Mowing Scythe

Yep I have used these before, a person can lay down some weeds with them! You know you done some work swingin one!!!!! I still have 2 beams, 3 or 4 sets of handles, and about a dozen blades!!!

Big Dave that looks likeit need to be used a little to get that rust off the cutting edge

Ummm, not too many hours, or should I say minutes. Never got the hang of using one.

I got a few hours on a Scythe when I was younger, definately a knack to using one,
they work great for cutting down Nettles

I have one of those with a grain cradle on it, belonged to my Grandfather. He harvested his oats with it. He never owned a tractor or theshing machine and ground the oats, stalk and all to feed his horses and mules. He had an IHC hit and miss engine and small feed cutter set up in the alley of his barn. I used it a few times to cut weeds and grass under the electric fence....James

I don't have enough hours on one to be good at it but I knew older guys that would always go into the corners of fields where the mower didn't reach to get the last of the standing hay. My grandfathers generation around here always cut beaver meadows after the regular crop was done. Most of it was cut by hand, coiled and carried off the meadow with two men and two poles.

Cleaned many a road bank and fence row with one even found a yellow jacket with one once.

Let say that Scythe was the best in it day but better things have came along.

My Great-uncle Francis somehow managed to sever the tendon in his left knee with a mowing scythe when he was a very young man. No surgeries existed for that type of repair so the doctor splinted his leg straight and somehow managed to lock the knee joint so Uncle F couldn't bend at the knee. Probably in the very early 1900's. He became a barber and cut my hair when I was in grade school along with my brothers and dad. I remember the odd gait as he walked and shuffled around the barber chair. He's been gone for 40 maybe 45 years now. Was an avid horseman and had a huge black named 'Flag' and it was comical to watch him swing that straight leg out and catch the left stirrup with his foot and with an exaggerated swing throw the right one over...Thanks Dave for rekindlin' the memory.

bettyp said:

Let say that Scythe was the best in it day but better things have came along.

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But few as quiet, I like quiet. Kind of like mowing with the Farmall H and #5 JD mower, never hear the tractor, just the chatter of the scycle....James

Dave i have never used one of those; although i own 1. It's on loan at the local museum. If it's kept on loan mebbe i'll never have to use it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

bettyp said:

Let say that Scythe was the best in it day but better things have came along.

Click to expand...

I disagree. In the past 18 months I have run two weed eaters until they could not be fixed (both new) and run a push mower into the ground as well. Mean while my brush scythe just keeps slicin' I use it about 6 times a year to clear a ditch bank and keep a trail in my woods cleared.

There used to be a couple of old hand cycles around the farm here. One that was definitely made by a blacksmith.
I knew where they were kept before I move in, but someone musta took them after grandma passed.
Labor savin' devices have their place, but it's what has made Americans soft.
There's not much better feelin' to me than after a good day of hard work,
where you can look back and see what you've accomplished that day.