advisorv]

Get a move on, lumberfoots...

[@DonVigaDeFierro]

Sir John: Let's call this weapon the Johnhook. Sir Bill: I have a better idea...

[@matthewwriter9539]

I have three Johnhooks, they are so much more effective than the Bill hook, and they are illegal in over 50 countries.

[@alicecarter3742]

I don’t know where..... I don’t know when...... but somewhere in my D&D world a large group of Billman has been created

[@Riot076]

Fun fact about billhook: in Polish we call it "gizarma",which term seems to origin directly from the French word for it,which is "guisarme",which you would literally translate to smth like "mistletoe weapon"

[@CanisMythson]

Honestly, I expected you to cover this sooner. Billhooks are FANTASTIC weapons, and really deserve to be heard of and seen. Such a shame everyone is so obsessed with swords that they don't realize that swords are essentially sidearms, for the most part...

[@blitzkrieg2928]

Knight : time to charge Billhook: maybe you should be more careful next time

[@Echowhiskeyone]

I started playing AD&D many years ago. I was amazed at the number of pole arms. This is what got me interested in historic weapons, especially weird looking ones and how they developed. Researching pole arms is as frustrating as fun. The internet simplified the searching.

[@AdamCeladin]

Awesome Episode! I just discovered yesterday that very similar thing are using Fire fighter for pulling burning cloth from roof

[@-Pathos-]

Bane of my existence when im a cavalry in Mordhau

[@Kkey884]

This is why I’m a billhook Main. Your agony is my joy.

[@angelmin8819]

HAVE AT THEM BOYS

[@aralon4510]

Good.

[@ls200076]

@@Kkey884 Neej mi lord

[@Limpshot_McGee]

One of the reasons I got Mordhau in the first place was because it had obscure weapons like the billhook and executioner's sword.

[@ErikMello96]

Underappreciated weapon: the Flip Flop. Mothers across the world used this weapon to smack their kids. Effective at both close quarters and at a distance!

[@retrygames4129]

No don’t tell them about it , you’ll doom us all

[@aidanwilson1028]

The dreaded Chancla strikes again

[@shiro_the_trap2513]

"Here's my polearm, I call him Billy the Hook. I must say something though, he hates horses so he'll often catch the riders, no idea why, he just does"

[@ForestofCicadas]

Actually, targeting the riders may mean that he likes horses. Since yoinking the rider off the horse is a way to take care of a mounted enemy without hurting the horse.

[@shiro_the_trap2513]

@@ForestofCicadas I guess, it's just that he often says that he hates horses so I usually just go with that

[@H.G.Halberd]

@@shiro_the_trap2513 actually in german they are called (amongst other names like hippe) rossschinder which translates to horse ruiner (or horserapist but lets ignore that), also i own a halberd, i named it bob

[@troperhghar9898]

Bill: one handed tree cutting tool Billhook: two handed tree and human cutting tool Bullhook: Indian elephant training tool Know the difference

[@SMT-ks8yp]

So how to call the thing which has a spear shaft but no cutting edge at all? Only a spear spike and a hook.

[@troperhghar9898]

@@SMT-ks8yp you mean a staff?

[@SMT-ks8yp]

@@troperhghar9898 why staff? I mean, it's at least a spear and also with a hook.

[@mr.numbers5968]

Bill: name Bill: nickname for dollar Bill: tool Bill: contract Bill: article waiting to become law Bill: another name for beak

[@LucyWest370]

@@mr.numbers5968 Bill: flying yellow demon dorito

[@Riel-127]

Shad, my friend. Please do more polearms! Maybe like the Voulge and the like. I've loved your videos for a long time and seeing a polearm notification gives me a really spooky smile. Thanks for your vid, Shad. And keep it up!

[@Maninawig]

I originally learned about the Billhook watching an episode of Time Team, a Brittish archeology show. In this episode, they were retracing the steps of I believe the peasant's revolt. The polearm's origin was expressed as (paraphrased) " you had farmers who were being recruited to fight soldiers bearing polearms. So a need rose to create mass amounts of polearms while limited to cost and time. As such, it was easier for a blacksmith to fashion a spike to an existing tool and attach that to a staff than it would be to melt down metal and make them from scratch. The most readily available and useful tool at the time was the Billhooks, which is why the polearm was never created with a defined profile, as it was a makeshift weapon." The conclusion is that to respect the exploits of the revolt, the guards maning the castle (now market) in England still use mismatched billhooks while standing ceremoniously.

