Who else uses a scythe?

I have an NOS blade but no handle. One of those projects I’ll never get too. 😂

I keep it with the pile of old axe/hatchet/hammer heads that need to be hung.
 
Last edited:
486167389_1143169501155062_5064768950999226357_n.jpg


After YEARS of being unable to supply them, Seymour just filled a backorder for No.1 snath blanks that we've had open since 2022.

• In 2019 and 2020 they couldn't find any logs of suitable grade.

• In 2021 they found a suitable log, but the underwater logging company couldn't retrieve it due to the surrounding embankments being too swampy and soft for their equipment.

• In 2022 they tried using conventional ash, but due to the emerald ash borer much of the ash in the Indiana region is standing dead, and was only around 15% moisture content. They tried to bend 60 staves and only 5 survived, in noticeably worse condition than usual. They sent us the 5x and we sold 4 and saved one in case it was the very last one they ever made.

• In 2023 through to present, we kept checking in, and heard they were looking into alternative woods and building a soaking tank, but nothing seemed to come of it.

• Just a few days ago we received a mysterious bill from them that was higher than we expected for the order we had open. Turned out they managed to finally get a suitable batch of wood and had finally been able to bend a bunch. Thank goodness they didn't disappear for good like I'd feared!
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
486167389_1143169501155062_5064768950999226357_n.jpg


After YEARS of being unable to supply them, Seymour just filled a backorder for No.1 snath blanks that we've had open since 2022.

• In 2019 and 2020 they couldn't find any logs of suitable grade.

• In 2021 they found a suitable log, but the underwater logging company couldn't retrieve it due to the surrounding embankments being too swampy and soft for their equipment.

• In 2022 they tried using conventional ash, but due to the emerald ash borer much of the ash in the Indiana region is standing dead, and was only around 15% moisture content. They tried to bend 60 staves and only 5 survived, in noticeably worse condition than usual. They sent us the 5x and we sold 4 and saved one in case it was the very last one they ever made.

• In 2023 through to present, we kept checking in, and heard they were looking into alternative woods and building a soaking tank, but nothing seemed to come of it.

• Just a few days ago we received a mysterious bill from them that was higher than we expected for the order we had open. Turned out they managed to finally get a suitable batch of wood and had finally been able to bend a bunch. Thank goodness they didn't disappear for good like I'd feared!
Click to expand...
What kind of wood did they use? John
 
I've been actively working on additional revisions and expansions to the American scythe guide and have been especially been working to add an appendix of notable makers with information on the company history, remarks about the innovations and contributions made to the advancement of the tool, and so on and so forth. I've also been having some of the images redrawn and new diagrams being worked on to improve their appearance and better reflect what I currently consider as best practices. If you have any requests for kinds of content you'd like to see added to it or topics you'd like to see covered, feel free to chime in.
 
This post brought back some special memories from when I was living in the UK as a teenager in the 1970s. Had the opportunity to stay at a cottage rented from a family farm on Lough Corrib in Ireland. They had one horse for plowing etc, and cut everything with scythes. Oh, the wife made fantastic soda bread 😋
 
Well, this was my grandfathers and its been hanging in the barn and garage forever. Its had a rough life….took some pictures before I turn it into a hiking staff. ( At least thats what I’m thinking about )
Thought someone might like to see it 1st!

0EB0FE9A-A43B-4A83-8DDF-694AA800B8A3.jpeg7474CA3D-88B6-4FA3-B459-718AB58E8D0B.jpeg7E4C815B-8B71-4ABE-9675-FBC559C7F198.jpeg7B7C4679-E423-4FE9-A27C-CBBA6C7F6E99.jpeg
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Looks like a Seymour No.1 or No.2 that's missing its loop bolt and had a couple of rings from a bush snath shoved on it!
Click to expand...
Way beyond your reconditioning parameters , thats for sure. I’m going for the hiking staff, I’ll be able to hand it down to my son and grandson.
 
I mean, it doesn't look like it's completely beyond salvaging. But understandable if it's not something you're interested in doing. If you do feel like properly restoring it feel free to hit me up and I can walk you through it.
 
Continued work on the ammonia bending indicates that a "rest period" after withdrawing it from the tank is definitely beneficial. While I'm continuing to work on improving my bending forms for preventing tension on the outside of the curve, I was able to bend a piece without any band after it had rested and been allowed to breathe/evaporate for about 24 hours prior to bending, and experienced only very mild grain separation on the outside of the curve. Cutting a piece that had been soaked 3 days still had some untreated wood in the core, so a 4 day soak will probably improve this. The resting period seems to allow the exterior surface to partially re-form its hydrogen bonds to hold together a bit better vs. fresh out of the tank when the wood wants to pull apart like pulled pork. A great thing with this steamless bending is that I should be able to seal treated wood in a plastic tube and have it retain its readiness for bending at a later date. After about a day the wood can be removed from the form and retain its shape as it continues to dry. Once fully dry it's back to being nice and stiff.


538639737_10236778671315067_3083641082224395959_n.jpg


538105900_10236778672435095_3013341298930105042_n.jpg
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Continued work on the ammonia bending indicates that a "rest period" after withdrawing it from the tank is definitely beneficial. While I'm continuing to work on improving my bending forms for preventing tension on the outside of the curve, I was able to bend a piece without any band after it had rested and been allowed to breathe/evaporate for about 24 hours prior to bending, and experienced only very mild grain separation on the outside of the curve. Cutting a piece that had been soaked 3 days still had some untreated wood in the core, so a 4 day soak will probably improve this. The resting period seems to allow the exterior surface to partially re-form its hydrogen bonds to hold together a bit better vs. fresh out of the tank when the wood wants to pull apart like pulled pork. A great thing with this steamless bending is that I should be able to seal treated wood in a plastic tube and have it retain its readiness for bending at a later date. After about a day the wood can be removed from the form and retain its shape as it continues to dry. Once fully dry it's back to being nice and stiff.


538639737_10236778671315067_3083641082224395959_n.jpg


538105900_10236778672435095_3013341298930105042_n.jpg
Click to expand...

You know, if you made that handle thinner, it would be stiffer.








👨‍🏫
 
I just stopped in to post a link to this video. It's mostly about mechanized grain harvesting but there's a few shots early on of a scythe being used. "Opening the way" (for the tractors) is mentioned.

 
I use mine for a slightly different reason.

I have a bamboo sculpture, which is actually secret wrought iron protecting from anyone breaking my window and coming through.

And now the SCYTHE stands silently -- scaring away burglars and bad men -- as it stands entwined between the metal bamboo...1000047193.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top