The best scythes for cutting hay are long-handled steel grass whips with a double-edged blade, a straight shaft and enough reach that you can stand upright. We compared 10 of them, and the AMES 22-inch True Temper grass whip took the top spot for its balance, its double-edge cut on both the forward and return swing, and the sheer size of its reviewer base at over 2500 ratings.
A scythe is a long-snathed, curved-blade hand tool for cutting grass and hay. The snath is the long wooden or steel shaft, and the blade is the sharpened head that sweeps through standing stems in a rhythmic arc. When the edge is keen, the blade slices stems cleanly and lays the cut grass out in a neat windrow instead of chopping it into a mist of fragments.
That windrow matters as much as the cut. A scythe deposits grass in rows, which means you can turn it with a rake, let it cure, and bale or stack it without ever firing up a tractor. As one long-term scyther on the permies forum put it, the scythe is the fastest and best way for a guy without a tractor to make hay. If you want a quiet alternative for the actual lawn, our guide to battery-powered lawn mowers for quiet cutting covers a different job.
We picked these 10 after reading the ratings, the specification sheets and the customer image galleries, then weighing blade length, shaft material, weight and how hard the tool is to keep sharp. Everything here cuts standing meadow grass. Nothing here will take down woody brush, and we say so plainly where it matters.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Scythes for Cutting Hay in October
AMES 22 in. Grass Whip
- Double-edged serrated steel blade
- 38-inch hardwood handle
- Cuts on forward and return strokes
AMES True Temper Deluxe
- Serrated alloy steel double edge
- 30-inch hardwood handle
- Made in USA with 15-year warranty
Walensee 41 in. Scythe
- 14-inch serrated stainless blade
- 30-inch steel handle
- Rust-resistant for wet cutting
All 10 Scythes Compared in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| AMES True Temper 22 in. Grass Whip |
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Check Latest Price |
 Walensee 39 in. Serrated Scythe |
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Check Latest Price |
| Walensee 41 in. Double-Edged Scythe |
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Check Latest Price |
 DACK 36 in. Grass Whip |
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Check Latest Price |
| AMES True Temper Deluxe Weed Cutter |
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Check Latest Price |
 Spear & Jackson 4752SS Scythette |
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Check Latest Price |
 Zenport K110-20 Curved Scythe |
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Check Latest Price |
 BULLY TOOLS 12-Gauge Grass Cutter |
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Check Latest Price |
 BlumWay 60 in. Adjustable Scythe |
|
Check Latest Price |
 HONMAMON OJIKA Forged Steel Scythe |
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Check Latest Price |
1. AMES True Temper 22 in. Grass Whip — the balanced all-rounder
True Temper 2942600 Grass Whip with Double-Edged Serrated Steel Blade and 22 in. Hardwood Handle
Double-edged serrated steel blade
38-inch hardwood handle
1.4 lb
41.3 in overall
Pros
- Sturdy and well balanced
- Double-edge cuts on forward and return swings
- Light enough to swing one-handed
- Long hardwood handle gives reach without bending
Cons
- Factory edge can arrive dull and need filing
- Cut swath is narrow so large areas need many passes
- Handle geometry suits right-handers better
This is the tool I hand to people who ask me what to buy first. The double-edged serrated steel blade cuts on both the forward and the return stroke, so every swing is productive instead of half wasted on the backswing. At 1.4 pounds it stays up for a full session, and the 38-inch hardwood handle means you reach the top of the stems without bending.
Its rating of 4.2 across more than 2500 reviews is the deepest reviewer base in this group, and the pattern in those reviews is consistency. Owners describe it as the same durable tool they grew up with, and they use it on ditches, meadow edges and overgrown lawn borders.
The honest weakness is reach versus coverage. The blade is short, so the swath is narrow and a full acre of meadow takes many passes. Reviewers also report that the edge sometimes arrives dull under its factory coating and needs a file before the first cut.
How it holds up on wet meadow grass
Serrated teeth grip stems that a smooth edge would slip on, which makes this a decent choice when the grass is green and damp. The double edge means you are cutting and returning through the same row, so the standing hay goes down fast.