[@Aggnog]

Particularly effective when wielded by cows.

[@HighDesertComics]

First Diablo on GOG for $10 US right now.

[@scottmantooth8785]

dare we say it was udderly effective?

[@megashark1013]

@@scottmantooth8785 I've heard it's the perfect cownter to the sword. Alright, we should probably stop milking it.

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@megashark1013 probably the most advantageous course of action to preserve what sanity remains on this comment thread

[@HighDesertComics]

@@scottmantooth8785 So, yes, stay a while...and listen.

[@leemaiden388]

can confirm these are still used in UK farming and land maintenance, billhooks are mainly for hedgelaying since any experienced user can cut a branch enough to bend it down in one or two blows forming the base of the hedge. The shape of the polearm blade is actually more akin to a type of bill for re-laying older hedges (sometimes called a northern billhook here) heavier for thicker branches, with a strait blade on the back in case you need an axe like chop, the spike jutting out the side obviously was an addition made for combat. People are still paid to do hedge laying today so it's a design that has lasted the test of time even if it been more phased out with advances in recent years.

[@again5162]

It's an intensive job the billhook maybe sharp but I use secutuers its cleaner and easier in most jobs I do

[@Eeter26]

What’s it called when someone seduces a person by paying for their drink? A billhook

[@shaeisgae8952]

Or a hot cosby.

[@SordoBjorn]

@@shaeisgae8952 oof

[@cewkietron6571]

Dang, I didn't even know what a Billhook was when I saw the thumbnail-- but that sucker's scary right off the bat! 😮

[@scottmantooth8785]

as it was intended to be...

[@sweetlifealley]

You mean off the sTiCk! Lol

[@cewkietron6571]

@@sweetlifealley Lol 😂

[@rebbyra]

My weapon of choice: Bill I've tied a guy named Bill to the end of a pole

[@falsefight]

Too heavy

[@arx3516]

Try with a much younger and lighter Bill!

[@Ditidos]

@@arx3516 I'm not sure, I have tried with a Bil but it doesn't seem very powerfull. Maybe it is because it is already paid.

[@bodkin7841]

He's a real feisty one ain't he?

[@falsefight]

@@arx3516 Even the average newborn is heavier than I would want. Total weight of a weapon should be 8lbs max and even that is far too much for most people to wield effectively

[@TheHornedKing]

Yes you finally did it! Ever since it was added in Vermintide 2, I have had this growing interest in it, which just grew further as I started to look into it. Really cool look, kinda vicked looking really, and it's very effective. I'm actually thinking of having a DnD character use a billhook, using the halberd's stats since the billhook isn't a listed weapon, but it's easy to just re-skin one.

[@bribabletick7966]

Add some bonus to trip and disarm cause of the hook too

[@chaoswolff1035]

Here's one of the best ways to kick off my morning! I love the billhook and really glad to see you shining some light on it.

[@davidwiman7850]

“This weapon is relatively unknown outside of medieval historians” *Total war nerds coughs internally*

[@baronprocrastination1722]

I don't see many billmen in the newer games, but since you specified nerds I imagine most of them would've known about medieval 2 already. Though, even then, simply saying 'bill' isn't very informative about the troop type. I mean, I did get quite confused when I first found out about them.

[@shok24199]

Was gonna say this exact thing. Billmen army + Auto Battle = win the game on a budget.

[@duchi882]

*Just Imagine* getting hit with that thing even with armor on _OOF!_

[@wyattguilliams2621]

I think the same thing with a war hammer

[@Kkey884]

As a billhook main in Mordhau, this literally made my week. If only I could find a dragon to rip a wing off of... If you all want someone with a billhook in Mordhau, add me on steam!

[@darthalex3]

"lets put a piece of metal on a stick but like put every kind of weapon we can think of on it lol"

[@JosephFlores-yn4yi]

Polearms in a nutshell

[@wyzen9542]

Galaxy brain

[@Serahpin]

"When all you have is a hammer, all your problems look like nails."

[@rayceeya8659]

I just want to know who Bill was.

[@Gormathius]

Ray Ceeya Some dude with a hook.

[@Sol_ttu]

Joe mama

[@leebennett1821]

I heard he was Best mates with CLAY MOORE 😆😆😆😆😆

[@valory13]

The hook would also be good at tripping unmounted units to allow for a deadly blow.

[@Izunundara]

I just spent my entire morning with a billhook trimming hedges, the timing on this video cannot be more perfect

[@Leo122188]

The invention of the Billhook. "Hey Bill! Get over here!" "MAKE ME!"

