Who else uses a scythe?

Here we go--pics as promised. The setup varies from piece to piece, but on mine you can see the typical ring bolt used to affix the blade to the snath. The hafting angle can be adjusted quickly by loosening the bolt and moving the lug of the tang into the other slot in the face place, or further adjustment can be made by loosening the lower bolt and moving the face plate, which is held in place by interlocking teeth on the base plate, underneath.

Photo on 2011-09-22 at 15.11.jpgPhoto on 2011-09-22 at 15.11 #3.jpgPhoto on 2011-09-22 at 15.11 #4.jpg
 
Oh man - those bring back some memories. I used one to hedge under apple trees during the summer to earn extra money - They didn't have weed wackers then or I would have been using one for sure.

I'll take a Stihl FS250 anyday of the week
 
Good technique goes a LONG way with them. Until you "get it" then performance is sub-par at best. Much like straight-razor shaving, it's not for everyone! :D
 
I just started using a scythe to serve my mowing needs this summer. Once I got the technique down, I found it yet another one of the olde ways that slow ya down and put you in the moment, and on top of that, with my hilly yard, it's actually more physically efficient and saver than using a gas powered lawn mower.

Early in my research before buying my first scythe, I found this entertaining YouTube video that describes a mowing race between a "strapping lad" with a gas powered weed trimmer and a "barefoot maiden" with a scythe in which the latter easily won.

There's also an article on my website called Musings of an Apprentice Mower that includes another video containing Nova Scotia Hand Mowing Champion Perry Veinot (pronounced "VEE no") who is over 90. Be warned that if you have no experience with the south shore Nova Scotian accent, you WILL need an interpreter.

Let's never forget, scythe matters.
 
I've watched that video of Mr. Veinot about a hundred times and it never gets old. He makes it look like the grass is already cut and he's just sweeping it out of his way. :cool::thumbup:
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I've watched that video of Mr. Veinot about a hundred times and it never gets old. He makes it look like the grass is already cut and he's just sweeping it out of his way. :cool::thumbup:
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I only started scything at the tender young age of 54, and I will forever stand in awe of such men as Mr. Veinot! He can call me "kid" at any time.
 
Mr. Veinot reminds me of my great grandfather with a scythe in his hands. Although Mr. Veinot does not have a southern accent. lol. Great skill is in the practice.

Howard
 
It's an old man's sport--all about patience, not overreaching yourself, and caring for yourself and your equipment. All hard lessons to learn, so maybe that's why so many old timers tried to have their kids/grand kids do it to teach them some valuable life skills while clearing the back 40. :D
 
Hi 42. I recently recieved from my grandfather via an aunt an Al handled scythe. Now I know what to properly call the snath! Anyway he also had a railroad pick and other cool tools, some like the scyth were not new when he used them but now are getting up there in age. I think it is a seymour but the paper lable is mostly worn off and I cant be sure.I can make out "..tools since 1872..." or the like and "..american made...". I willtry to google them if they are still in buisness.
The blade is attached just as your pictures and is definately high carbon judging by the rust. Dont know what condition its in but I'll clean it this winter and well see. Mostly got light use if the rest of his stuff is any indication and although I would like to check it out I wont likely give up my power tools to maintain my emense 1/4 acre spread. A side note, I really like the blue svords at your site-now on my short list thanks. Cool thread.Rodney
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It's an old man's sport--all about patience, not overreaching yourself, and caring for yourself and your equipment. All hard lessons to learn, so maybe that's why so many old timers tried to have their kids/grand kids do it to teach them some valuable life skills while clearing the back 40. :D
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I will, without reservation, drink to THAT - but only after the mowing's done. That blade is SHARP!
 
sharpguytoo said:
Hi 42. I recently recieved from my grandfather via an aunt an Al handled scythe. Now I know what to properly call the snath! Anyway he also had a railroad pick and other cool tools, some like the scyth were not new when he used them but now are getting up there in age. I think it is a seymour but the paper lable is mostly worn off and I cant be sure.I can make out "..tools since 1872..." or the like and "..american made...". I willtry to google them if they are still in buisness.
The blade is attached just as your pictures and is definately high carbon judging by the rust. Dont know what condition its in but I'll clean it this winter and well see. Mostly got light use if the rest of his stuff is any indication and although I would like to check it out I wont likely give up my power tools to maintain my emense 1/4 acre spread. A side note, I really like the blue svords at your site-now on my short list thanks. Cool thread.Rodney
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Yup! Sounds like a Seymour. Make sure you pay good attention to that video Whynacht posted, and read the article I posted to get an idea for the technique. You'll be bumbling around with it for a while as you learn how to set it up for your dimensions (with the scythe standing on its head the lower nib should be at hip socket level, the distance between the lower and upper nibs should be the length from your elbow to your fingertips) and figure the rhythm and technique out, but you'll "get it" probably after a couple of hours to a couple of days. And keep it sharp! :)

I'll likely get some of the Seymour scythes in the web store at some point here. They're too fun not to share.

Whynacht said:
I will, without reservation, drink to THAT - but only after the mowing's done. That blade is SHARP!
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Bwahaha I can't even begin to imagine scything while tipsy! That's a recipe for disaster if ever I knew one. :D
 
Yep, plenty of hours cleaning up around fence lines aorund the farm. Stray strands of wire will ding the edge :( I do not go for the stoop over and sweep technique. Too old for that :)

I inherited mine from my grandfather, building and topping hayricks, he said it was time I had my own tools :)

Bill
 
Yeah--stooping and sweeping may take out a wide swath, but it's poor form and will kill your back! It's doing that that ends up causing so many people to complain about the American pattern. Work smarter--not harder! Properly adjusting the snath to your build lets you stay nearly upright, though not quite so erect as the European pattern. Let the tool do all the work and just guide it where you want it to go. Swish...swish...swish... :D
 
 
Thanks to all for the links and to 42 blades for the initial set points form the "handles".
 
Hard to explain but I just kind of shifted my weight from right to left feet. Blade went out when right foot was down and came across as I shifted to left foot. After a little bit, it was just natural and could maintain it for quite awhile, just rocking side to side and a half step forward.
Bill
 
Does this count, or is this a sickle?

SAM_0143.jpg
 
As wonderful a resource as "The Scythe Book" is for folk wanting to learn the use of the European scythe, David Tressemer can be credited with doing tremendous detriment to the culture of American scythe fanciers. His confusion with the design and use of the American scythe (and the fact that his book is given away free by most retailers with the purchase of an European scythe) has done much to dissuade folk from taking the time to learn the right technique as when they do an online search for a resource, they inevitably come across either his work, or comments from people who have taken his word as gospel. :o
 
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