Deluxe Bar Peening Anvil and Hammer

Peening is the process of periodically drawing out the soft steel cutting edge of a scythe to create a thinner edge that can be more finely sharpened. Most grass, brush, and farm scythes benefit from occasional peening, and will hold a sharp edge longer when peened. Larger forestry scythes and hardened steel scythes (such as American and Nordic scythes are usually not peened). Cutting edge imperfections, cracks (such as from striking rocks), and nicks in the blade can also be corrected with peening. Additionally, the peening process itself is meditative and provides a good time away from electronic devices for thinking and solitary reflection. 

We’ve assembled what we think is one of the best freehand peening combinations for this task with the Shröckenfux bar anvil, and peening hammer.

The bar anvil features a tapered spike for mounting into a pre-drilled hole in a log. To use, the highly polished anvil face is positioned closest to you, with the blade resting on the support platform at the rear (and supported by your knees as you sit directly in front of the anvil). As you slowly move the blade from right to left, the highly-polished flat end of the hammer is tapped in an arching motion (hitting and pulling the hammer slightly towards you simultaneously), to draw the soft steel towards you. This process is repeated a few times along the entire length of the cutting edge. Then several more passes are performed, striking lightly directly downward on the cutting edge to “pack” the drawn-out steel into place. The 1.76-lbs Austrian made hammer features an exceptional ash wood handle and a polished striking surface. As you develop skill in the craft of peening, this hammer/anvil combination can provide some of the best results possible.

Hint: If you brush-up the cutting edge with a very fine grit sandpaper before peening, the results of your work will be easier to observe.

Basic instructions included. Made by true craftspeople -- with care this peening set can outlast several human generations.