[@rikremmerswaal2756]

Billhook and Trebuchets excellent adventure.

[@scottmantooth8785]

Whoa!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!

[@PhilBagels]

All the polearms and combo-polearms from Deendee: "So whatdya got?" "Well, there's glaive-guisarme, glaive-fauchard-guisarme, glaive-spetum, halberd-spetum, glaive-guisarme-halberd-spetum, spetum-voulge-fauchard-spetum, spetum-voulge-spetum-halberd-fauchard-guisarme-spetum, lucerne hammer and spetum, Bohemian ear spoon and spetum, spetum-spetum-mancatcher-spetum, spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum-khopesh-spetum-spetum-spetum-spetum, and a double-bladed dwarven urgosh with a removable balanced throwing pommel, spring-loaded poisoned dagger blade, sharpened quillions, blood grove, retractable sling and built-in carrying case for a dozen bullets and a bore down the length of the whole thing that you can use as a blowgun and spetum." "Have you got anything without spetum?" "Well, there's spetum-voulge-fauchard-spetum. That's not got much spetum in it." etc.

[@QuantumLeapCosplay]

Been waiting for this! The billhook is one of my favorites polearms. :D

[@SuperAnime4444]

It is like the Chinese polearm, Ji. Amazing how different worlds would come up with similar designs

[@Hostility1812]

My father always called his a Brush Hook. It was mounted on a 4ft haft.

[@piecicle7652]

"Thrusting is very useful" ~Shad, 2019

[@theserpent6070]

Can’t wait for Stormlight 4 and I what you’re going to bring to the table. I think Sanderson chose wisely

[@jasonrandall5148]

When i was kid 80s early 90s i use to types of Bill to chop fire logs on a farm.

[@jerichamesclammay3107]

looks like the perfect weapon to unhorse a mounted soldier

[@edi9892]

Many halberds are the same. Concave axe blade to bite into armour and a hook on the back doing the same as the hook on the front of a bill...

[@dreadnought8363]

Hence their name in German: “Rossschinder“ Ross meaning horse and Schinder meaning abuser, basically a metaphor for use against cavallary.

[@jerichamesclammay3107]

@@dreadnought8363 nice. Germans really know how to name their weapons.

[@kohinarec6580]

The English billmen were my favourites in Medieval: Total War and Medieval II: Total War. Effective. Terrifying. Bane of the French when utilized in support to longbowmen.

[@mrman5517]

the modern version of the billhook is the billfold... guaranteed to beat any opponent if large enough!

[@AgentWest]

Having used a farming bill hook (similar to one at 1:00 ) i can confirm that they work incredibly well for taking excess small limbs off trees, as well as for clearing unwanted vines off said trees. The blade is not heavy enough to wear a user out like a regular axe, yet heavy enough for a nice swing. Couple that with a really narrow blade and you get a pretty handy chopping thingy.

[@MajoraZ]

I'd love for you to take a look at some of the weapons used by Mesoamerican or Andean city-states, kingdoms, and empires in this series: They tend to get largerly ignored by military historians and that sort of youtube content, despite having organized armies that used armor and designed weaponry, fought in formations, had rank structures, barracks, garrsions, etc. The Mesoamerican Macuahuitl is sort of infamous, but they and other civilizations had a variety of polearms (from analogs to halbreds to glaives to more mundane thrusting spears), clubs (spherical and flanged maces, batons, the Aztec had a sort of morning-star esque weapon), and projectile weapons (atlatls, bows, slings, etc).

[@nathanaelhoward9485]

I love this Chanel and especially this series. I’m writing a medieval fantasy for a college course. Through this channel you have helped me in more ways than I could have imagined to make my books realistic, while still having a magic and fantasy aesthetic. Keep them coming! And thank you for all the work you put into your videos.

[@FractalParadox]

I'm still working on the winterfell thing, by the way. It is taking way longer than I expected.

[@A._is_for]

I love billhooks, great gardening tool. And useful for climbing trees too (one handed) splitting logs, general clearing, shaving sticks...

[@jacopoarmini7889]

the billhook reminds me of that old tv series: Merlin. The (useless) guards of Camelot used those, and now that I think about it, that series had really pretty, and somewhat accurate, weapons and armor.

