Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Billman · 8th August 2022, 12:48 PM

Why does everyone always assume these are weapons and not tools???

Goyarde is just one regional name for a serpe (billhook), and the Lyon pattern (image 1) has a long neck (collet) and most of the local patterns, e.g. that from Montluçon (image 3) also have the belt hook.

Image 2 is from the Bret catalogue of the 1920's - it shows the great variety of regional patterns. just from one small part of France...

France also has another type of billhook, a 'serpe à ronces' (left of image 4) with a long neck, used to chop down bramble thickets (ronces) - the Lyon pattern 'goyarde' with a long neck is also known as a 'buissonière' - a brushing hook.... Local tools were adapted to local needs - thus a goyarde lynonaisse with a longer neck is just a coupe ronces lyonaisse... (or a if it has a square blade, it's a coupe ronces Montluçon)....

Oh, of course, weapons attract far greater value then mere tools... I'd love to handle some of these 17th century 'weapons' and look for 19th century 'poinçons de taillandier'

8th August 2022, 12:48 PM	#8
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Weapon or Tool Why does everyone always assume these are weapons and not tools??? Goyarde is just one regional name for a serpe (billhook), and the Lyon pattern (image 1) has a long neck (collet) and most of the local patterns, e.g. that from Montluçon (image 3) also have the belt hook. Image 2 is from the Bret catalogue of the 1920's - it shows the great variety of regional patterns. just from one small part of France... France also has another type of billhook, a 'serpe à ronces' (left of image 4) with a long neck, used to chop down bramble thickets (ronces) - the Lyon pattern 'goyarde' with a long neck is also known as a 'buissonière' - a brushing hook.... Local tools were adapted to local needs - thus a goyarde lynonaisse with a longer neck is just a coupe ronces lyonaisse... (or a if it has a square blade, it's a coupe ronces Montluçon).... Oh, of course, weapons attract far greater value then mere tools... I'd love to handle some of these 17th century 'weapons' and look for 19th century 'poinçons de taillandier' Attached Images Last edited by Billman; 8th August 2022 at 12:56 PM. Reason: Spelling errors