A tool of yester-year

Hank ABAB · Dec 21, 2017

Any guesses?
Some old timers may know what it is.

It is 4 1/2 inches long, 1 5/8 inches wide, 3/4 inch thick.
The writing says "Made In Austria". (Was my Dad's)

sotxbill · Dec 21, 2017

made in austria

looks very much like a rock guard off a sickle cutter.. and my original guards had ..... ""made in austria" on them. I think the bottom half is gone as it was bolted to the machine.. The top half popped off and that is what you have.

Hank ABAB · Dec 21, 2017

sotxbill,

Nope, it is a tool, not a piece of farm equipment.
The hole in the item is a bit less than 1/4 inch in diameter.

Ozarker · Dec 21, 2017

If I'm correct, it is used with another tool to sharpen a third tool, and they are still available new and still made in Austria.

Bob

Deere Mark · Dec 21, 2017

Google "denglestock", the German name for a small anvil used to sharpen a scythe by peening (to thin the edge) (maybe a sharpening stone used also). Still available from some Austrian manufacturer of scythes. Carry the denglestock and a small hammer by a string around your waist, pound the denglestock into a stump or fence post, and sharpen away. Ah, for the good old days.
I have some local (SE PA) dengelstocks, and all are about 8 inches long, about one inch thick and one inch wide at the top.

JD Seller · Dec 22, 2017

deere mark your correct in that this is a scythe anvil. I had never seen them before. Here is a picture of one being used.

Hendrik · Dec 22, 2017

Nice tool; brings back some memories.
In The Netherlands you'll not find a stump in or near fields. So similar tools, slightly larger, were used for sharpening scythes. The anvil part was simply driven in the dirt. Obtaining a nice, even and sharp cutting edge requires skill!
Haarspit

Mike M · Dec 22, 2017

I was thinking you could use it for a plumb bob ?

Ted in NE-OH · Dec 22, 2017

Elephant toothpick

Caryc · Dec 24, 2017

Here's the modern version. For picture purposes I used a knife instead of my scythe which is out in my shed.

You can see, the top piece has the angle on it that puts the angled edge on the scythe blade. You just keep the blade up against the bar in the bottom piece and move it along as you tap the top piece with a hammer.

Why not just take the scythe blade to a grinder you ask? For one thing every time you grind a new edge you are making your blade smaller. This tool puts a new edge on the blade without removing any material. A grinder could not compete with the edge you get with using the correct sharpening tool.

I have five acres to control weeds on. I have two tractors to maintain most of it but to clear around buildings I use a spray. Eventually more weeds pop after the ones that I've sprayed die. That's where the scythe comes in very handy. It does a great job. I have two different style power weed eaters but I don't like messing with them and my hands are not vibrating after using the scythe.

Caryc · Dec 24, 2017

Came back to add this. Using the correct terminology, this tool is a peening jig. You use this tool to put a new edge on the blade, then a few swipes with the scythe sharpening stone to finish it off.

The old guy in the picture is also peening his blade edge.

A tool of yester-year

Hank ABAB

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sotxbill

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Hank ABAB

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Ozarker

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Deere Mark

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JD Seller

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Hendrik

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Mike M

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Ted in NE-OH

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Caryc

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Caryc

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