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Snaths Accessories Magna Grecia Hoe Ordering info
more Blades and Sickles here
When you're ordering a complete scythe outfit, I'll custom preset your snath according to a chosen blade and your measurements. However, once in your hands, it's important to pay attention, that your blade lays properly.
Before writing a technical inquiry, please read through the appropriate links in this section. Many common questions are answered there.
All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Complete Scythe Outfit Packages
The beginners who wish to first test the utility of a scythe before they invest any more of their hard-earned money than necessary, typically look for some “middle of the road” version of this tool. In such a case we highly recommend a blade no longer than 65cm / 26" long.
Combination
- Adjustable Canadian ash snath- # 6/50 cm blade - Austrian made blade
- #14/65 cm blade - Austrian made blade
- Standard sharpening kit
- $ 255.00
All-purpose
- Adjustable Canadian ash snath- Blade choice: #14/65 cm blade - the blade was made in Austria, and is neither too light nor unnecessarily heavy, but can readily withstand certain amount of abuse... or #13/65 cm
- Standard sharpening kit
- $ 235.00
Trim
- Adjustable Canadian ash snath- One of the following blades: #6/50 cm, #7/55 cm or #102/55 cm
- Standard sharpening kit
- $ 230.00
If you're ready to peen free-hand add $25.00 for Advanced peening kit.
We also have more blade options which can be fitted to our adjustable snath. Some are finer quality, older production blades and are priced accordingly.
See full Blade Selection here
Snaths
Canadian-made steam-bent ash snaths with adjustable grips
"... I love the grips!... Anyone who uses the scythe for extended lengths of time would appreciate the craftmanship of this tool... Rebekah E." Otto, NC
These snaths are the ScytheConnection design and they come in two sizes (59" and 66") to accommodate mowers' hight. Features well shaped ergonomic grips and there is about a 6" range of grip adjustment within each size. Supplied with a Snath Saver.
I have also a few of these snaths made out of hickory in different curvatures to accommodate various extreme tang angles.
When you're ordering a complete scythe outfit, I'll custom preset your snath according to a chosen blade and your measurements.
I treat snaths with one coat of linseed oil.
$ 95.00
Canadian Hickory Snath with Mortise and Tenon
I have limited stock of an older version of our Canadian snath with adjustable grips.
Limited sizes and curvatures - if interested, please inquire as to whether I have one compatible with the blade of your choice.
Now $ 70.00 (ten left)
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Accessories
Peening Jig
This item, we believe, ought to be in the possession of nearly everyone learning to use the scythe because, without good live instruction and considerable practice, few beginners manage to do a satisfactory job of edge bevelling "freehand". Read a detailed article about using this jig here.
840g - $ 50.00
Colors may vary.
Austrian-made SFX Anvil
With a special adjustable "table" for steadying the blade!
Read more and see full manual here.
Short - total height 6” with 2” prong - 850g - $ 64.00
Tall - total height 9” with 2” prong - 1300g - $ 80.00
Cross-Peen Hammer
Only used for freehand peening on the wide-faced (flat) anvil. The "narrow" anvils above do not require any special hammer, and neither does the peening jig.
$ 18.00 - 500g
Wide-faced (Flat) Anvil
Made in Czech Republic, not re-hardened. One advantage of a softer-bodied anvil is that if you want to re-shape them to your liking (i.e. make them more flat or more convex) you can do it easily with an average file. Furthermore, as is the case with the edge of a scythe blade, they will get harder through repeated impact of the hammer.
$ 12.00 - 500g
Sandflex Rust Erase by Klingspor
These abrasive blocks are used prior to free-hand peening using the narrow-faced anvil. More here.
$ 8.50
Whetstones:
These whetstones should be kept in water between uses, therefore we strongly recommend having a watertight whetstone holder to carry to the field with you. If used dry, the stone will not only wear faster but the surface will clog with dust and with metal particles, rendering it much less effective.
Standard Synthetic
120 grit. For use following peening with the jig, for whetting bush blades,
and for repairing minor edge damage.
23 cm - $ 8.00 - out of stock
Natural "Bregenzer"
Our best all-purpose stone for in-the-field whetting. These came from a once-famous quarry that ceased operations prior to WWII. In Austria long classified as "fine grit", it is about 300 grit.
Regular size - 22 cm - $ 10.00
Slimmer - 20 cm - $ 7.00
Natural "Rozsutec"
Extra fine grit (600-800?) and very long-wearing. Hand-quarried in Slovakia. Not recommended as the only whetstone for most mowers.
22 cm - $ 14.00
Synthetic "Silicar"
Long considered the "Cadillac" of synthetic scythe stones; made in Germany.
Coarse grit for edge treatment after jig peening and for repairs.
Medium for the above and/or field use for the less edge-fussy folks.
26 cm - Medium $ 14.00
Synthetic "American"
Made by the same company as the Silicar stone above.
As a result of recent trials, we have come to feel that if an “average beginner” is to have only one whetstone, we’d recommend this one.
It's good for the rough shaping of many other edge tools as well.
This is one of the synthetic stones, that can be used wet or dry.
Read more.
