Scythe Catalogue

Introduction:

In line with the nature of this website, this is an uncommon catalogue. In a way it is an inevitable side effect of our 15-year effort to elevate the accepted standard of the average scythe. Such a mandate cannot be accomplished by oversimplifying the core issues of quality design, good fit, adequate edge maintenance -- as well as honest information about it all.

This website contains several hundred pages on the pragmatic aspects alone of scythe use. A few selections, we think, ought to be read prior to anyone's first scythe purchase.

(However, if you wish to skip our version of "taking the horse to water" -- and think that you already know what you need/want -- here is our catalogue -- or alternately, the listing of the other North American retailers of the European style scythe.)

What this catalogue does not offer is:

1. the "short and sweet" version of everything, from information to the tool itself.

2. so limited a selection of scythes and accessories that:
a) customers can't possibly get confused or overwhelmed (especially without reading the suggested links);
b) processing orders would be as simple for both of us as it is, for instance, for Lee Valley Tools and their customers -- (one snath, one blade, one whetstone and plastic holder, which any employee can pull off the shelf, throw into the shipping box and presto! Next!)

What we do provide is:

1. far more information on this subject than has ever been available in a printed/electronic form from any one source.

2. unprecedented diversity of blades and accessories, along with more personal attention to fitting specific units, than any other mail order scythe service on planet Earth. (Between consultation, blade sharpening and fitting, and packing, we spend on average, four hours per order.) Your extra cost for this extra service is not monetary; it is simply the paying of attention and doing some "homework" before sending us an inquiry. (Note coming soon).

3. The quality of items we sell is at least on par with, in many instances better than, what is available elsewhere -- with the snath as the most obvious "Mercedes" among the commercially produced models.

(Any of the bold statements above are up for challenge; i.e. should you question them, do some serious investigating. If you find a more thorough service, let us know where it can be found so we can learn more. In gratitude we will send you any one item you choose from our catalogue, free of charge, postage included.)

Our prices in general have nothing to do with what profit margin we think a retail venture needs to turn. Rather, they are more or less in line with the established norms. We did not start, nor continue as a "business proper" and have never calculated the investment of our time as a "business expense" -- much as an activist or a missionary would not think of doing so.

However, the time we have spent with retail has, in part, been "stolen" from the other related services. Now that we have (finally!) found a dependable aide in Alexander Vido at ScytheWorks, we are able to curtail our personal involvement with retail to some degree. Presently only outfits (along with whatever accessories or extra blades you order at the same time) are available via this catalogue. On the plus side, you will find dealing with Alexander at ScytheWorks more convenient. Read More

We suggest you read the chapter on Blade Selection and this note before choosing a blade.

Bird's eye view of blade length sets. 

For a page with descriptions of the blades, click here.

If it interests you to know why some blades of the same length and with the same labels are priced differently, here is an explanation.

#0 -- "The Learning Blade" (see description page)
80 cm. - 790g. $40

#1
70 cm. - 510g. $80
Tang steepness - 25°

#2
70 cm. - 420g. $78
75 cm. - 460g. $84
Tang steepness - 26°

#3
50 cm. - 550g. $75
60 cm. - 540g. $84
70 cm. - $96
Tang 42°

#4
60 cm. - 440g. $84
Tang 30°

#5
40cm. - 330g. $65
45cm. - 380g. $68
Tang 30°

#8
65 cm. - 480g. $86
Tang 24°

#9
70 cm. - 625g. $74
Tang 26°

#10
65 cm. - 495g. $90
Tang 22°

#11
53 cm. - 510g. $55
57 cm. - 540g. $60
65 cm. Left Handed - 565g. $70
Tang 30°

#12
SOLD OUT

#13
55 cm. - 550g. $64
Tang 28°

#14
SOLD OUT

#15
60 cm. - 420g. $72
70 cm. - 540g. $84
Tang 26°

#16
60 cm. - . $88
65 cm. - 430g. $93
Tang 24°
70 cm. - 540g. $98; tang 30°

#17
SOLD OUT

#18
60 cm. - . $68
70 cm. - 565g. $78 Tang 28°

#19
85 cm. - 735g. $98
Tang 28°

#21
60 cm. "A" - $85
65 cm. "A" - 480g. Tang 35° $90
60 cm. "B" - 420g. Tang 28° $90
65 cm. "B" - . $95

#22
65 cm. - 370g. Tang 28° $74

#23
16"/43 cm. - 400g. Tang 28° $70
18"/47 cm. - 400g. Tang 26° $74
20"/53 cm. - 440g. Tang 26° $78
22"/57 cm. - 460g. Tang 26° $82

#24
45 cm. - 350g. Tang 20° $75

#25
55 cm. - 400g. Tang 24° $82

#26
70 cm. - 735g. Tang 40° $92

#28
30 Zoll/78 cm. - 790g. Tang 38° $125

#29
Sold out.

