Poldark Style Scythe

[Onoff]

Any internet, bargain hunting sleuths on here find me a two handled, "Poldark" style scythe for around the £50 mark...delivered?

I've looked.

Half wondering if I could bodge a handle from say some 20mm conduit and attach a sickle blade to it.

Cheers

 

[Brad93]

We had an old scythe round here somewhere. If I find it ill Give you a shout, traditional one like, wooden handle, probably fitted to someone once.

 

[magnet]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-household-goods/two-handled-scythe/1410126889 Any good

 

[bletchmonster]

If you're doing it poldark style, you have to wear a flouncy white shirt and pointlessly hack at a nondescript tuft of grass in the middle of a field for no apparent reason.

 

[More Amps]

I may be teaching Granny to suck eggs, but there's an art to using a scythe properly, otherwise it quickly gets very boring and tiring. Firstly try not to use it like a knife - it's not razor sharp, and even if it is, it won't be for long! What you should be aiming for is to hook whatever you're cutting and slice it so that the blade runs along the stalks rather than trying to chop through it. Secondly, keep sharpening it - little and often works wonders - wet grass at cutting height and sharp blades don't make good friends! Hope that makes sense.

 

[frank horton]

when I had 8 acres, my 399 Massey and a 3m grass topper did very well thanks.....

we bought sheep to do the job.....totally hopless....got rid of em asap....

 

[Onoff]

https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-household-goods/two-handled-scythe/1410126889 Any good

Thanks but a bit of a trek!

We had an old scythe round here somewhere. If I find it ill Give you a shout, traditional one like, wooden handle, probably fitted to someone once.

Cheers. Possible road trip then, Essex isn't it?

 

[pedrobedro]

Many years ago on my dad's allotment they used to use a proper bent handle scythe to keep the grass and nettles down. A friend of his asked if he could have a go with it and somehow managed to cut his calf muscle with the scythe and he had a very pronounced limp for the rest of his life. Plenty of videos on how to use one and also demonstrating their efficiency.

 

[Migmac]

I may be teaching Granny to suck eggs, but there's an art to using a scythe properly, otherwise it quickly gets very boring and tiring. Firstly try not to use it like a knife - it's not razor sharp, and even if it is, it won't be for long! What you should be aiming for is to hook whatever you're cutting and slice it so that the blade runs along the stalks rather than trying to chop through it. Secondly, keep sharpening it - little and often works wonders - wet grass at cutting height and sharp blades don't make good friends! Hope that makes sense.

I’ll add to this, get a proper sharpening stone and sharpen it from the back of the blade.

 

[Onoff]

Sharpening...just done a lawnmower with a flap disc!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

If it's for just cutting long grass in a garden use a hedge cutter. Did mine last week and won't bother with strimmer again for long grass as the hedge cutter did it in a fraction of the time. Remember the Allen Scythe ?

 

[Migmac]

If it's for just cutting long grass in a garden use a hedge cutter. Did mine last week and won't bother with strimmer again for long grass as the hedge cutter did it in a fraction of the time. Remember the Allen Scythe ?

Sure do, used one several times.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Tried a scythe once, there's a definite knack to them - timing being much of it.

I wasn't very good with it....

@Onoff What are your plans for it?

 

[Onoff]

Tried a scythe once, there's a definite knack to them - timing being much of it.

I wasn't very good with it....

@Onoff What are your plans for it?

I've areas of "wild" that I want to reclaim (missed a year cutting for various reasons) but they're home to various wildlife (grass snakes, adders and slow worms are the ones I'm most worried about hurting along with fluffy ones).

Scything is just a much more controllable, gentler method I think.

There's an Allen scythe for sale fairly near me funnily enough on Gumtree. Non runner, advertised for repair or as as a yard ornament.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've areas of "wild" that I want to reclaim (missed a year cutting for various reasons) but they're home to various wildlife (grass snakes, adders and slow worms are the ones I'm most worried about hurting along with fluffy ones).

Scything is just a much more controllable, gentler method I think.

There's an Allen scythe for sale fairly near me funnily enough on Gumtree. Non runner, advertised for repair or as as a yard ornament.

I bought a non runner Allen Scythe for £40. Problem was virtually no compression. In the end gave it away

 

[Onoff]

I bought a non runner Allen Scythe for £40. Problem was virtually no compression. In the end gave it away

There's 2 ads on Gumtree. This one and another wanting one

Used stuff for sale | Gumtree

Find the latest stuff for sale on Gumtree. See used items for sale from clothes,electricals, furniture to tickets and more.

www.gumtree.com

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That looks a very new plug & HT lead for a machine that he's not tried to start?

 

[bigegg]

I’ll add to this, get a proper sharpening stone and sharpen it from the back of the blade.

I have a butchers steel for the "every ten minutes" sharpen, and a "stone" in the same pattern for the "beginning of the day" sharpen

 

[redlig]

when I had 8 acres, my 399 Massey and a 3m grass topper did very well thanks.....

we bought sheep to do the job.....totally hopless....got rid of em asap....

Presumably with mint sauce.

 

[Barking Mat]

Three in the shed here, not the easiest things to wrap, yours for postage.

You can have the lot and sell on the other two?

Sure, I can detach the blades for postage.