It will not handle thistle stems thicker than a pencil or any woody growth. Keep it in grass and light weed growth only, and you will get years of service.
What to check before you buy
Count on spending ten minutes with a file or whetstone on the serrations before your first session. The 61% five-star share suggests most owners simply do this and move on.
If you swing with your left hand, note that the handle geometry here is not symmetric. Test the swing in person if you can.
2. Walensee 39 in. Serrated Scythe — a light one-pound whip
Walensee 39in Serrated Steel Scythe, Grass Whip for Tall Grass & Weeds
8-inch double-edged serrated steel blade
T-style soft rubber grip
1 lb
17.25 in overall
Pros
- Weighs just one pound
- Silent with no fuel or debris
- Balance sits just ahead of the hands
- Rust-resistant steel suits wet conditions
Cons
- Soft blade steel chips and dents easily
- Coating makes sharpening harder
- Threaded handle joint can loosen
At exactly one pound, this is among the lightest full-length whips we tested, and one that tires your arms least over a long afternoon. Experienced reviewers make the key technique point clearly: this is a grass whip, not a hatchet, and several light overlapping passes with the tip angled work far better than one heavy chop.
The rubber T-grip stays comfortable over long sessions, and the balance point sitting just ahead of your hands makes the return stroke nearly as productive as the forward one. It is silent, with no fuel, oil or debris to deal with.
The 3.6 rating reflects real durability complaints. Soft blade steel chips and dents when it meets stones, and the protective coating makes it harder to put a keen edge back on. Assembly is two pieces and needs threadlock adhesive before you swing at anything hard.
When this is the right choice
Choose it if you are cutting soft growth in a small plot, or if arm fatigue is your main concern. It is also ambidextrous, which few others in this group are.
Skip it for stony ground or neglected acreage where the blade will meet rocks and old stumps.
Watch the handle joint
The threaded connection can work loose with heavy repeated swinging. Check it at the start of each session and tighten before fatigue sets in.
Have a metal file on hand, since restoring serrations on coated steel takes patience.
3. Walensee 41 in. Double-Edged Scythe — a wide swath in a steel shaft
Walensee 41in Double-Edged Scythe, Weed Cutter for Cutting Weeds & Grass
14-inch serrated stainless steel blade
30-inch steel handle
3 lb
41 in overall
Pros
- 14-inch blade gives a wide cutting swath
- Steel shaft resists bending better than wood
- Anti-rust stainless blade works in wet conditions
- Cuts both directions to double efficiency
Cons
- Serrated edge takes effort to keep sharp and can shred
- Screw assembly needs tools
- Not for woody shrubs or thick stems
This is the longer-bladed sibling of the 39-inch model, and the extra reach is the whole point. At 14 inches of stainless blade it covers far more ground per pass, which matters when you are walking the same rows twice.
The steel handle is a real upgrade for hay work. Wood shafts crack and split at the head joint under repeated swinging, while steel resists that failure, and the rubber grip keeps your hands from blistering on a long session. The stainless blade is described as staying sharp and resisting rust in rain.
Reviewers report it cuts through four-foot bull thistle and hollow-stem weeds when the serrations are fresh. The recurring criticism matches the smaller model: a serrated factory edge that dulls quickly and is awkward to sharpen.
Why wet meadows suit this one
Anti-rust stainless steel is the deciding factor when you cut green hay in damp weather. A plain carbon blade left wet overnight will bloom with rust by morning, and this one does not.
The double edge doubles your efficiency per pass, which is the single biggest saving when you cut by hand.
Where it will disappoint
At 3 pounds it is noticeably heavier than the 39-inch version on light weed work. Assembly needs a locking screw and tools, so budget a few minutes at the start.
The same serration problem applies: put an edge on it regularly or it will shred rather than slice.
