Scythe Buyers' Guide:
A "Consumer Report" for North American Mowers

A new edition of the scythe buyers' guide will be posted soon. While you are waiting, see a Reader Comment:

I just bought an American style snath and a 28" Austrian grass blade. I can thank the internet for some videos of how to use a scythe and how it should be fitted, balanced and sharpened. I quickly came to believe that my American style snath was heavy and might never be as efficient as the European style snath. I searched for information on the American style snath and came upon your website(s).

Reading the material by Peter Vido I started thinking there was a chance I was going to get some useful advice, maybe on where to buy a good snath. This is centuries old technology, I'm not going to accept the opinion that I have to pay enormous amounts of money to have one fit to me like a high priced business suit.

I soon came upon one of the classic page of loser websites: "soon to be replaced" I think all this Vito guy knows how to do is type 60 words a minute and whine.

I saw a website before I bought this snath for some company that offered to build me a European style snath for me if I sent them some basic body dimensions. I'll look for that one again.

*Our reply to Scott:*

To us your letter represents the epitome of double misconceptions, namely:

1. That cantankerous Vido character has never typed a word in his life (and is too contrary to even try). Plus it takes a darn lot of time to transfer his rambling pencil scribbles to a format that you folks can actually gain electronic access to.

2. Although we thank you for the creative analogy to the business suit, we are of the opinion that you've got the facts exactly upside down. What we think is that it would be a lot easier to conduct good business in a less-than-perfectly fitted suit than it would be to mow efficiently with a less-than-well-fitted scythe! (We could, of course, be dead wrong, because none of us here on this farm have ever worn a business suit.)

The distinction between "perfect" and "well" should be noted above. We have never claimed the ability to outfit anyone "perfectly" -- in fact, we emphasized that to do so at a distance is an unrealistic expectation. What we are certain about is that nobody is likely to go back to their elsewhere-purchased scythe after they have tried one from us.

Anyway, we wish you luck (you will need it!) obtaining a suitable scythe from either of the two customized-snath-promising companies. When of if you are able to mow with it the way Ashley demonstrates in this video, please, please let us know -- and we'll be glad to copy a "page from your book"!