Object Title

Bill

Bill

Date

1500-1599

Object Number

VII.1493

Provenance

Presented 1950.

Physical Description

Found at Horsham, Surrey. Head with cutting edge of flattened S-shape; it forks at the the top into two triangular spikes; one curves forward and the other is inclined slightly backwards from the vertical. On the rear edge is a short triangular fluke. Tapering socket, completely open down one side except for a ring at the bottom. Modern haft.

Dimensions

Dimensions: Head length: 490 mm (19.2 in) Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lb 1 oz)

Associations

Places England

Bibliographic References

A.[C.N.] Borg, 'The fighting bill : the Englishman's other weapon' Heritage, 1.1, February 1974, pp. 4-7, at p. 4, illus. no. 1.

A V B Norman and G M Wilson, Treasures from the Tower of London, Norwich, 1982: p. 68, no. 52 (illus -ddet. of head) - 'English, sixteenth century'.

M.J. RodrÝguez-Salgado and others, Armada 1588-1988 (exhibition catalogue), Penguin Books with the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich), London, 1988, p. 137, no. 7.40 (illus. - det. of head).

Dorling Kindersley, Weapon. A visual history of arms & armour, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London, 2006, p. 140 (col. illus., right).

Notes

For some similarly-shaped bills-heads, see Staff Weapons lever arch files (Curatorial Dept).