25 cm - $ 14.00
Synthetic "Large Stone"
Carborundum of remarkable durability suited as a general purpose abrasive for shaping (not honing proper) the edges of knives, axes, hoes etc. -- and yes, also for the post-peening-on-the-jig treatment of scythe blades.
Read more.
23 cm plus handle - $ 18.00
Watertight Whetstone Holders
Solid Copper - 145 g - $ 15.00 (pictured)
Galvanized steel - 120g - $ 8.00
Standard Sharpening Kit
For most beginners wanting better blade-edge maintenance we offer the standard sharpening kit and it includes:
- Peening jig
- Standard synthetic stone (to upgrade to Silicar or "American", add $6.00)
- Natural stone "Bregenzer"
- Galvanized steel or Aluminum Whetstone Holder (to upgrade to Copper Holder, add $7.00)
Package price - $70.00
Advanced Peening Kit
For advanced mowers, ready to peen free-hand:
- Austrian-made SFX Anvil - short, with guides to steady the blade
- Natural stone "Bregenzer"
- Copper Whetstone Holder
- Sandflex Rust Erase block
Package price - $95.00
- Plus natural whetstone - Rozsutec, add $ 12.00
- Plus synthetic whetstone - Silicar, add $ 12.00
Blade Attachment Rings ("Ring Clamps")
All the ring clamps we sell hold the blade in place considerably better than many on the international market. The set screws have finer threads, are placed on a diagonal in the base plate. The seams of all are welded (not riveted), and with thicker steel walls. The #3 and #5 are probably the best for anyone making their own snath, particularly from "wild wood" i.e. not sawn lumber.
#1 (32x35mm, 120g) $9.00
#2 (32x45mm, 130g) $9.00
#3 (40x45mm, 145g) $9.00 - out of stock
#4 (40x40mm, 140g) $9.00
#5 (35x40mm, 120g) $9.00
All rings come with the standard mild steel wrench.
Extra long wrench of better quality - $2.25
Extra set screws - $0.75 each
I do not sell The Scythe Book. Instead, the chapters from The Scythe Must Dance (the practical "Addendum" by Peter Vido) are posted for the reading and printing for free here. Most have been revised, as should be, from time to time, any instructional text written by one who is still learning. Normally this would be accomplished in co-operation with the publisher whenever another printing of the original book is made. However, we were not given the opportunity to do so, even though other printings have been made since the second edition's publication in 2001, and we have therefore opted to make the improved material accessible free of charge for anyone.
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Magna Grecia Hoe
The groundbreaker for tomorrow's gardens.
Complete tool $ 50.00
Head only $ 35.00 - 1250 g, prongs measure 30cm ... more in note 1.
Handle only $ 15.00 - Hickory wood, 58" long ... more in note 2.
The quality line of the Falci Company's hoes is made of special tool steel with extra silica content to provide high abrasion resistance, and then hardened to 52-53 RC. This can't be said of many hoes on the Western market today, if it ever could...
To view it in action, please see the short video clips here.Read more.
Knives from Mora, Sweden
"One of the most useful articles in the hunter's, trapper's, camper's or prospector's outfit is the sheath knife, and... I am inclined to think those who have no use for a sheath knife have never been fortunate enough to own a really good one..."
E. Kreps (author of The Science of Trapping)
The knife with a finger guard and the red-stained handle was made by the Jonsson company, the other by Ericsson (still before it amalgamated with Frost).
Both have 3 5/8" long carbon steel blades and birch wood handles. The edges are very nicely beveled and ready for immediate use.
Unlike during Knep's time (cca a century ago), these now come with molded plastic sheaths.
knife by Ericsson - 3 5/8" long carbon steel blade - $ 10.00
knife by Jonsson - 3 5/8" long carbon steel blade - $ 10.50
out of stock
Ordering Info
- Orders can by made by email or phone. After you let me know what you've selected, I'll send you a quote including the postage.
- Prices are in Canadian dollars.
- I am not set up to deal with credit cards or other forms of electronic payment.
- The payment can be made by a personal cheque or a money order (postal order or bank draft - from US must be "Intenational").
- Please make the cheque or money order payable to Scythe Works.
- Please note, if paying with US funds I will use the exchange rate set by my bank, where I deposit the payment. This rate will vary from the Mid-market rate found on the Currency Exchange Rates Calculator's sites.
- There is no Duty applied on agricultural hand tools entering the USA.
- To orders in Canada HST / GST will be added, where applicable.
- Detailed invoice will be sent upon request.
- I usually ship as Regular / "Expedited" Parcel by Canada Post.
Approximate shipping and handling rates:
Within Canada: $50.00 for a complete scythe (the snath, one or two blades, and sharpening accessories), $38.00 for one or two blades with accessories.
To the US: $60.00 for a complete scythe, $45.00 for one or two blades with accessories.
Some customers from the United States might be wondering about higher shipping and handling fees, than those of US suppliers. Well, Canada Post charges more for their services, than its US counterpart.
I still need to pack the package and take it to the Post office.
I do "The Handling For a Good Cause". This means, that all of the profits, above my expenses, from shipping and handling charges will directly support a family in Nepal or India (places I've visited) or a charity supporting sustainable practices in developing countries.
Mailing address:
Alexander Vido
71 Linden Avenue
Victoria, BC, V8V 4C9
Canada
scytheworks@shaw.ca
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