[Bonker]

They have them for sale here at Home Depot (or maybe it's at Lowe's) for about 29 bucks on the isle where they keep the shovels.

It's a HUGE double edged blade about 8" wide and more than a foot long. It's connected to something like an axe handle. It's very sharp and really wicked looking. I want one!

[Al Thompson]

Sounds like what we call a brush axe. Just the thing for dismounting cavalry when they break your lines. :D

[Seeker]

Does it look like an ax or a naganita?

I got 6 acres of blackberry vines in amongst my 1100 8 year old doug firs. some vines are an inch in diameter, and the old dead brown ones are really hard.

I tried a machete but my hand ended up full of thorns and cuts. So I put the machete on a stick. Worked great 'tll the machete became bent and twisted and it bent easier after I straightened it.

Ka-bar worked alright but again, too short and my hand/arm got thorns and cuts.

Currently using an HI M43 Kukuri. Cuts great! It's heavy enough I don't have to put much force into it, so the swing isn't as long and the folloe-thru more easily controlled - fewer thorns and cuts, and uses less energy.

Still looking fer the perfect tool!

[Bruz]

Still looking fer the perfect tool!

Far from perfect but I put this together from Cold Steels Bushman http://www.shoplite.com/cold_steel_knives21.htm and their Elm "spear shaft". The blade is SK-5 high carbon steel, guaranteed not to break for 3 years. It has a hollow handle, like one would see as a shovel attaches to its handle. Total cost is like $25. The handle could be any length...does not have much weight to it though...

http://pic2.picturetrail.com/VOL35/450059/1446931/19965194.jpg
http://pic2.picturetrail.com/VOL35/450059/1446931/19965254.jpg Still looking fer the perfect tool!

[hso]

http://www.kellamknives.com/cart/shop.cgi/SID=PUT_SID_HERE/page=index1.html

has what I consider to nearly be the perfect brush tool. It is a small billhook that can be had in sizes ranging from a small hatchet to a small camp axe. I've used everything from axes, to kukris, to hatchets, to machettes and various variations for light chopping/cutting and my little Finnish billhook beats 'em all. It's handled 2 inch limbs for shrubs, hard, and soft wood, cut down hickory saplings 4 inches across, grubbed holes, tended fires, and cut grasses. It's easy and comfortable to use and hasn't produced any hotspots.

[Tamara]

...plus, I'm gonna steal it to clean up that felled cedar and that ancient pine deadfall in the back yard. :D

[hso]

MOLON LABE!:neener:

[Crimper-D]

Swing like an axe and look like old polearms - They DEFINATELY
will clear underbrush, chapparell, etc. and you don't have to get too close to the brush or weeds.:cool:

[pinetree64]

We call'em brush blades. They are awesome for clearing paths and limbing trees. With the long handle you can really get a lot of velocity. In the spring it will easily slice through 2" sweetgums and such. They have been around for ages. Most co-ops, hardware as well as Lowes and HD carry them.

[Bonker]

Hey I found a pic at the Lowe's website!

Ames True Temper Briar Axe
Item #: 99687
Model: 23-165/166

$29.94

[Byron Quick]

brush axe or brush hook around heah.

[bobs1066]

As used by Sir Walter Scott and Arthur Conan Doyle, "Bows and bills!" was an alarm cry during the Medieval period in England.

I can imagine that a band of Saxon yeoman doing the chop-chop with bills would have been a frightening sight. :eek: