Scythe question.

[Treewolf]

Does anyone know if the iron bracing bar usually found on an English scythe that runs from the blade to the snath to reinforce the joint has a technical name?

 

More importantly does anyone know where I can get one (the brace thingy, not the scythe, that is)? If not a vist to a blacksmith will be required.

 

Thanks.

[LeeGray]

Is it a grass nail?

 

Grass Nail For Scythe [18301] - 3.99 : M W Partridge & Co Ltd

[Rebel_Commando]

Don't know what's it's called myself either but on one of my scythes has had a replacement made from a nail.

[Graham]

It's called a nail. Moves the grass to the swath. Just use a decent piece of wire.

[Treewolf]

Fantastic, thanks! Arbtalk comes up trumps again!

 

I always thought it was there just to brace the joint - you never stop learning!

[bolla]

Fantastic, thanks! Arbtalk comes up trumps again!

 

I always thought it was there just to brace the joint - you never stop learning!

 

I think its purpose is to stop the grass getting caught between the bottom of the snath and the blade rather then a brace.

Where the nail goes into the blade the metal is very thin so would not offer much support, if the blade comes loose the nail will tear the blade.

Have seen people using a bit of wire for a nail

[Treewolf]

I reckon you're right, that is very sound reasoning.

 

I've been scything on and off for about 40 years (gulp!) and didn't know what it was called nor, it seems, what it was really for, though I was aware of course that it kept grass from getting caught between the heel of the blade and the snath.

 

I've just bought a new snath for a rather nice old blade I have been given and wanted to fit a grass nail.

 

Thank you all for your advice and help, much appreciated!

 

(Although not fashionable I am a big fan of scything and reckon it's quicker (and quieter) than a brushcutter. Also it is much safer if you have to work near animals since you can hear, and can put the blade on the ground instantly to make it safe.)

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I reckon you're right, that is very sound reasoning.

 

I've been scything on and off for about 40 years (gulp!) and didn't know what it was called nor, it seems, what it was really for, though I was aware of course that it kept grass from getting caught between the heel of the blade and the snath.

 

I've just bought a new snath for a rather nice old blade I have been given and wanted to fit a grass nail.

 

Thank you all for your advice and help, much appreciated!

 

(Although not fashionable I am a big fan of scything and reckon it's quicker (and quieter) than a brushcutter. Also it is much safer if you have to work near animals since you can hear, and can put the blade on the ground instantly to make it safe.)

 

I bought a scythe a while back, as my partner and I (mostly I) move into a more back country way of life im strating to realise modernity isnt always improvement!

 

Rather than old fashioned I would say it is the coolest way to cut straw/grass and wheat

[Ty Unnos]

I started using an Austrian Scythe a few years back and love it.

 

So light and nimble and much more fun than a strimmer!

 

Here is a video of us mowing this summer:

 

[Graham]

I reckon you're right, that is very sound reasoning.

 

I've been scything on and off for about 40 years (gulp!) and didn't know what it was called nor, it seems, what it was really for, though I was aware of course that it kept grass from getting caught between the heel of the blade and the snath.

 

I've just bought a new snath for a rather nice old blade I have been given and wanted to fit a grass nail.

 

Thank you all for your advice and help, much appreciated!

 

(Although not fashionable I am a big fan of scything and reckon it's quicker (and quieter) than a brushcutter. Also it is much safer if you have to work near animals since you can hear, and can put the blade on the ground instantly to make it safe.)

 

I've used an English scythe for a similar length of time. I took it along to the Wimpole Scythe festival this year with the intention of having a go. To cut a story short I 'borrowed' an Austrian scythe with a 90cm blade and the difference between the two is like night and day. Didn't compete on the day due to sciatic nerve problems.

 

Came home with a new scythe in the truck too:001_smile: