Dating a hand scythe?

nostalgia083

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Jan 4, 2013
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Location
Middle TN
A few years ago I found this hand scythe in the woods behind my house. It had a wood handle that's long since gone. The blade looks to be in good shape except needing to clean the rust off, sharpened, fitted with a handle.

I looked up pictures of hand scythe and didn't see much variation. Is there any way to possibly date it? The house was built in 1946. There were farms in the 1800s here and I have found some square nails in the woods and an old axe head.

DSCF2987.jpg
 
As you said design hasn't changed much.

The little rust seems maybe 5-20 years so maybe not lost too long ago.

Any detail on the wood handle fasteners?
This is the only part that might get a time frame clue.

Other wise guessing mid-early 1900's to late 1800's.
 
As you said design hasn't changed much.

The little rust seems maybe 5-20 years so maybe not lost too long ago.

Any detail on the wood handle fasteners?
This is the only part that might get a time frame clue.

Other wise guessing mid-early 1900's to late 1800's.

No idea, the handle was gone when I found it.

Some of the other finds on my property.
10945654_10206973706724954_87014365881319640_n.jpg
 
What you have there is a hand sickle not a scythe.

I swung a scythe for the state of Vermont for 3 summers
during High School, 8hrs. a day 5 days a week all summer long.
That's how we mowed the sides of the road to keep them cleared
in the 60s. Kept me in good shape for up coming school sports. :yes:
 
No idea, the handle was gone when I found it.
Not the handle but the fasteners that are still on the sickle. The two 'rivets, 'bolts'??? that would hold the wood handle on.

The horse shoes still put approximate dating at :
"Other wise guessing mid-early 1900's to late 1800's. "
Or Pre-motorized autos/tractors.

"Square" nails or "Cut" nails. Big difference- Square are hand forged and made until the early 1800's. Cut nails were made when sheet steel become readily available and used until the early 1900's when round nails become available.
Cut nails tend to be rectangle cross section.

What you have there is a hand sickle not a scythe.

That is correct. I have used both as a youth on my grandfather's farm.
 
Did anybody use a hand scythe after the weed eater was invented in the 70s? I still remember that glorious day I broke the weed whip and Dad went to the store for what I thought was another dam weed whip and instead he came back with a weed eater. It really did change my life.
 
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