Old steel farm tool or grass cutter? Washed up on beach

[UncleBruce]

These are very common around here, I live in old farming country and these are hay knives. Just like table knives can be serrated and are, this hay knife is serrated. Saw teeth are of a different design. The serrations on this tool are very smooth quite different than what would be on a saw. There is no sawing action when it is used at least when I saw one demonstrated. It more of a whacking similar to the scythe in ROBBYBOBBYs image.

 

[UncleBruce]

Of course I went on youtube and there were some videos of them being used in a sawing motion. Fun stuff, but they looked like they were using a different style tool.

 

[willong]

That is exactly what is! Detective Willong.
Better than I did.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

Thanks. My late father grew up as a farm boy before he went off to war. He never returned to farming, but he was always nostalgic for the lifestyle that often featured in our conversations.

 

[willong]

I live in old farming country and these are hay knives.

I was agreeing with your identification of the tool, wasn't criticizing the term "knife", just commenting on what I've heard them called. Even that etsy ad that I linked uses both terms in the description. Could be regional differences. You know, like some parts of the country pronounce "wash" with an R in it: "warsh."

 

[UncleBruce]

I was agreeing with your identification of the tool, wasn't criticizing the term "knife", just commenting on what I've heard them called. Even that etsy ad that I linked uses both terms in the description. Could be regional differences. You know, like some parts of the country pronounce "wash" with an R in it: "warsh."

I knew that. I had never heard them called a saw. I just didn't want you to visit North Missouri and get embarrassed, then end up being tarred and feathered by making fun of a serious harvesting tool!!! Ha Ha. Just looking out for ya'.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

These are very common around here, I live in old farming country and these are hay knives. Just like table knives can be serrated and are, this hay knife is serrated. Saw teeth are of a different design. The serrations on this tool are very smooth quite different than what would be on a saw. There is no sawing action when it is used at least when I saw one demonstrated. It more of a whacking similar to the scythe in ROBBYBOBBYs image.

I don't know my sickle from my scythe. City Boy! Oh well.
ROBBYBOBBY64

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I knew that. I had never heard them called a saw. I just didn't want you to visit North Missouri and get embarrassed, then end up being tarred and feathered by making fun of a serious harvesting tool!!! Ha Ha. Just looking out for ya'.

Sounds like a party! What kind of feathers are we talking about?
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[UncleBruce]

Sounds like a party! What kind of feathers are we talking about?
ROBBYBOBBY64.

Goose

 

[Bohdan]

Any idea what this is? Figured someone would have dug something similar, or else grew up on a farm. Maybe the blade of a scythe or some type of tool/implement? I don't know. It's got a curve, what looks like serrations, and pretty old. Thanks in advance for any guesses.

It's commonly seen on the prairies at farm auction sales. It is a "hay knife" or "hay saw" used for cutting compacted hay out of hay stacks.

 

[nashman]

Any idea what this is? Figured someone would have dug something similar, or else grew up on a farm. Maybe the blade of a scythe or some type of tool/implement? I don't know. It's got a curve, what looks like serrations, and pretty old. Thanks in advance for any guesses.

It used to be an ice saw they would cut chunks of ice out of the rivers and store it in sawdust.