I thought I'd kick off this year's mowing by demonstrating an affordable scythe outfit - the cheapest I could get - hopefully to show that even with limited financial means, you can try scything without going second-hand. While it is good to recycle, old scythes are prone to mistreatment and decay, and are not really suitable for novices. This kind of scythe might also appeal to those who only have small patches of grass or weeds to maintain.
If you are tempted to buy one, please bear in mind that scything still requires practice, patience and time, not only to get the hang of it but also, crucially, to learn how to keep your blade sharp and in good order.
This is one of two scythes I recently bought off eBay. They are made by Neilsen Tools, but note that there are scythes with the same or similar handles which have better blades attached - and consequently cost more - such as those made in Germany and Italy.
I had some minor flaws with the two I bought, such as a small crack in one handle and slight buckling along the blade edge, but they were fixable. I gave the wooden grips a sanding and a couple of coats of linseed oil. There are alternative ways to mount the grips, but for this blade, it balances best with the way I have them.
I peened this particular Neilsen blade but it can be ground or filed too (a good sharp file works well). It is quite a thick blade so probably best suited to slightly thicker vegetation and is perhaps the equivalent to a 'ditch' blade rather than a 'grass' blade, but as you can see from the video, it's not too bad.
The scythe as a whole certainly offers value-for-money and could be used for crops, allotments and wild flower area management and could be a stepping stone to investing in a better scythe outfit in future.
