Youth and Shorter Folks’ Scythe

Specifically designed for anyone from about 4-feet to 5-feet in height, we’ve paired a beautifully compact 60-cm Austrian “Fox” blade with a 130-cm Swiss-style ash wooden snath (handle).

Cut meadows, mow rough lawns, or trim back overgrowth around the garden – this is a conveniently general purpose blade that a younger person could keep for their entire life, simply mounting it different snaths appropriate for their height at different life stages.

Weighing only about 6-pounds, this is gentle, practical, meditative and fun tool for cutting vegetation. Kids in particular can learn great scything form quickly, building cross-lateral body awareness and breathing rhythm, while spending time outside, learning about plants, and staying fit. Scything is better than "screen time," and it’s an activity that can be done as a family. Every kid we know wants to start cutting vegetation the second you put one of these in their hands.

Note that the Fox blades are factory sharpened, but they are not finished to an ultra-sharp fine edge. This makes them a little safer to handle and assemble out of the box, but a little less efficient when cutting. They will initially be best for cutting young, green growth, but with additional stone sharpening it can tackle heavier growth, even hay crops.

All of our standard whetstones are compatible with this blade, just know that the Blaumarke stone takes off the most metal and is great for very dull blades, the Styria blade takes off a bit less metal and is good for blades that are getting dull, while the Fux stone is good for keeping a sharp blade sharp while you are working. Like other central European scythes, with extended use this blade will benefit from peening (thinning the cutting edge), using a peening jig or hammer and anvil set-up.