4. DACK 36 in. Grass Whip — a budget starter that needs patience
DACK 36″ Grass Whip with Double-Edged Serrated Blade, Manual Weed Whacker, Swing Blade Grass Cutter & Weed Sling Blade for Tall Grass and Overgrown Weeds in Yard Ditches Forests and Fields
8-inch serrated hardened steel blade
36-inch cushioned grip handle
2 lb
80 in reach
Pros
- Lightweight and completely quiet
- Low cost entry point
- Easy to swing for shorter users
- Works both directions to build momentum
Cons
- Blade arrives dull and shreds until sharpened
- Head can shear at the bolts and shaft can bend
- Adhesive needs 24 hours to cure
This is the weakest-rated pick in our group at 3.4, with a 23% one-star share, and the complaints are consistent enough to name. The thin head and shaft bend or shear under repeated swinging, and the blade arrives dull enough that it shreds grass until you sharpen it.
That said, buyers who sharpen the blade report it handles grass clumps adequately. The handle is 36 inches with a cushioned anti-blister grip, and the doubled cutting range gives you an 80-inch sweep per pass.
Assembly is the other friction point. The adhesive on the handle joint needs a full 24 hours to cure, and the included tools may not fit the supplied parts. Plan a day of curing before your first session.
Who should still consider it
If you are on a tight budget and cutting short grass in a small yard, it will do the job once sharpened. It is quiet, needs no fuel, and needs no wire spool.
If you plan to cut standing hay for a herd, look at a heavier model instead.
The durability question
Multiple owners report heads shearing at the bolts and shafts bending. Inspect both before each use, and retire the tool if the head starts to wobble.
The lifetime warranty offered by the manufacturer is worth having on file for exactly this reason.
5. AMES True Temper Deluxe Weed Cutter — the warranty you can bank on
The AMES Companies 2945000 True Temper Deluxe Weed Cutter
Serrated double-edge alloy steel blade
30-inch hardwood handle
2.6 lb
40 in. long
Pros
- Long-standing US design with 15-year warranty
- Double edge cuts on both strokes
- Solid hardwood handle
- Ambidextrous blade geometry
- Wider cutting width than short whips
Cons
- Longer and heavier so it tires the arms
- Serrated edge dulls and is hard to resharpen
- Needs plenty of swing clearance
This one has the highest share of five-star reviews among the AMES tools here, with only 5% one-star reviews, and buyers cite the 15-year warranty as the reason for the higher average score. It shares the True Temper heritage of the 22-inch whip but adds a longer hardwood handle and a wider cutting width.
Made in the USA with a solid hardwood shaft, the double-edge alloy steel blade cuts on forward and return strokes. At 2.6 pounds it is the heaviest of our three headline picks, and that mass is a fair trade if you are working a bigger holding and want a tool backed for a decade and a half.
The 76 centimeter cutting width means fewer passes than the shorter whips, which is where the extra weight pays off. Ambidextrous blade geometry means either hand works, and some owners buy it as a second tool for the heavier end of the job.
Where it earns its weight
If you have more than a couple of acres of meadow to cut, the wider swath reduces the number of passes enough to offset the extra arm fatigue. The hardwood handle also survives seasons of storage better than a screw-together steel shaft.
It suits mixed ground where you occasionally meet thicker weed stems among the grass.
The trade-off you accept
It is longer and heavier than a basic hand weeder, so it tires the arms faster on light jobs. The serrated edge dulls and is harder to resharpen than plain steel, and you need room on both sides to swing it properly.
6. Spear & Jackson 4752SS Scythette — sharpening decides the outcome
Spear & Jackson 4752SS Scythette, Black
12-inch alloy steel grass hook blade
35-inch tubular steel handle
0.74 kg
30.5 cm cut width
Pros
- Tubular steel handle is stronger than expected
- Sharpens to a razor edge with a file and stone
- Cuts brush at the base with less mess than a string trimmer
- Replacement blade available as part 4732SY
Cons
- Arrives blunt and needs sharpening before any use
- Two-piece handle joint is hard to tighten and feels flimsy
- Some buyers report minimal cutting even after effort
This tool splits its 428 reviews almost exactly in half, and the dividing line is sharpening. Buyers who put time into filing and honing the blade report a razor-sharp tool that rivals a brush cutter on overgrown ground. The 22% one-star group describes a blunt, poorly jointed tool that will not cut.
