Wildland and Wetland Restoration Scythe (no peening required)

See the video for a real world example of this blade at work!

While this isn’t a blade that one would use to harvest wheat, it is excellently designed scythe for a wide range of wild types of vegetation, difficult to access locations, and uneven terrain. Very useful for upland sites as well, especially for light trail clearing, and opening up existing natural areas for restoration work.

Meticulously crafted by a multigenerational family of blacksmiths in Finland at Härmän Taonta Ltd., this tool is used extensively in Nordic countries for habitat management, especially in difficult to access wet terrain where it can be difficult to mobilize power tools and carry multiple pieces of equipment. (Check out the videos of this blade at work clearing invasive growth in northern European streams).

We have been very impressed by the use of this scythe for selective, first cut clearing of invasive weeds, including semi-aquatic and fully aquatic ones. This includes both soft (but extremely heavy) growth below the water line, as well as cutting much heavier material such as Phragmites reeds, and Equisetum horsetail stems, both of which accumulate silica dioxide in the stems, causing frequently dulling of softer steel scythe blades. Once cleared with this blade, riparian and wetland zones are easier to work in for further restoration activities (such as installing native transplants).

The snath (constructed of robust tubular steel) has characteristic Nordic-style grips, both mounted directly on the main shaft, and facing the same direction. These characteristics provide good, natural swinging power without a lot of fatigue.

The Wildland and Wetland Scythe blade is 55-cm in length and forged out of 4-mm hardened steel. It is paired with a 130-cm snath, appropriate for most body sizes and for work at ground level up to waist-high.

Assembly Notes: Before using, you should adjust the grip placement on the snath – typically with the top grip near the very end of the snath, and the bottom grip spaced roughly the same distance as the length between your elbow and the tip of your middle finger. The grips will be slightly loose at first, and will need some fine tightening with use. The blade is attached with the tang clamped to the back of the snath, using one of four adjustable holes for holding the tip of the tang. For soft vegetation a more open angle can help you cut quickly and efficiently, while for more tough vegetation, a more closed angle will provide more cutting power.