Who else uses a scythe?

Not a Scythe per se, but more of a Thai style sickle. Used more for brush clearing than grass lawns
 
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It's with great sorrow to say that I've just heard that Peter Vido has passed away. Though we had our differences of opinion from time to time, I considered him a friend, and the knowledge he spent a lifetime acquiring was unfathomable. Only a tiny bit of what he knew ever made it into writing, and this news feels like hearing that an irreplaceable library has burned.
 
He was 68, so no spring chicken, but still well before his time. When I'd last written him at the beginning of May he informed me he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and that he had no plans on seeking conventional medical treatments. At the time he believed he had maybe a month left in him, and tragically he was correct, as he often was. I'm going to miss our chats terribly.
 
Square_peg said:
As I recall Steve Tall frequently corresponded with Peter. He, too, has lost a friend and mentor.
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Yes, a painful loss. Peter exemplified the free sharing of know-how, making a difference without trying to personally profit from it. His websites and videos were not monetized, and his books and instructional materials were made available online for free. He was a consultant to the scythe blade manufacturers, making trips there at his own expense, improving their designs and processes and bringing more business to them, while refusing to accept commissions or fees, thereby maintaining his objectivity and independence. In recent years, his focus went beyond North America and Europe, working to help the small farmers worldwide who could benefit the most from the use of scythes. All this while running a family homestead in Canada that could supply all the food (hay-fed animals and grains, with the use of scythes) and energy (firewood, with the use of axes) that they needed, in a place with long winters where the temperature got down to 30 below.

I started posting to this axe forum largely because Peter wanted to share some of his experiences, and he didn't have good internet access. I haven't seen much mention at all (among present-day axe enthusiasts) of the benefits of high centerlines (convex cheeks) before he wrote extensively about it.

Some other highlights of his posts here: "The Devolution of Axe Handles" echoed Bernie Weisgerber's preference for slim handles, and provided detailed measurements of various examples over the years. His post on his preference for straight handles created some controversy, but he was basing his opinion on his own experience, and instead of insisting that his way was the right way, he suggested that others give it a try to see for themselves what works best for them. His post about "If only one axe (or two, or three)" spurred some good discussions here. "Wood Splitting with the Twist" helped to popularize a technique used by old-timers (again echoing Bernie Weisgerber).

For those who aren't aware of them, here are Peter's sites related to scythes and axes:

http://scytheconnection.com/
http://axeconnected.blogspot.com
 
Very sorry to hear of this great loss.

This thread reminded me that I have an old scythe that my father gave me that I believe was his father's. I'll ask my dad next time I talk to him what it's history is. My father's family were farmers in upstate NY, so I imagine this scythe and others got a good amount of use. at some point the snath was replaced with aluminum, but you can see that the handles are much older than the snath.

My dad passed this scythe on to me many years ago and I have used it at various times and it does seem to work very well.

I can't find any identifying stamps or marks on it anywhere. Does anyone know how you go about identifying the maker and/or age of a scythe. The blade is 24" with the cutting edge being about 22.5". I sharpened it with my round axe stone and it quickly took a pretty sharp edge.





 
The blade is probably a David Wadsworth & Son or an Emerson & Stevens, as they produced most of the double-beaded blades I've come across. The snath looks to be a Seymour No.9, and the nibs (side grips) are original, just heavily weathered. The blade needs a full re-grinding, as just about all as-found blades do. The angle should be about 7-9° per side with the edge centered in the body of the blade. The resulting bevels should be roughly 1/4" wide.
 
Looks like that snath collected water, then froze.
Anyway, If you clean well its tang, blade might reveal a touchmark.
Fwiw, That blade looks alot like my Isiah Blood field blade, just a bit shorter. But probably is one of mentioned by FortytwoBlades.
 
Lieblad said:
Looks like that snath collected water, then froze.
Anyway, If you clean well its tang, blade might reveal a touchmark.
Fwiw, That blade looks alot like my Isiah Blood field blade, just a bit shorter. But probably is one of mentioned by FortytwoBlades.
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More likely it was just abused. When aluminum snaths are pushed beyond their limit they seemingly like to split at the seam of the tubing.
 
as suggested, I removed the blade and hit the tang with a wire wheel and as able to make out a few letters.

I can see the beginnings of two rows of text

the top row has a very clear D and then I thought maybe an M or W or A or actually I can't really tell anything past the D.

On the second row I can make out AU and then that's it. I'll post the best picture I could get with my cell phone.

 
Very cool. Thanks! I'll have to let my dad know. Kind of neat also that it's of NY manufacture. any way to estimate a general date range. Even within a few decades?
 
FLINT77 said:
Very cool. Thanks! I'll have to let my dad know. Kind of neat also that it's of NY manufacture. any way to estimate a general date range. Even within a few decades?
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Founded as the Wadsworth Scythe Works in 1818 by Joseph Wadsworth, taken over by his son, David Wadsworth, in 1845. Taken over by HIS son, David Wadsworth Jr., in 1876. The company still appeared in the New York industrial registry in 1949, but that's as far as I've found mention of it. My guess would be 1930's or 40's.
 
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