Who else uses a scythe?

I'd consider them a short weed blade or long bush blade, depending on thickness/weight.
 
I actually work in agriculture a lot and this makes me really want to get some experience with scythes. Thanks for the thread. I'm a huge fan of simple and effective tools, and I hadn't given this one much thought.
 
They're an absolute joy to use once you learn how to do it right! Hopefully Seymour will make those corrective changes soon so that usable production American pattern scythes are available again.
 
QuakingAspen said:
I actually work in agriculture a lot and this makes me really want to get some experience with scythes. Thanks for the thread. I'm a huge fan of simple and effective tools, and I hadn't given this one much thought.
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If you end up shopping for a European-style scythe, there's a seller also in BC called ScytheWorks who I would recommend.
 
Indeed! I do plan on picking up a modern Euro scythe at some point and when I do I'll be going through them.
 
Steve Tall said:
If you end up shopping for a European-style scythe, there's a seller also in BC called ScytheWorks who I would recommend.
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I have spent a long time gazing at the wares both there and on Peter's site. I dont have the money for a blade, but someday I would love to try making some wildwood snaths for euro blades. Some of the hippy farmers around here have blades with not-so-good snaths (scythe supply, maybe marugg?) that I might be able to offer a new snath to.
 
I recently saw a vintage scythe that had an American blade and mounting collar but a Euro-style snath design. It was very unusual.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Indeed! I do plan on picking up a modern Euro scythe at some point and when I do I'll be going through them.
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ScytheConnection has re-opened again, and as you know they are much closer to you than ScytheWorks, just over the Maine border in New Brunswick.
 
Steve Tall said:
ScytheConnection has re-opened again, and as you know they are much closer to you than ScytheWorks, just over the Maine border in New Brunswick.
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I had to rule out Scytheworks because of the 45 dollar shipping quote for a blade. I think shipping from Peter and family is 35 or so, but he said he can fit multiple blades. I thought of trying to get a group buy together, since I'd likely be buying the most economical blade he has in stock and cant afford the price again in shipping.
 
G-pig said:
I have spent a long time gazing at the wares both there and on Peter's site. I dont have the money for a blade, but someday I would love to try making some wildwood snaths for euro blades. Some of the hippy farmers around here have blades with not-so-good snaths (scythe supply, maybe marugg?) that I might be able to offer a new snath to.
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You could try making ergonomic wildwood snaths for American blades, too. They would need more curvature at the bottom to account for the low tang angles of American blades. A mounting ring made for Euro scythes would work, or you could even cut an inch of 2" steel pipe, bend it a little with a hammer, and use a wedge with it to mount the blade.

Some photos for inspiration:
http://scytheconnection.com/adp/snathgallery.html
 
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G-pig said:
I had to rule out Scytheworks because of the 45 dollar shipping quote for a blade. I think shipping from Peter and family is 35 or so, but he said he can fit multiple blades. I thought of trying to get a group buy together, since I'd likely be buying the most economical blade he has in stock and cant afford the price again in shipping.
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G-pig, you can PM/email me by clicking on my user name at the title of this post. I have some details that I don't want to go into here, since they are not registered vendors here.
 
Steve Tall said:
ScytheConnection has re-opened again, and as you know they are much closer to you than ScytheWorks, just over the Maine border in New Brunswick.
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Woot! Thanks for letting me know--it's honestly been a little while since I've checked the site since I've been hunting relics. :p
 
Thanks a bunch for the reference. That's actually super close to my home base, and they look very nice. Might be a bit down the road because I'm low on funds, but still nice to know they're close by.
 
G-pig said:
I also got 2 grain cradle scythes, although I only pic'd the one in better shape. Its really beautiful with most of the original work. weighs about 10 pounds it feels like.

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Really pretty to look at....
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That is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I've only seen them in drawings.
 
Isn't it gorgeous? It's like an ornithopter wing with a blade on it.

:)
 
I have another one that needs repairs that I didn't photo. I was quite enamored by them indeed. My brother is growing mostly the easy grains like foxtail millet that you just harvest the grain head with a knife, but I'm hounding him to grow a little patch of something we can cut with these. Although I supposed there wouldnt be harm in harvesting the millet or something with this, just to see "if it works". He is as much a plant nerd as I am a tool nerd, so convincing him either way is a non issue =D
 
Steve Tall said:
However, all of the American blades I've tried peened 'like butter' in comparison, and I have consequently suggested (by way of our addendum to The Scythe Book, and personally to numerous individuals) that folks initially practice peening on these (more cheaply obtainable, used) specimens -- before they mess-up their new $70 blades. However, some preliminary preparation of the edge of the old, rusty blades with rounded edges is in order!!

I have no data on the average hardness of the old 'American Pattern' blades (made on this continent or overseas) and no Rc tester here on the farm. But (perhaps wrongly) I guess that they were not factory- tempered to much more than 45Rc. That is, supposedly, the hardness of the run of the mill of today's global scythe blade production. (Some factories claim that their's are 47 - 48 Rc, but having had many samples tested, below 45 is as frequent as above it...)
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I must have missed this when it was posted as it came as the last post on page 24. this one was of particular interest, having gone through probably a dozen old American blades thinking that they were allegedly stamped and brittle and being dumbfounded to only find blades that, in the case of some of the thinner specimens, I could bend over my knee practically, and never get more than a toothy burr on. Almost every blade I have come across have been softer than the Schroekenfux my neighbor has. The brutish reputation of the American scythe in general did not point to American blades requiring careful shaping and much more frequent honing than I thought. Certainly threw me for a loop, so this was very interesting to hear.
 
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