scythes

[TexasArtist]

one of the posters here mentioned a company that does handmade scythes and I thought I had saved it to favorites but now can not find it anywhere. Can anyone repost the link for me please or just give some links in general to look through.
thanks

[homesteadforty]

Don't know if either of these are the one you're looking for but here's two:

http://www.scytheconnection.com/

http://www.themaruggcompany.com/index.html

[Pink_Carnation]

http://www.scythesupply.com/

This is where I got mine

[Woodpecker]

lehmans has them

[MaineFarmMom]

Scythe Supply will get three measurements and make the snath to fit you.

[Liese]

Our's is from Scythe Supply - very nicely made and easy to use. I'd suggest the peening kit too for sharpening.

[WisJim]

This is a fellow in western Wisconsin that sells scythes and gives workshops:
http://www.mysticprairie.net/

[TexasArtist]

thanks everybody. The site Pink Carnation mentioned was the one I was looking for but I'm gonna hunt through these others as well and see which one might work best.
keep 'em coming folks

[MullersLaneFarm]

give Pony a PM.

[ozarkcat]

You can also pick one up (and probably for a lot less than new) from an antique shop - that's where we get a lot of our hard-to-find tools - broadax for $20, crosscut saw for 10, scythe for 20, etc.

[TexasArtist]

Originally Posted by MullersLaneFarm

give Pony a PM.

ok...but why?

[TexasArtist]

Originally Posted by ozarkcat

You can also pick one up (and probably for a lot less than new) from an antique shop - that's where we get a lot of our hard-to-find tools - broadax for $20, crosscut saw for 10, scythe for 20, etc.

are the handles still good? That's one thing I worry about. With my luck I'd be outside working and have the handle break and the blade go flying at someone not good

[WisJim]

I have a number of scythes that I have bought at farm auctions and sales over the years, and they are all the traditional "American" style of scythe with the bent snath and heavy blades. The Austrian pattern or whatever you want to call them, sold by places like some of those mentioned, are a totally different tool to use. They can be better fitted to the user and can be used more efficiently. The antique ones might be good for wall hangers or other decorative purposes but I don't like using one for long.

[ozarkcat]

Originally Posted by TexasArtist

are the handles still good? That's one thing I worry about. With my luck I'd be outside working and have the handle break and the blade go flying at someone not good

Haven't had a problem yet - in fact, have gone through a lot more handles on modern axes than the antiques we've gotten into. We've had to replace the handle on the broad ax once - as compares to 3 on our single blade ax with a similar amount of work. Besides, the motion you use with a scythe is fairly gentle - a little harder than giving a floor a good sweeping - if you're whipping it hard enough to send the blade flying, you're trying much too hard.

[Freeholder]

I've been using my great-grandfather's scythe, which, at a hundred-years-plus old, is an antique, I guess, although I hadn't thought of it that way. It is heavy and awkward for me to use, but I'm sure my great-grandfather was quite a bit taller than my 5'3". I've ordered a new scythe from Scythe Supply -- it's shipping tomorrow, so I haven't seen it yet, but the people are really nice to work with. The lady in the office, Carol, just called me a little bit ago because I sent about a dollar and a half too much and she wanted to know if I'd like a refund, or a few of the notecards they sell (I chose the notecards!). I am very much looking forward to getting this new scythe and being able to use it this summer, as even with the heavy old scythe that's too big for me, I found the work pleasant. (It will probably be even more pleasant now that I've watched a couple of videos of how to actually use the thing properly, LOL!)

Kathleen

[Quint]

I'm using an ax that has a handle that is at least 100 years old. Been cutting trees on the homestead for several generations now. Out of nostalgia I'll go out in the timber once a year or so and chop a tree down with it just to remind me how blessed I am to have a chainsaw.

[MullersLaneFarm]

Originally Posted by TexasArtist

ok...but why?

Cuz she brought her scythe to the homesteader weekend last year and could probably tell you where she got it, et al.

Besides, she's a sweetie!