>> to be stuck on a piece of wood, using tar, and used to be used to whet scythes.

Did anyone ever do that? Put 'em on a stick, I mean. Scythe-stones have always been elongated pointy things and look like this:

http://www.scythesupply.com/equipment.htm

Well, modern machine-made ones do. Proper old handmade ones look like cigars and have are held in the belt or in a pouch on the belt. A scythe-stone-on-a-stick would surely get in the way or scything or you'd have to put it down somewhere, which would be a pain in the arse if you're moving around a field cutting. Just musing out loud :-)