>>>Try "twybill", "twivel", "twibill", etc

Thank you all for the compliments and comments.

Here is what Sloan says about the twibil:

'... all two-bitted hatchets might have been at some time called
'twin-bills,' 'twibils,' or 'twivels.'  Still used in England (England,
Jeff) to cut hurdle mortises, the twivel there is called 'tomyhawk,'
'dader,' or 'two-bill.' '

Apperantly, the twivel was never struck with a mallot, only used as a
chopping tool.  I don't htink that it would have been very accurate unless
you used it everyday and were some kind of mortice hacking lord.  I used a
morticing ax to great effect by lining it up cross-grain on the mortice
outline, then giving it a whack with a modified dogwood froe hammer on
both sides.  Then, I would cut along the grain to finish the outline of
the mortice.  Then I would make cuts along the grain spaced about 3/4 in.
apart, going in at a 45 deg. angle to the surface of the wood.  After each
cut, I would slightly lever the ax with a froe-like action.  The wood came
out in pieces 3/4 in. square and 6 in. long.  They stacked up so quick it
looked like french, err sorry, freedom fries.  (Is that still the officail
name of fried potatoes?)

The key was to cut the cross grain and let the lever action create the
failure at the weakest point of the grain bond.  I know it may seem like I
over analysized this, but there's not much else to do when you are cutting
dozens of massive mortices.  The only saving grace was that the wood was
doug fir.  Small blessings.

Camlann does have a blacksmith.  They also have the following:  Knights
swign real swords at each other, an armorsmith, a boyer, a jongler
(spelling?), apple press (that was cool), thespians, and a medieval
banquet.

I talked with the blacksmith about doing some pulls for future cabinet and
he was willing, and the costs were high, but reasonable all things
considered.  He also told me about a butchers wax finish on iron.  Very
interesting.  They are planning to build a forge in the future.  That will
be great.

Michael