Found on line:
"Revolutionary War era BILL HOOK FASCINE KNIFE A classic utility of the 18th century military engineer in his construction of breastworks and fortifications, this all original fascine (pronounced faseen) knife measuring just over 15 ¾ inches in total length with a heavy hand-forged iron blade. The leather washer grip with rat-tail tang remain intact and solid with period field use wear. A classily shaped blade presents the telltale carbon pocking characteristic of 18th century hand forge and an attractive rich patina with no chips or dings in the edge leave the impression the massive knife remains just as it was used in the time of the American Revolution. Note: The heavy Bill-hook fascine knife was used to clear camp sites of saplings and construct fortifications from the freshly cut foliage. The green saplings were bundled and bound firmly together in five to twelve foot lengths, trimmed square at the ends and called fascines. These fascines were used with large woven tubes also fashioned from saplings and filled with earth to form breastworks for fortification. (see: Valley Forge American Revolutionary War Museum collection.)"
By the American Civil War, three "bills" or fascine knives were issued by the Ordnance Department to each artillery battery. These were standardized weighed two pounds apiece. The 1861 Ordnance Manual give their dimensions:
"Bill-hook, (iron with steel edges) blade, whole length 8.25 inches, width in the middle 8 inches, near the shank, 2.7 inches; thickness, 0.25 inch; hook, 1 inch long; shank 8 inches long; handle (hickory) 7.5 inches long."
Gabions and fascines, their construction and use, are still described in The Elements of Field Fortifications, 1898, by J.B. Wheeler, published for the use of cadets at West Point.
Fascines were additionally used to firm up swampy ground so a gun crew could work their cannon under conditions that would otherwise be too muddy for them to function as well as clearing the front of the gun emplacement for battle.
