Antique William Swift No.31 Bill Hook / Hedge Layer’s Tool – Victorian / Early Example

A superb and highly characterful William Swift No.31 bill hook / hedge-layer’s tool, an impressive piece of traditional English edge-tool manufacture.

This substantial old billhook has clearly had a long working life, retaining an exceptional untouched surface with deep, naturally developed patina and extensive evidence of generations of use. The heavy forged blade has considerable thickness and displays old sharpening, wear, oxidation and pitting throughout, giving the tool a wonderful authentic appearance.

Of particular interest are the clearly surviving maker’s and pattern markings. The blade is stamped with the distinctive WS / Crown / WS trademark, together with:

WILLIAM SWIFT

THE GENUINE W.S.

No.31

William Swift was a noted English edge-tool maker associated with Seal, Kent, whose tools became particularly well regarded for agricultural, woodland and hedging work.

The No.31 is a substantial traditional billhook pattern, incorporating a broad cutting blade and pronounced hooked nose. Tools of this type were used for hedge laying, coppicing, cutting and dressing timber and general woodland and agricultural work.

The tool retains its old wooden handle with substantial steel ferrule. Both blade and handle exhibit considerable genuine working wear. The blade has been repeatedly sharpened during its lifetime, while the handle has the knocks, staining, wear and surface character expected from a working implement of significant age.

Dating

I have deliberately avoided assigning an exact year to this example. The construction, extensive working wear, deeply struck markings and overall character are consistent with an early William Swift tool, although the precise date of manufacture has not been established.

It is therefore offered conservatively as an antique William Swift billhook, probably late 19th / early 20th century, rather than making an unsupported precise dating claim.

Condition

Offered in untouched antique condition. There is extensive surface oxidation, pitting, patination, scratches, old sharpening and general working wear throughout. The wooden handle also shows substantial age and use.

It has deliberately not been cleaned or restored, preserving the remarkable surface, markings and character acquired during its working life.

Please examine all photographs carefully, particularly the close-ups of the maker’s stamps and measurements, as these form an important part of the description.

Maker: William Swift

Pattern: No.31

Marks: WS / Crown / WS; William Swift; The Genuine W.S.

Type: Bill hook / hedge-layer’s tool

Period: Antique – probably late 19th / early 20th century

Origin: England

Overall length: Approx. 18½ inches / 47 cm

Blade length: Approx. 9 inches / 23 cm

A particularly atmospheric example of a traditional English working edge tool, with exceptional patina, substantial construction and unusually well-preserved identifying marks. An excellent addition to a collection of antique edge tools, billhooks, forestry tools or British rural and agricultural history.

Will be sent via UPS strictly 18+ age restricted postage. Worldwide shipping via eBay's Global Shipping Programme.