[@bastianstiefler3390]

Loved the video and I mostly agree with your made statements. With one exception: As you mentioned yourself soldiers armed themselves considering two factors: prize of equipment and enemy they were going to face. Therefore I'd say the reason upper class, heavy Infantry picked up poleaxes instead of billhooks is they are way better in fighting armor. There might allways be some soldiers who will wear a kind of armor or weapon because it is "hip" (I'd argue that might be why in the crusades suddenly blocky helmets are back, when better curved ones are allready avaiable), but most of them are going to plan to survive and therefore use the equipment they believe is strongest against their expected enemy. For light infantry, they have to expect cavalry. For heavy Infantry fighting light and heavy infantry is the most reasonable expectation.

[@Camooses]

Welp, looks like the foot Soldiers in my campaign setting are going to be using Billhooks.

[@sarojolibois6088]

And spears and pikes! :D give the pointy sticks more love, there's a reason they were used for thousands of years

[@angquangnguyenthac2833]

Well play Medieval 2 total war for the accurate Billmen experience

[@ericcadwell5193]

This was a great presentation, and one that I've been looking forward to for a long time! Thank you!

[@Chris-ok4zo]

I remember seeing the "tool" in stores. My dad has a long one for fruit on trees.

[@adrianfirewalker4183]

Every farm supply store in the Southern US still carries them

[@isaaclaw7317]

With regards to medieval settings, i've recently been creating one with a variation on the Anglo-Saxon Fyrd with soldiers being required to provide their own billhook. A brilliant and very British weapon, wonderful video thanks.

[@slinkerdeer]

The intro visuals are better than before, but the voice saying "Shadiversity" definitely was better in the previous one

[@derrickstorm6976]

no it wasn't D:

[@Shaun_Jones]

I actually own one of the two-handed brush axes, and it is effective. It will sever a branch as big as your thumb without even slowing down, and can cut a single branch that is twice that with a proper swing.

[@MrLamorso]

"Saltspyre would like to know your location"

[@wahlex841]

Ravaged body blessed.

[@ShieldWife]

I can really see the advantage of the hook if billmen outnumber knights. With spears, you could have a dozen spearmen stabbing at a knight while their speaks bounce off the armor. With the billhook, one billman could hook a knight’s limb or part of their armor, which would be a huge distraction allowing another billman to hit the knight with full strength, try to aim between plates, or try to grapple the knight.

[@barrybend7189]

You know what's another underappreciated weapons............ The Battle Anchor!

[@sanguineregis5354]

Wait is that actually a thing?

[@barrybend7189]

@@sanguineregis5354 yes its a boarding tool. That doubles as a boat anchor.

[@sanguineregis5354]

@@barrybend7189 that sounds awesome

[@phillipwright254]

Alestorm, anyone?

[@BeachTypeZaku]

This is the greatest polearm arm ever made! My absolute favorite! Thank you for doing a dedicated video on it!❤❤❤

[@TeutonicViking]

"Hey bill, what you got there?" "a new polearm, I dont know what to call it. But it has a cool hook!" "BILLHOOK! " "what?..." "billhook..."

[@scottmantooth8785]

here in the south we would call those billybobsticks....or maybe just thumpwhoppers

[@gabriel300010]

@@scottmantooth8785 and after it proved effective, the ASSWHOPPER

[@hughtuller6344]

I work a lot in rural Southeast Asia, and folk there regularly use the “agricultural variant”, as you call it for just about every type of cutting. Bamboo, small trees, grasses, whatever. The hook portion is useful for helping to pick up or move cut vegetation.

[@k-bot2.047]

For your next pop culture weapon video. How bout the Master Sword and Biggoron sword from the Legend of Zelda

[@dylanuttam2881]

The bill without the prominent hook, 5:34, also looks like a voulge.

[@phyrexian_dude4645]

No surprise that the golden rule also apply: cheap, effective and easy to use.

[@scottmantooth8785]

not much of a learning curve either...

[@scorpixel1866]

@@scottmantooth8785 Ah yes, losing your time twelve hours a day swinging a ridiculously short weapon that couldn't cut through even a Gambeson, and then dying to a guy with a 2 meters long pointy stick because you though dual wielding swords with a cape looked cooler than having a shield and/or actual armour.

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@scorpixel1866 the tragic consequence of being more focused on being fashion conscious than on actual defensive postures and having various bits of your anatomy hack off... bits you might need later and that are really difficult to replace with anything else

[@scorpixel1866]

@@scottmantooth8785 "Just a flesh wound" as they say^^

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@scorpixel1866 nothing like walking off a sucking chest wound to properly invigorate the senses

[@flyboymike111357]

I hate coming back and leaving a second comment on a video after a few months. But I've just seen a modern tool version of a long pole mounted billhook that had a short spike section on the top. Maybe that was an allusion or homage to the billhooks history as a psudeo halberd. But I've also considered that maybe there was some utility in being able to lift up a branch for your mates without damaging it so they can clear the lower branches that might be a hazard to wagons, boats, or aristocrats on horseback.

