Subject: [permaculture] Resources on scythes, sickles, machetes and other hand tools used in traditional agriculture.
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:01:25 -0500
[attn: Donka, Steve, Bob, Scott]
The Styrian or Austrian scythe blade is power hammered to shape with a
feathered edge that has a thin area ground to "factory" sharpness along the
edge. The blade owner then peens the edge to further feather it as needed
then makes some passes with a field stone to put the final edge on the
blade. If you nick or bend this edge during use you take it to the log with
a tiny anvil embedded in it, run the blade along the anvil as you use a
peening hammer to draw it out to the original feathered edge, then make a
few passes with the field stone for extra sharpness. Moral: don't grind out
the nicks or bends, return the blade to its original shape with
field-useful edge by peening.
This tool is called the lightweight Austrian scythe with straight wooden
snath. There are many types of blades used in this scythe system, each one
used for a different purpose, for terrain like ditches or swales, grass hay
mowing, even household lawns (that's how I mow mine). As for wooden snaths
(there are many made out of aluminum or steel and they are OK), the fellow
who supplied all my blades cuts a tree limb and makes his snaths from them.
He is from Slovakia and goes to Europe each year to participate in events
and gatherings celebrating the preservation of traditional scythe use in
Europe and elsewhere. This tool is popular in Turkey. Some types of blades
manufactured for their use are named Turkensense. The Chinese could
certainly manufacture good blades and may even be doing that for export
nowadays. Rice growing is a religion in Vietnam. They harvest it with a
rice knife or sickle. In Thailand they use a rice knife or very small
slightly curved machete or Thai sickle.
AUSTRIAN SCYTHES AND ACCESSORIES
================================
The Vidos (Kai, Peter, Alex and family); these folks wrote the book on
traditional European scything:
They offer for sale an enormous array of Austrian scythes, snaths, sickles
and accessories
and provide an encyclopedia of valuable information, links and reference
material.
Scytheworks http://www.scytheworks.ca/
Alexander Vido
71 Linden Avenue
Victoria, BC, V8V 4C9
Canada
phone: (250) 598-0588
scytheworks@shaw.ca
Scythe Connection http://www.scytheconnection.com/
The Vido Family
1636 Kintore Road
Lower Kintore
New Brunswick, Canada
E7H 2L4
scythe@scytheconnection.com
phone: 506 273 3010 (a shack in the woods)
or 506 273 2977 ("office" on an adjacent property)
Both take messages and we check them daily.
Youtube comment with info:
"Efficiency is relative. Did you ever try to cut tall grass like that with
a bicycle lawn-mower,
or any lawn-mower? The girl IS using her leg muscles to power her
side-to-side movement.
The strain on her arms is minimal with this technique. Of course, the
scythe must be the right
size for the user, and keeping the blade SHARP is crucial. Not all
scythes are the same:
the Continental European ("Austrian") design is far more ergonomic than the
American pattern,
but there's more to it than that..."
Scythe Supply
Carol Fishbein
An excellent company with very nice scythes and lots of interesting,
valuable information
and a lovely website. They have a very wide selection of scythe blades,
some made in the 1970's,
and accessories http://www.scythesupply.com/
Scythe Supply
496 Shore Road
Perry, ME 04667
Phone is (207) 853-4750
Email contact: http://scythesupply.com/emailUs.php
The One Scythe Revolution
Botan Anderson http://www.onescytherevolution.com/
This is an excellent company offering traditional Austrian blades
and very fine Swiss snaths, whetstones, rakes, and other scythe accessories
EYE HOES, BROADFORKS RIDGE-MAKING HOE AND SEEDING RAKES
=======================================================
Gulland Forge Broadfork http://gullandforge.com/
"About the Broadfork
The Broadfork, sometimes called a U-bar digger is used to loosen soil
to prepare for planting or for adding soil amendments such as compost
or mulches. It will open and loosen soil while minimizing damage to its
living strata of flora and fauna that provide the nutrients for the garden
bed.
The Broadfork is also a great tool to choose for harvesting potatoes,
beets, carrots, etc.
The Details:
Penetration depth - 9"
Width - 17.5 " across tines
Ash wood handles - 48" long
Weighs just over 11 lbs.
Protective coating of 50/50 Boiled Linseed Oil and Turpentine on all parts,
safe for your soil."
(this is the very best broadfork on the market, bar none)
Ridge-making hoe
Kusakichi Brand #553 Ridge Hoe
Gardening Hoe
An angled hoe designed to form the sides of a ditch. The total weight is
3.75 lbs.
blade length overall size price
N-7553 15inch x 6inch 48inch $70.60
Eye hoe (farmer hoe)
Kusakichi Brand #524 Farmer Hoe
Traditional hand-forged farmer hoe. A bigger version of the middle farmer
hoe. It is useful for moving soils and weeding. The total weight is 3.9 lbs.
blade length overall size price
N-7524 7inch x 5inch 41inch $50.20
Three-tined (wide blades) cultivating eye hoe
Kusakichi Brand #531 Farmer Rake
Gardening Hoe
A traditional hand-forged farmer rake. This tool is useful for turning soil
and harvesting. The total weight is 4lbs.
Kusakichi Brand #531 Farmer Rake
blade length overall size price
N-7531 8 5/8inch x 5 3/4inch 41 1/4inch $60.00
EARTH TOOLS, Inc.
