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FourWinds F
FourWinds Sep 20, 2004 06:43:18
Replying to StoneLifter

>> 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 :-)

S StoneLifter
StoneLifter Sep 20, 2004 07:25:13
Replying to FourWinds

Yes, they really did sharpen scythes in Northumberland that way. The piece of wood was a little less than a foot long, with a square section a bit more than an inch across. Sharpening the scythe is a welcome rest from actually using it - the stone is usually in a pouch tied to a belt - have to make sure there are no grass stalks on the blade before sharpening it, or else - whooosh - a finger hanging off.