Old sickle restoration

[Flemm]

Hi guys, I thought you might like this antique sickle I did some rust busting on for a mate. He found it in his bark and timber shed which was once the home of the original family who settled the farm here in Queensland, Australia back in the mid 1800s. The makers mark TBC references the maker Thomas Drysdale and co who were apparently from the Sheffield region of England.

 

[Ernie1980]

That cleaned up nicely, great find!!

 

[cccanada]

Very cool
Mine is not nearly so nice LoL

 

[Flemm]

Very cool
Mine is not nearly so nice LoL

View attachment 1844351

That is similar to how this one was until I used electrolysis to remove the rust. This one had been left inside the old shed for years so had a thick layer of surface rust but nothing that had eaten all the way through luckily!

 

[thunderstick]

When I worked for my grandpa he had me use a sickle to trim around the barn and sheds. Many of the old sickles were soft steel like corn knives. You could straighten and peen the edge on an anvil. You can drag the point along a wall and then flick your wrist to cut the growth--if it was sharp enough.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Awesome restoration! Boy I’d put that to use right away

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

When I worked for my grandpa he had me use a sickle to trim around the barn and sheds. Many of the old sickles were soft steel like corn knives. You could straighten and peen the edge on an anvil. You can drag the point along a wall and then flick your wrist to cut the growth--if it was sharp enough.

It's worth noting that English sickles are not peened. You'd be liable to damage it.

 

[Flemm]

Well, the sickle has been returned to its owner. He was very happy so see it a little cleaner!