#30
75 cm. - 765g. Tang 25° $95

Snaths

Canadian-made hickory-wood snath with adjustable grips: $85-$95.

152cm--$85.00
168cm--$90.00
173cm--$95.00
PLEASE INDICATE YOUR HEIGHT WHEN ORDERING.

Separate Handgrips, "ScytheConnection design", for retrofitting or making your own snath

Good grips, in a way, are the heart of ergonomic snath design. We can (finally!) offer the New Canadian grips as individual components for the purpose of retrofitting or self-making new snaths. They are now shaped to fit the hand of a connoisseur; we simply know of no better ones.

Left Hand Grip, square "lap joint" tenon: $12
Right Hand Grip, 3/4" round tenon: $14
Stem for right hand grip: $10
Right-hand set, epoxied and riveted: $26

Accessories

Peening Jig        This item, we believe, ought to be in the possession of nearly everyone learning to use the scythe because, without good live instruction and considerable practice, few beginners manage to do a satisfactory job of edge beveling "freehand". Read a detailed article about using this jig here. 840g. $45

Hammer and Anvils *New* -- Austrian-made Anvil with a special adjustable "table" for steadying the blade! Read more and see photos $55 Quality anvil and hammer set - Made in Italy. More Info.   as a set: $58 anvil only: $36 hammer only: $28 Wide-faced ("flat") anvil - 500g - Made in Czech Republic (not re-hardened). More Info. $12 Superb-quality "Narrow-faced" Anvil for Freehand Peening and Edge Repair: 500g. $28

Whetstones

Note: These whetstones should be kept in water between uses, therefore we strongly recommend having a watertight whetstone holder to carry to the field with you. If used dry, the stone will not only wear faster but the surface will clog with dust and with metal particles, rendering it much less effective.

Synthetic: For use following peening with the jig, for whetting bush blades, and for repairing minor edge damage.

Natural "Bregenzer" Regular size (pictured) $10 Our best all-purpose stone for in-the-field whetting. These came from a once-famous quarry that ceased operations prior to WWII. In Austria long classified as "fine grit", it is about 300 grit.

Natural "Rozsutec"--extra fine grit (600-800?) and very long-wearing. Hand-quarried in Slovakia. Not recommended as the only whetstone for most mowers. $12

Watertight Whetstone Holders

Solid Copper (145 g) $12

Blade Attachment Rings ("Ring Clamps")

32x40mm, 135g. $9 32x45mm, 145g. $9 35x35mm, 105g. $7 38x45mm, 100g. $9 40x40mm, 150g. $9 40x45mm, 160g. $9 These are the best on the market. All but the 35x35 are welded rather than riveted, and galvanized. The set screws have finer threads, are placed on a diagonal in the base plate, and the high-quality hex wrench we supply won't twist off or strip as do many cheap versions. The larger sizes are best for anyone making their own snath, particularly from "wild wood" i.e. not sawn lumber.

*THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO IS SOLD OUT -- A GREATLY IMPROVED ONE WILL BE PRODUCED SOON, WE HOPE!

We do not sell The Scythe Book. Instead, we have posted the chapters from The Scythe Must Dance (the practical "Addendum" by Peter Vido) here, free for the reading and printing. Most have been revised, as should be, from time to time, any instructional text written by one who is still learning. Normally this would be accomplished in co-operation with the publisher whenever another printing of the original book is made. However, we were not given the opportunity to do so, even though other printings have been made since the second edition's publication in 2001, and we have therefore opted to make the improved material accessible free of charge for anyone.

In addition, we have written many articles on more specific (though still scythe-related!) topics. They are linked from the Technical/Instructional page as well; scroll down to find them.

Ordering details:

Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Payment options and shipping rates --
Please contact Alexander Vido:
scytheworks@shaw.ca
http://scytheworks.ca
phone 250-598-0588