The manufacturer states plainly that the blade is not supplied sharp and will require sharpening prior to use. Plan on that. The 12-inch alloy steel grass hook and the 35-inch tubular steel handle with PVC grip are sound components once the edge is there.
Why a grass hook is different
A grass hook has a shorter, more sharply curved blade than a true scythe blade. It concentrates force at the tip, so it cuts at the base of growth and leaves much less stubble and mess behind than a string trimmer line.
That makes it a good tool for taking down brushy edges and the base of weeds, which is where a longer blade would bog.
The joint is the weak point
The two-piece handle joint is difficult to fully tighten and feels flimsy, so check it before every session. Replacement blades are sold separately, which extends tool life considerably.
It costs more than comparable manual weed whips, which only makes sense if you will put time into sharpening.
7. Zenport K110-20 Curved Scythe — a half-pound blade that arrives sharp
Zenport K110-20 Landscape Scythe with Serrated Curved Blade, 20-Inch, Wood
20-inch curved carbon steel blade
Light serrations
Wooden handle
7.2 oz
25 in. long
Pros
- Sharp out of the box with good balance
- Just over half a pound
- Built in Oregon USA
- Manufacturer gives sharpening guidance by phone
Cons
- Blade can detach from the wooden handle in hard swings
- Serrations dull quickly
- 20-inch reach means stooping
At 7.2 ounces this is the lightest scythe we tested, and owners single out the fact that it arrives sharp and well balanced. The sawing action of the light serrations grips short growth that a smooth blade would skate over, and several buyers mention calling the manufacturer for hands-on sharpening guidance.
It is built in Oregon, and at this weight the solid build quality is noticeable in the hand. For a gardener working around beds and borders it does exactly what it should, quickly and without fatigue.
The 20-inch reach means you stoop for ground-level work, and the serrations can lose their bite within half an hour of use on some growth. Owners also report the blade detaching from the wooden handle during hard swings, and occasional cracked handles or bent blades arriving in transit.
Where it fits in a hay plan
It is a finishing tool rather than a hay-cutting tool. It suits small weeds and tidying work around the edges of a plot rather than standing meadow grass at knee height.
If you already cut hay with a larger tool, this is a cheap companion for the detail work.
Mind the handle joint
Check that the blade is firmly seated in the wooden handle before every use, especially if you are new to swinging. A loose blade in a wooden shaft is the main failure mode reported.
Keep the serrations dressed with a file and this one rewards you for years of light work.
8. BULLY TOOLS 12-Gauge Grass Cutter — a heavy-duty build for rough ground
BULLY TOOLS 12-Gauge Grass Cutter – Manual Grass Cutter Tool with Long Fiberglass Handle for Yard Work, Garden Maintenance, Clearing Grass & Vines, Durable Steel Head – 100% Made in The USA, 45-inch
12-gauge steel head with 14-inch cutting surface
Fiberglass handle
2.95 lb
44.5 in. long
Pros
- Commercial-grade 12-gauge steel head
- Fiberglass handle resists cracking
- 45-inch reach cuts down on stooping
- Non-serrated blade takes and holds a keen edge
- Users report clearing long overgrown trails without damage
Cons
- Arrives dull and needs hours of grinding before use
- Bolts lack lock nuts and washers
- Heavy and unbalanced on light weed work
This is one of the toughest builds in our group, and it has the strongest professional-manufacturing credentials of anything we reviewed. The 12-gauge steel head handles dense growth, the triple-wall fiberglass handle has a wood core insert, and the whole thing is made entirely in the USA.
The key detail is that the blade is non-serrated. That means it sharpens cleanly with a stone and holds a keen edge, which is exactly the opposite of the serrated designs in this roundup. Owners report cutting through inch-thick thistle once the edge is on.
The catch is preparation. Reviews are near-universal that the tool is excellent only after an hour or two of grinding and filing, and the negative reviews consistently describe it as thick and dull as delivered.
