Glossary (Scythe Glossary)

Here you will find important technical terms relating to the scythe, briefly explained.

Starting the cut

The first mowing strokes used to establish the working width and lay down the first swath.

Setting the Lay

Adjustment of the scythe blade at a specific angle to the snath (narrower or wider), where the angle is chosen so that the scythe cuts easily and can be guided smoothly.

Mowing Out

Mowing hard-to-reach or remaining areas, e.g., in corners, along ditches, fences, or around trees.

Laying the swath

During mowing, the cut grass is laid down by the swing of the scythe in such a way that it forms a swath in a row on the already cleared area.

Beard

The wider end of the scythe blade near the tang; for a right-handed scythe, this is the right end of the blade.

Dangl (Austrian term)

The outermost, paper-thin section of the cutting edge, formed by peening. When lightly stroked with a fingernail from below, it flexes elastically under the pressure.

Peening anvil

A small anvil on whose face the cutting edge area rests during peening; regionally also called “peening iron.”

Peening jig

A mechanical peening device where a guided striking punch cold-thins the cutting zone of the blade.

Peening Hammer

A special hammer with an adapted face and peen for peening, i.e., for thinning the cutting zone on the peening anvil.

Peening

Cold forming of the cutting zone of the scythe blade by hammer blows on the peening anvil or in a peening machine to create a thin, sharp cutting edge.

Peening block / Peening stool

Usually a wooden block or log section (also called a peening stool) into which the peening anvil is driven or secured, and on which the peener sits during peening.

Heel

The transition area on the scythe blade where the spine merges into the tang, also called the “neck.”

Peen

The narrow striking side of the peening hammer opposite the wider face.

Firmle (Austrian term)

Transition area in the front part of the blade where the spine flattens and merges into the tapering point.

Tang

Angled, reinforced extension of the blade for attachment to the snath; rests on the tang section of the snath and is secured to the snath with the scythe ring.

Hollow-shaped Dangl (Austrian term)

A faulty cutting edge shape where the dangl forms an arc due to incorrect peening, occurring when the scythe blade is not guided horizontally over the peening anvil.

Horizontal Cut

A cutting technique where the cutting edge is moved more horizontally through the vegetation; this causes the dangl to wear out faster and requires more frequent honing. The oblique cut is preferable.

Wedge-shaped Dangl (Austrian term)

The desired, thinly tapering, wedge-shaped form of the finely peened cutting edge area (wedge-shaped transition from the blade over the bevel to the dangl).

Crank Snath

A snath with a raised or semi-raised “crank” where the front handle is attached; allows for a more upright mowing posture.

Mow

Usually refers to the mown area, but can also refer to the act of mowing.

Fingernail Test

A check to see if the dangl has been peened thin enough. The thumbnail is run along the dangl from below with light pressure. If the dangl is thin enough, it will yield slightly under the pressure of the thumbnail and bulge at that point.

Riefen (Austrian term) – Bevel part of cutting edge

The approximately 2 to 4 millimeter wide area of the cutting edge on the scythe blade. The cutting edge consists of the “Riefen” and the “Dangl”.

Spine

The reinforced, rolled-up edge of the scythe blade from the point to the heel; forms the thicker edge of the blade facing away from the ground.

Nicks

Clearly visible breaks or notches in the cutting edge of the scythe blade, usually caused by contact with hard objects such as stones or woody plants.

Guided peening jig

A peening machine that uses hammer blows on guided striking sleeves to peen the scythe blade along its entire length to the correct width.

Schnabel (regional expression for hardened, reinforced tip point)

Regional term for a stone point, a thorn-like reinforced point that some scythe blades have.

Cutting edge

The actual cutting edge of the blade, consisting of the bevel area and the dangl; cuts with a drawing motion when guided correctly.

Edge Retention

The property of a cutting edge to remain sharp over a certain working period or area before re-honing or peening is required.

Cutting Height

The height at which the grass is cut above the ground; determined by blade position, scythe guidance, and ground unevenness.

Oblique Cut / Diagonal Cut

A cutting technique where stalks are cut from bottom to top. Requires less force than a flat cut. The oblique cut is achieved through blade curvature and tang angle. The ideal angle for the oblique cut is approximately 65 degrees.

Swath

Mown material laid down in a row or path.

Snath

The handle of the scythe, made of wood or metal, with grips, to which the scythe blade is attached.

ring

Retaining ring with screws or clamps for attaching the scythe blade to the snath.

Scythe Wrench

A wrench (usually a square or hex wrench) for tightening and loosening the screws on the scythe ring.

Blade Guard

A protective cap or cover for the scythe blade to cover the cutting edge during transport and storage and protect it from damage.

Sensenwurf (regional term for snath)

Regional term “Sensenwurf” for the snath.

Stone tip point / Hardened point on tip of the blade

A thorn-like, particularly reinforced point that some scythe blades have. Offers some protection against occasional contact with stones or other hard obstacles during mowing.

Advance / forward bite

The distance the scythe penetrates into the standing crop with each mowing stroke.

Knob

A thorn-like protrusion on the tang of the scythe blade, which engages in the knob hole of the tang section on the snath and prevents the blade from twisting on the snath.

Wavy-shaped Dangl (regional term)

A faulty cutting edge shape with a wavy dangl, usually caused when the cutting edge has been over-peened or by an uneven sequence of hammer blows.

Whetstone

A grinding stone for regular honing of the cutting edge during mowing or after peening.

Whetstone holder

A container for the whetstone, usually filled with water and carried on the belt; keeps the whetstone moist and readily accessible. Often also referred to as a whetstone holder or whetstone sheath.

Worb (Austrian term for snath)

Regional term “Worb” for the snath.

Jagged-shaped Dangl (regional term)

A faulty cutting edge shape with a jagged, uneven dangl, caused by incomplete blows during peening, i.e., when peening blows are not placed next to each other without gaps.

Arc of the blade

The curved shape that the cutting edge describes from the point to the beard.