Parts of a scythe
Basic terms used in mowing:
- Scythe: A sharp steel blade for hand-mowing grass.
- Snath: Most often a wooden handle to which the scythe is attached.
- Sharpening: Grinding the blade of a scythe during mowing with a whetstone to maintain its sharpness.
- Peening: Hammering the blade to create a thin, sharp cutting edge.
These terms may vary in different regions and dialects, so we use the names we use on our website and in our courses.
The basic parts of a scythe are:
- blade
- snath
- lower handle (right handle)
- upper handle (left handle)
- scythe ring - used to attach the blade to the snath
Scythe blade:
The metal part of the scythe consists of the following parts:
- tip,
- blade,
- cutting edge (forged part of the blade),
- back or rib, which serves to strengthen the scythe,
- heel,
- tang, which serves to attach the scythe to the snath, and
- knob, which serves to anchor the scythe to the snath.
Whetstone holder and whetstones:
Whetstone holder - holder for whetstones.
Whetstone - grinding stone for sharpening sickles. There are many types of whetstones, which differ in coarseness. The highest quality ones are made of natural stone, the coarser ones are synthetic.