Grass scythe

[ren531]

Just acquired another scythe, bought it for the blade really, but does anyone know how this would have held the blade originally, it had been bodged by hammering some square metal bar from a door handle in to wedge it tight , it's completely different than my other that secures the blade with a bolt .

 

[classic33]

Just acquired another scythe, bought it for the blade really, but does anyone know how this would have held the blade originally, it had been bodged by hammering some square metal bar from a door handle in to wedge it tight , it's completely different than my other that secures the blade with a bolt .

The three holes are for choosing the angle of the blade.
There would have been a wooden wedge hammered into place between the tang of the blade and the metal plate attached to the handle.

 

[ren531]

The three holes are for choosing the angle of the blade.
There would have been a wooden wedge hammered into place between the tang of the blade and the metal plate attached to the handle.

So it would have been a wooden wedge , the metal ring seems to slide up and down and as you say the three holes for setting the angle same as the other one, I will have to see if I can make some wedges, I do have some blocks of hardwood I can use .
Very pleased with the blade with it it seems to be a lot newer than the stath part , once cleaned up it has a date stamp of 81 and a 27 stamped into it it's 27 inch long and guess it's from 1981 it looks virtually new with a machined edge that's not worn down and got original paint on it .

 

[classic33]

The dark band on the handle is where the metal ring would have been, in use.