Best for tough, weedy ground
If your meadow has thistle, dock and dense weeds in it, the 12-gauge head and the 45-inch reach make this a strong choice. The non-serrated edge rewards your investment in a whetstone all season long.
The fiberglass handle will not crack like wood, which matters for storage in a damp shed.
Two mods worth making
Owners uniformly recommend adding lock washers and nuts to the head bolts, since the supplied hardware does not include them. Budget for that small job before first use.
At 2.95 pounds it feels slow on light weed work, so this is a hay and rough-ground tool rather than a garden tidy-up tool.
9. BlumWay 60 in. Adjustable Scythe — the answer to bad backs
BlumWay 60 INCH Weed Grass Cutter, Double-Edged Serrated Sharp Steel Blade
14-inch serrated stainless steel blade
Handle adjusts to 31, 47 or 60 inches
3.39 lb
80-inch cutting range
Pros
- Telescoping handle adjusts to different user heights
- 60-inch setting lets you stand upright
- 80-inch cutting range per pass
- Rust-resistant stainless for wet weather
- Tool-free screw assembly
Cons
- Heavier than shorter fixed-length whips
- Serrated edges need care when handling
- Shorter settings still leave some users stooping
Most grass whips are one fixed length, which means a tall user stoops and a short user overreaches. This one solves that with a telescoping handle that adjusts to 31, 47 or 60 inches by rotating and tightening, using 32mm stainless steel sections.
Its 4.0 rating comes with a low 12% one-star share, and the distinguishing feature reviewers mention is the telescoping handle. Setting it to 60 inches lets you stand upright and spare your back over a full day of cutting, which is the biggest comfort gain in this roundup.
The 14-inch double-edged serrated blade gives an 80-inch cutting range from a wide sweeping motion, and it works both directions so you build momentum. Rust-resistant stainless handles wet-weather cutting without the bloom you get from carbon steel.
Who benefits most from the adjustment
If you are over six feet tall, or if you already have back trouble, this is one of the most ergonomic tools we reviewed. The 31-inch setting suits a shorter user working close to the ground, and the 47-inch setting is a sensible middle for flat meadow.
One tool now covers household members of different heights, which is practical on a smallholding.
Where the adjustment falls short
Weight is the trade-off. At 3.39 pounds it is heavier than the fixed-length whips, and even the shortened settings still leave some users stooping.
Those serrated edges are sharp. Gloves are worth wearing from the first session.
10. HONMAMON OJIKA Forged Steel Scythe — the best-finished steel
OJIKA Scythe Long Handle Double-Edged Aogami Steel Blade Forestry Japan Tools 31.9inch
Aogami No.2 high carbon steel blade
7.7-inch double-bevel blade
1.6 lb
31.9 in overall
Pros
- Highest average rating in the group at 4.7
- Hand-forged Aogami steel holds a very sharp edge
- Cuts brush up to 1.5 inches in diameter
- Blade cover and storage sack included
Cons
- Costs considerably more than every other pick here
- Edge cuts skin on contact so gloves are essential
- Only 45 reviews means limited long-term field feedback
It has the highest average rating in our group at 4.7, with 76% five-star reviews and not a single one-star rating among them. The blade is hand-forged Aogami No.2 high carbon steel with a double bevel, made by Japanese craftsmen, and owners describe it as sharp enough to cut grass stems and fingers with equal indifference.
At 720 grams with an oak handle and a 7.7-inch blade, it weighs far less than its capability suggests. Owners report it replacing a powered trimmer for typical yard work, and lopping brush around 1.5 inches thick at the base.
Why the steel matters
Aogami No.2 is a high carbon steel known for holding a fine edge and taking a keen polish. Double bevel geometry means both faces are ground, which produces a symmetric, fast-cutting edge on thin vegetation.
A red blade cover and red storage sack are included, which matters because an edge this sharp deserves protection in a tool shed.
The safety note is not optional
Several buyers cut themselves before adopting gloves. An edge this fine slices skin on bare contact, so treat gloves as part of the tool rather than an accessory.