[@again5162]

We have been using this tool for a year and had no idea what a billhook is.

[@youraveragerussiansanta3810]

Ill remember this the next time someone rides on their horse the entire match.

[@Aryan_homophobe]

It was also surprisingly effective against shields that were all over the early/mid medieval battlefields. With some fun and dirty tricks you could have pull with that weapon.

[@HipposHateWater]

*Shad releasing a new video* "Today's video will be on one of history's most underappreciated weapons: the bill." *Americans crash in through the wall* "BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL!"

[@nthesinningfish1938]

This is one of my favorite polearms

[@savitbharadwaj4023]

The most underappreciated weapon, historical or not, is a good old hammer.

[@Epicmonk117]

Savit Bharadwaj *_B O N K ! ! !_*

[@robertdevito5001]

Hammers are used as a weapon to kill more people every year than any other weapon in the U.S., by far. So they're appreciated in society, just not on television, I guess.

[@ErdricksArmor]

@@robertdevito5001 that's not true. Handguns are used far more often. www.statista.com/statistics/195325/murder-victims-in-the-us-by-weapon-used/

[@savitbharadwaj4023]

@@ErdricksArmor I agree with you, that is just not true. Things like hammers and sickles are used as weapons in countries with disarmed citizens. Take India for example. You can tote around a large sledgehammer in public and nobody will bat an eyelid. But carry a *kitchen knife* and you're liable to be handcuffed and taken in for questioning.

[@ErdricksArmor]

@@savitbharadwaj4023 yes, banning specific weapons is pointless. If someone wants to cause harm, they'll always find a way.

[@devonlord99]

This is for when Bill is walking off in the supermarket and you gotta just pull him back towards you and sever some arteries in the process

[@ryanmettler1953]

Medieval Total War 2 players: "The bill is underappreciated?"

[@Luke_Danger]

"HEAVY BILLMEN!"

[@EmanGameplay]

"STANDING BY!"

[@angquangnguyenthac2833]

Longbowmen: Sorry what was that again?

[@beardedbjorn5520]

Now we need a video on the glaive

[@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870]

I remember seeing one of these at the Royal Armoury in Turin. Was really curious about what they were, so this video is much appreciated. I would live you to do a video about its cousins I found there, but unfortunately there were no name tags and my ability to describe them boils down to "meat cleavers with a really long handle", so that's not really useful. Another interesting thing I saw there that would be an interesting subject were sabres and sideswords with knife handles, which made me wonder how effective such weapon hybrids would be.

[@NoOne-ju8fi]

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BARDICHE

[@andreydoronin6995]

Shad, I've been searching through images from medieval manuals and found some strange weapon. It is called "dueling shield" (from what I've gathered) and it looks like a really long shield (human height or even more) with spikes or blades on top and bottom. It also has a long shaft for a grip to make it possible to wield it with two hands. There are some depictions and recontructions with one-handed use with its mentioned spikes/blades on bottom end sticking into the ground. So it's like double-bladed sword+boarding shield. I think it was used in duels (hence the name) but it will be interesting if you discuss this weapon and its actual effectiveness.

[@thaddeusgigachaddeus2954]

I've seen a shield like this in a medieval game called bloody bastards, and I thought to myself "no way was this actually used in real life"

[@Azdaja13]

> Clicks on Word Document > Selects Replace > Replace "spear" for "billhook" Done. xD

[@ztbmarine]

Just got your book on Audible, took about two chapters before I ordered a hardcover copy. Shadow of the Conqueror is an awesome piece of work. Love your work Shad, I can hardly wait for more.

[@wtffy]

The billhook is slightly more subtle and understated in appearance than most anime MC's hairdos.

[@firstlast9384]

2:40 the small one is still called a Bill Hook 4:29 we use that on the farm in Ireland and we called it a Slash Hook - it was not used to hook and pull as it didn't cut that way (but it would work like that on flesh). You needed to slash with it like it was an axe but within short lift up and drop down with force to chop and cut. The hook was useful to pull the cut brushwood, hedges and small branches and cut hook and cut small greenwood.

[@junichiroyamashita]

Billhook: poor man's halberd

[@TheAmbientWarrior]

Thank you! My favorite polearm finally gets some recognition!