Scythe Mower

[lupo]

Well, I went back to Simon Fairlie's website, referred to much earlier in this thread, because he's the only one in the world, as far as I can see, that supplies Italian ditching blades (at least, in English anyway!) and now that we've got over a slightly (delightfully?) old fashioned payment protocol, I now have an Ash adjustable snath and two blades: one a standard Austrian, the other an Italian blade for olive groves and terraces, and a peening jig for re forging and sharpening, on their way here! When I spoke to one of my neighbours about this they expressed scepticism initially. However, after I explained that the scythe is Austrian, not English, he offered an extremely precise description of how they are made and how they are sharpened - interesting. I do use a Stihl strimmer, but I must say that the vibration to my 59 year old arms and hands is a little wearing and I always hated the sound of strimmers in England on Sundays!

[Noma]

Originally Posted by lupo

Thanks David. I wonder if I need to post this under a new thread. I'm trying to find a hand scythe and perhaps the mower bit in the old thread title misleads? Anyway I've found the Austrian Scythe Association who do mail order, but it's all in German! Might enlist the help of my German neighbour.

The local ferramente sells Austrian scythes. I'd check in your area- could save shipping charges.

[bosco]

Sounds like a retrograde step to me, going from a strimmer to a scythe. I scythed for two years, and yes, it's a pleasant 'close to nature' activity, if you don't mind worrying about the odd heart attack.

But I've not for one second regretted buying my beautiful Stihl FS480 brushcutter, which has been going five years now without a murmur of dissent, and slices through everything with the greatest of ease..