Palamarka - Any Good Use For It Now?

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German Wikipedia wrote:A Palamarka (Bulgarian Паламарка) is a Bulgarian device used in harvesting grain. The wooden glove for the outer three fingers of the left hand was used while harvesting the crop along with a sickle. The grain was held between Palamarka and thumb above to cut the ears down with the sickle. At one end, the Palamarka tapers to a hook, which is usually about 10 inches long. With the help of the hook, more grains could be cut at once and tied into a bundle. In addition, the Palamarka served as a shelter, since the sickle was usually applied immediately under the hand.

Does anyone have experience with this weird device? Are there any videos out there demonstrating its usefulness?

Looks like it was used to reduce the risk of cutting off fingers. I worry about that often while harvesting grains with secateurs. I suppose that today we might use a chain-mail glove.

It does more than just protect the hand. It effectively extends the length of the middle finger or fingers and can be curved so that it allows the Reaper to gather a larger bundle. Looks a little bit like how a sloth grasps a branch.

Lee Valley sells a modern version.

Edit. .. I only read Josephs reply,  without reading the entire first post. Oops.

When holding a bunch of grain in position to be cut, the flat portion will push against the arm above the wrist, preventing the wrist from being bent backwards. So this thing may have been used in order to prevent fatigue as well. I wonder if there was a little pad attached either to the wrist or the tool.

Hi,
I stumbled upon your site when I was researching Palamarkas.  I am an educator who collects primitive tools and uses them in the classroom to teach early American History and research.  I have a set of Palamarkas and a similar tool called Esclopets found in Spain.  Esclopets were also used to protect the hands during wheat harvesting prior to industrialization.  My question is, what did we use in America?  I can’t find any comparable American tool used during wheat harvesting in the mid to late 19th century.  I grew up on a large farm in Northern New Jersey and have enjoyed exploring your site!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank you,
Diane

Hi Diane,

Welcome to Permies.