BANKOLIAR (Igelfors Bruks) "made in Sweden" Scythe blade

H

HARDBALL

Joined
May 6, 2001
Messages
923
Hi all,

I can find almost no information on this nice "made in Sweden" other than E-bay discriptions telling me iformation that I already know. I forgot to measure the blade but, I suspect it's at least 18" (or longer) in lenght as it's quite long. Odd, I figured that a Scythe blade which has it's original lable would provide enough information for research but, not so much. Perhaps an old Swedish Company no longer in business ?
Although a tad rusty, the blade is in remarkable condition. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this Swedish Blade but, it's pretty cool!

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
Hi guys,

The Swede.....thank you Sir for the link and that excellent information you provided. It was most helpful.
Steve, I haven't heard of BANKO Axes. I'll keep my eyes open for one. I did however find a HB (Hults Bruk) Hatchet today at a "Flea Market" on the cheap. The HB is in nice condition! I've now found two Swedish made Hatchets this Summer, the other being a beautiful (as new/NOS) GB (circa 1990's) Wildlife Hatchet (Curved handle like the SFA).

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
Pics please! Pretty please! :D

If interested in selling it, please let me know.
 
Here's an example from an old auction listing:

$(KGrHqZHJCoE9rUqLt14BPeMZbRG3g~~60_57.JPG


"...aprx. 18 inch long blade has the original paper sticker ( Bankoliar ) with ( Banko made in Sweden ) molded on the blade..."
 
I've seen a number of Bankos roll through the lists over the past year, including some grass blades. A lot of variation in them, but they all do seem to have a similar build in the shorter lengths. The longer blades never had good shots unfortunately so I can't verify if they were built the same or not, but some of them have had gold paint on them. My weird Craftsman marked Swedish-made bush blade is a dead ringer for their work as the "Made in Sweden" stamping is identical to Banko-marked ones I've seen. :)
 
HARDBALL said:
Hi all,

I can find almost no information on this nice "made in Sweden" other than E-bay discriptions telling me iformation that I already know. I forgot to measure the blade but, I suspect it's at least 18" (or longer) in lenght as it's quite long. Odd, I figured that a Scythe blade which has it's original lable would provide enough information for research but, not so much. Perhaps an old Swedish Company no longer in business ?
Although a tad rusty, the blade is in remarkable condition. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this Swedish Blade but, it's pretty cool!

Regards,
HARDBALL
Click to expand...
I purchased one of these NOS from a sprawling hardware store out of business with old inventory still. It seems according to The Swede's post it can be no later than 1972 manufacture. https://icedrive.net/s/yx623FDWzaRfRTSXhDkBt5azDYjB
 
Going only from my own practice of using Dutch blades and once even mowing on a farm in Sweden I think this catalog has switched the number 5 and no.11
 
Ernest DuBois said:
Going only from my own practice of using Dutch blades and once even mowing on a farm in Sweden I think this catalog has switched the number 5 and no.11
Click to expand...
In American scythe terminology, a "Dutch" blade meant a blade which had a "Dutch heel" -- a broadened portion at the heel of the blade to assist an otherwise narrow grass blade to cut thicker stalks of weeds and small saplings found amongst the grass.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It's worth noting that since this original post I've learned a lot more about Igelfors Liefabrik. In the USA the Sandvik Saw Co. New York office was their sole importer. Archive.org has one of their catalogs from 1972 and this is the scythe page from it.

BookReaderImages.php
Click to expand...
I am not sure if the blade is measured from the ground surface or overall length. Overall length is about 23" with the ground blade about 20". It would seem shaped like #11 but has a a ground area similar to #25 just not as stubby. I guess I would call it a #11 24" even though it is not quite 24". I bought a Seymore #9 to pair it with. Too bad you were not local as I bought two of the #9 snaths for $20. They still have probably 8 left. Is that snath a good pairing? I have not used a Sycthe before and thought it would be good exercise to cut some hay/brush meadow we have.
 
The blade you have is an older example. If they have interest in divesting themselves of some of them feel free to give them my contact info.

Regarding length, blades were traditionally ordered in a 2" range, with the actual finished blades falling somewhere within the upper and lower thresholds, so yours not being quite a whole number is very normal. You measure the length like so.

277513112_10226330681681856_7888463947444759848_n.jpg
 
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