Where to find a Scythe?

Would really like to buy a scythe but having a hard time finding where to buy one.  Any ideas?   Live 20 min east of Portland Oregon.  Looking to cut grass out of the pasture.  There some weeds too but minimal.  Any info would be most helpful.  Not sure where this should be posted please move if needed.  Thanks

http://scytheworks.ca/ ; that is in Victoria BC  Canada  but I believe there are links as well.  If you have Lee Valley Tools  store in your area they carry them as well but...those don't appear to have the wood handles or the craftsmanship to the uneducated eye (mine)  Good luck

http://www.themaruggcompany.com/

Reasonable prices. And there is a guarantee.

A friend of mine purchased one from this company in Tennessee. They utilize your bodily measurements to custom build one that works best for YOU. There are numerous places which custom build for best results.

She is pleased with her new scythe and will be purchasing a "Brush" blade for cutting thicker brush.

I hope this helps you and I hope you find what you are searching for.

Max

Thanks for the info will check it out

I got mine at http://www.scythesupply.com/

They do the body measurements too - be sure to go with a place that does that!

Pam wrote:
http://scytheworks.ca/   that is in Victoria BC  Canada  but I believe there are links as well.  If you have Lee Valley Tools  store in your area they carry them as well but...those don't appear to have the wood handles or the craftsmanship to the uneducated eye (mine)  Good luck

I have a Lee Valley scythe and, no, the shaft isn't wood.  It's aluminum and it's wonderfully light.  The way that the blade attaches to the shaft seems extremely rugged so it's highly unlikely that I'll manage to break anything.  The two grips are well-sanded wood and are easily adjusted to the position that you find most comfortable for scything.  If you broke one, I think that you could easily build a replacement. I bought the scythe to clear the growth from around our various young trees once maybe twice each summer.  Two days ago (I'm a two-day expert so take that into account when reading my comments  ) I spent over an hour clearing growth in the heat and sun of mid-day.  It was much faster that my Stihl trimmer even though much of the growth was +¼" weeds and pretty dense.  Four cuts cleared each tree.  By the time that I was done, I was a deer fly magnet with sweat.  Surprisingly,  I had no aches and pains either then or later despite the fact that it wasn't custom built and the fact that I'm on the winter side of 60.  Makes me wonder if the custom built scythe isn't a bit overdone. 

well now, Mike, you just brought up a VERY pertinent point..that of weight.  I was looking for a scythe and had passed on Lee Valley although they have an excellent reputation just because of the metal but now I am rethinking !!  If the handles are adjustable I would think that would be the most pertinent thing about keeping things comfortable and efficient to use.

We finally found one at a Parkrose hardware near us in Portland Oregon.  It had an aluminum handle and was very light.  However the blade was at the wrong angle and it wasn't adjustable.  It was way to big for me to use.  Well unless I was totaly doing it wrong.  The other thing was it wouldn't really cut the grass as seen on Youtube demos.  So I was thinking it wasn't sharpened correctly.  Again could have been us.  Any way ended up returning that & ordering from www.scythesupply.com  We are having them do the first sharpening so that way we know what correct looks and feels like.  Plus we ordered the sharpening tools and they send a how to book along with your order.   Yes it seemed a bit $$$ but like I reminded hubby add up the value
1. an education
2. a new gadget to play with entertainment
3. no gas
4. no oil (no mixing no spilling no hunting down the measuring cup or the correct gas can)
5. no rip cords to pull
6. no strings to buy break off or get tangled up in tall grass
7. easy to grab and go
8. no more getting yelled at by me because you forgot your safety glasses hearing protection or something flew through the air and hit me or ??
9. the tall grass is easier to pick up and use for mulch feed or compost. (now you wont have to buy those things saves money $$$
10. easier to store.
11. It will last a very very long time.
12.  This is a tool I can use (I can't safely use the gas trimmer to long and too heavy & can never get it started by myself) so you wont have to do all the work yourself!
That last on sold him he now sees the value.

We are waiting for delivery and both of us are excited.  Now we sent in his measurements however they didn't seem all that off from what mine would be other than the hight.  I am use to using things that are to big for me so that may not be a huge problem.  Once we see how it all works we will get one in my size or maybe make one?  will keep you posted.  Hubby is already talking about getting different blades.

Farming market sometime. Older antiques can be found at antique shops, flea markets. Good luck.

We found one on craigs list for $75.00 I know they are out there but since I a ignorant about how they work I feel the first one coming from the experts pre sharpened will save headaches down the road.

good luck, I bought a used scythe and fell in love as soon as I tied it

I just got my grass blade stones steel snath and peening jig from http://www.themaruggcompany.com/


Amy was real helpful in identifying  the old brush blade I picked up for $20 at a yard sale turns out it was from the 70's and has been through a lot of abuse, but the old hickory handle feels great and the peening jig is easy enough to use to get it back sharp enough for brush cutting, so I put the grass blade on the hickory snath and thats my baby, the steel snath I can adjust to show my kids and friends how much fun it is.

handle height is vital to being able to use it comfortably though if it is fitted for him it will be miserable for you to use, as soon as he decides it is better than the string trimmer you'll be able to talk him into buying another setup with a different sized or style blade then you can switch the blade you need onto your snath, it only takes a moment

Hey Brice thanks for the info.  Still waiting for delivery like a kid for christmas!  That's  a great idea to get a different blade when we order one for me.  I am pretty sure he will be sold after the first couple of uses.  may just have to put off getting one for me though so I can spend the money on some pigs so maybe I wont be able to help as much as previously planned:wink: Good deal for the yard sale one!  I just love going junken you can find some really cool stuff.

So I think the diference between The Marugg Company and Scythe supply is an adjustable snath.  The Marugg Company looks to not have an adjustable snath and is much less costly.  I think I want adjustable, for my love, she will love it to I am sure.  Or maybe I start out with a metal snath and go for the custom later.  I thought I was going to have one by now, oh the shopping of an informed consumer takes so much longer! 

We got our Scythe a while back. Love it.  So much easier than a weed wacker.  I can use it however not the best fit.  It takes some practice to get the hang of it.  We had gotten the grass blade thinking that we had more grass.  Should have gotten something for weeds.  We will get a different blade when we order the next one.  After that I think you could make your own handle.  But having one that is as it should be in the first place was the only way to go.  for us at least.  Others we had tried didn't work that well at all.  The angle was wrong and no way sharp enough.

    I found one in the basement of an old house last week. It looks very old but is in good condition. I'll be selling it once I determine its value. Might be worth more as an antique.

I was lucky to have one passed down from my dad, with an extra blade . . . it has the aluminum tube frame with wooden handles, is light and very well balanced you would like on like this