A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery. A scythe consists of a wooden shaft and a long, curved blade is mounted at the lower end, perpendicular. Scythes always have the blade projecting from the left side when in use. Mowing is done by holding the handle , with the arms straight, the blade parallel to the ground and very close to it, and the body twisted to the right. The body is then twisted steadily to the left, moving the scythe blade along its length in a long arc from right to left, ending in front of the mower, thus depositing the cut grass to the left. Mowing proceeds with a steady rhythm, stopping at frequent intervals to sharpen the blade. The correct technique has a slicing action on the grass, cutting a narrow strip with each stroke Mowing grass is easier when it is damp, and so hay-making traditionally began at dawn and often stopped early, the heat of the day being spent raking and carting the hay cut on previous daysEarly settlers and market gardeners used these scythes as they established their farms in Moorabbin Shire c1880A large metal scythe with a wooden handle x 2early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools, blacksmiths

Used in the 19th and early 20th century.A metal scythe with a long curved wooden handle to manoeuvre the blades. There are also two shorter wooden handles or 'nibs' fitted at an angle to suit the user attached to the main handle by a metal ring. It has two curved pointed cutting blades which are attached by nuts and bolts to the handle.agricultural tools, scythes, cutting tools, agricultural equipment

Scythes were used with a long sweeping movement which made them much less tiring for labourers to use than reaping hooks or sickles though they still involved great physical labour and considerable skill to perfect. Both hands were in use and the operator did not have to bend his back to reach down to the crop. Scythes were not used as often on farms after the mechanisation of harvesting. They were still used for cutting awkward shaped small plots and for opening a path for the tractors. This item is an example of a tool used by the early settlers of the Orbost district. A curved wooden scythe handle with two nailed grips attached with metal rings. There is no blade. There is a metal hook at the bottom.scythe agricultural tool farming

This is an early sharpening stone of unknown origin . Stones have been used for hundreds of years to sharpen metal blades on a wide range of tools from scythes, scissors plane blades and knives. More recent examples come with particular grades according to the fineness of the grit in the stone.This item is of antiquarian interest only and is kept for displays. It is an example of tool sharpening methods which have been used for many years.This is a small square stone with a polished surface used to sharpen small bladestrade, sharpening stone, warrnambool

Jonathan Harris operated a winery on the banks of the Axe Creek, Axedale in the 1850s.A curved metal blade 31 centimetres long eight centimetres wide tapering to a point. Attached to a one centimetre diameter, 18 centimetre long curved metal rod which has a two centimetre to three centimetre tapered 11 centimetre long wooden handle. Part of the Harris Collection.agriculture, farm, harris collection, hand scyche

Jonathan Harris operated a winery on the banks of the Axe Creek, Axedale in the 1850s. A curved wooden shaft two centimetres diameter at the top, five centimetres diameter at the bottom and 150 centimetres long. Two wooden handles three centimetres diameter and 11 centimetres long are attached to the shaft. At the bottom of the shaft a curved metal blade is attached, it's 75 centimetres long and nine centimetres wide at the shaft and tapers to a point. Part of the Harris Collection.harris collection, scythe

Round wooden handle with metal blade bolted to one end.Hoe made by Sheffield impressed on metal blade.garden, farming, tools, sythe, weeding

Long handle scythe used by the college to maintain gardensManual scythe blade with long wooden handle painted orange. Used by Burnley Students for garden maintenance,Metal stamped 1285garden maintenance, burnley, grass control, weed control, students