Walk-Behind Tractors and Compatible Implements
hand tools for gardeners, homesteaders and farmers.
1525 Kays Branch Road
Owenton, KY 40359 http://earthtoolsbcs.com
(502) 484-3988 tel.
(502) 484-3357 fa
G30 - DeWit Seed Bed Rake
Made of forged steel, the 9 super-heavy duty tines are spaced nearly 2”
apart - perfect for ripping up and raking organic material out of old
seed beds without pulling all the soil out too. Straight neck allows you to
flip over and use the back to flatten bed.
Head: 16.5" x 4"
Length: 74"
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Price: $59.00
53565 - SHW ‘Root’ Hoe
Heavier head for tougher chopping applications.
Head: 4.5" x 8.5"
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Length: 54"
Price: $43.00
Length: 75"
Price: $49.00
54306 - SHW Grape Hoe
The 'Big Mama' of hoes, available with your choice of two handle lengths
(head shipped dis-mounted from handle)
Head: 9.5" x 7"
Weight: 5 lbs
Length: 54"
Price: $46.00
Length: 75"
Price: $50.00
Gulland Forge Broadfork
We are extremely pleased to have forged a partnership with Larry Cooper,
owner of Gulland Forge,
producer of this completely hand-made broadfork, which we feel is the
finest on the market.
The five forged tines have a 9" penetration depth and have a working width
of 17.5".
Supplied with custom-fitted ash handles and stainless steel bolts to hold
them into the frame,
the care that goes into making each fork is apparent.
Both head and handles are coated with Linseed oil.
Overall Length: 57"
Overall Width: 21"
Tine Length: 9"
Tine Width: 17.5"
Weight: 15lbs
A brief Google search on the Styrian scythe, history, use, modern
adaptations, manufacture and sales:
1. guide.html - The Scythe Shop
<http://www.thescytheshop.co.uk/guide.html>
www.the*scythes*hop.co.uk/guide.html
Aside from the Bush *Blade*, Austrian *scythes* are not advised for
woody growth ... terrain consider using a Hahnsense or *Styria* ditch
*blade* with a reinforced point.
2. All Scythe Equipment | Scythe Cymru
<http://scythecymru.co.uk/scythes-for-sale/all-scythe-equipment/>
*scythe*cymru.co.uk/*scythes*-for-sale/all-*scythe*-equipment/
May 24, 2014 - *Styria* 55cm *Scythe Blade* A tougher blade that is
suitable for mowing rougher grass, weeds, bracken and bramble and over
rough ground ...
3. Blades - Scythe Supply <http://www.scythesupply.com/blades.html>
www.*scythes*upply.com/*blades*.html
European *Scythe Blades*: grass blades, bush blades, ditch blades,
left-handed blades, ... We carry *Styria* Bush Blades for both left and
right hand mowers.
4. Order Form - Scythe Supply <https://scythesupply.com/order/order.php> https://*scythes*upply.com/order/order.php
2357D, 22"/57cm Grass / Ditch *Blade*, 65.00. 2360D, 24"/60cm Grass /
Ditch *Blade*, 65.00. 2365D, 26"/65cm Ditch *Blade*, 65.00. 2311,
*Styria* Left Hand *Sickle* No ...
5. Peening - The One Scythe Revolution
<http://onescytherevolution.com/peening.html>
one*scythe*revolution.com/peening.html
To resharpen your *blade*, you will then need to peen the cutting edge,
to draw out ... When the bush needs sharpening, hone it as in this video,
but with the *Styria* ...
6. Complete two blade scythe set - Emorsgate Seeds
<http://wildseed.co.uk/products/view/2>
wildseed.co.uk › Tools & Equipment › Scythes
Two *scythe blades*: Profisense 75cm grass blade: best for meadows,
lawns and soft weeds. *Styria* short 55cm ditch blade: best for tough
grass and weeds and ...
7. Scythes - Scotia Seeds <http://www.scotiaseeds.co.uk/Scythe.php>
www.scotiaseeds.co.uk/*Scythe*.php
Scythes. Buy a scythe. and have the most useful meadow management
... *Scythe
Blade*; Ditch (55cm), '*Styria*' for rough grass and tough weeds. We use
this ...
8. History | Scythe Association <http://scytheassociation.org/history/>
*scythe*association.org/history/
Traditional English *blades* were either stamped or rough forged and
then ... the area of *Styria*, in Austria, supplied everything that was
needed for state-of-the art ...
9. Consultant's report on blade hardness | ScytheConnection
<http://scytheconnection.com/consultants-report-on-blade-hardness/>
*scythe*connection.com/consultants-report-on-*blade*-hardness/
For instance, “Peening is to the *scythe blade* is what bread is to the
mower” or “He ... I do this mainly in Rossleithen (the *Styria*/Fux
blades do meet that standard, ...
10. The Man With The Scythe! - British Pathé
<http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-man-with-the-scythe>
www.britishpathe.com/video/the-man-with-the-*scythe*
*Scythes* are made in a factory in the *Styrian* Alps in Austria. ...
The *blades* are lacquered and wrapped in paper then… more. Titles read:
'The Man with the .
[permaculture] Resources on scythes, sickles, machetes and other hand tools used in traditional agriculture.,
Lawrence London, 12/28/2014