Please, don't try this at home!
The following, contributed by one of our customers, demonstrates how far you have to go to damage one of our blades. Scythe blades are tough but they have limits. This is an example of exceeding the boundaries of appropriate use with the resulting damage. With every failure there is the opportunity to learn. We do not recommend trying to cut cinder blocks or sewer pipes.
I received the scythe Friday in the Post, attached the scythe to the snath and dry fitted the handles. I walked around the yard and dispatched anything that stuck up more than a few inches. I couldn't believe how well it cut the regular grass. I proceeded to cut about 1/8 of an acre of tall (3') weeds.
In the weeds I hit a cinderblock. I knew I had destroyed the blade. I couldn't find where I had hit the block! I glued up the handles Friday night, and went back Saturday to the rest of the tall weeds. I was cutting on a hill. Over the course of an hour I hit a second cinderblock and steel sewer pipe. I looked at the blade both times and couldn't believe the edge didn't show more than a ding. (I didn't inspect more than the edge).
I preceded up-hill, head on (not recommended in the book). I got more aggressive with the tool as my confidence grew. Things were going great till I buried the tip in the ground mid swing. I heard a snap and knew it was done for. It might be able to take a severe crack edge-on, but given the length of the blade, it's not well suited to be bent lengthwise.
I will consider it a practice blade for the stone, hammer, and peen set. Education isn't cheap!
Thanks for your consideration and help. Thinking back on my fateful swing think it was more like a golf swing and definitely not within the bounds of proper use. And I obviously didn't scout the area.
I'll use the heavy blade I've ordered (going downhill or across) for the heavy weeds and reserve the 26" blade for the flats and grasses.