The 45-review base is small, so long-term field feedback is limited. The extended reach keeps your hands well away from thorny growth, which partly offsets the sharpness.
How to Choose a Scythe for Hay Cutting
Austrian or English: which style suits you
The European or Austrian scythe uses a lightweight forged blade on a curved ash snath with two small grips, and it is the design most people picture. The English or American scythe is a heavier, straighter, sickle-style tool with a single long handle and a much longer blade.
Every product in this roundup is a grass whip or scythe of the American pattern, which is what Amazon sells in volume today. The Austrian pattern is the traditional choice for hay because the blade is lighter and the snath lets you set the balance point for your height, but it is a specialist purchase from specialist retailers rather than a mainstream listing.
Blade length: the number beginners get wrong
Longer is not automatically better. A longer blade covers more ground per swing but demands more arm strength and more clearance, and it is harder to control in rough ground. A shorter blade around 20 to 30 inches is easier to learn on.
Our rule of thumb: start at the shorter end of what you are considering, get the rhythm right, and step up a size only once you can cut a full row without stopping to adjust your grip. If your height is the limiting factor, a telescoping handle solves the problem directly.
Choose the right blade for the vegetation
A grass blade has a light, thin edge for green meadow grass and hay. A ditch blade is shorter, heavier and more curved for brambles, scrub and ditch banks. A bush blade adds width and stiffness for woody growth.
Serrated blades grip and shred, which suits wet and fibrous growth but cuts slower. Plain or non-serrated blades slice faster and hold an edge longer once sharpened, at the cost of needing more frequent touching up on wet grass.
Size the snath to your height
A snath is sized by measuring from your chin to your nose. That measurement gives the snath length that puts the balance point where your hands want it, and a mismatch is the most commonly reported reason a new scythe feels awkward and destroys your rhythm.
Adjustable and telescoping handles remove this guesswork, which is why they earn their place in this list despite being heavier.
Your sharpening kit is not optional
A blunt scythe is the number one complaint in every review set we read. Every blade in this roundup, serrated or not, needs edge maintenance during a session, and several ship dull by design.
A complete kit is five items: a flat file for shaping a bevel, a whetstone or diamond hone for the fine edge, a strop or honing bar to remove burrs and realign the edge, a peening jig if your blade is a peenable European type, and a stone holder or belt pouch so the stone is on your hip rather than back at the house. One long-term scyther described a stored 30-year-old scythe that still worked once sharpened, which is the argument for buying quality and maintaining it.
Field hazards to clear before you swing
Walk the boundary first. Stones, wire, fence staples, buried debris and old stumps will chip or roll a thin blade in seconds, and rolling edge is how people get hurt cutting themselves.
Wear gloves and eye protection, cut away from your body, and never swing at woody brush. As one permies user is blunt about it, hacking at woody stuff with a scythe totally does not work; use a billhook, a string trimmer with a steel blade or a forestry mulcher for that. Cut wet grass in the cool part of the morning. Dry, shattered grass is harder on the edge and more likely to throw debris.
Scythe, motor scythe, brush cutter or mower
A hand scythe costs almost nothing to run, makes no noise and needs no fuel, but it is labour-intensive over large acreage and it lays grass in a windrow that is ready to turn and bale. If you are cutting more than a couple of acres, a motor scythe or brush cutter will finish in a fraction of the time.
None of the tools here replaces a mower for a lawn, and none replaces a brush cutter for scrub. Honest hand-cut hay economics are hard to argue with on a smallholding, as one smallholder reported eight hours of labour producing a small stack of hay, so work out your acreage before buying anything mechanical. For lawns specifically, our battery mower comparison covers the ground-cutting side properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which scythe grass cutter is the best?
For cutting hay by hand, a long-handled double-edged steel grass whip is the best starting point. Our top pick is the AMES 22-inch True Temper, which weighs 1.4 pounds, cuts on the forward and return swing, and has more than 2500 reviews behind it. For larger holdings, the AMES True Temper Deluxe adds a wider swath and a 15-year warranty.
What are the key differences between an Austrian scythe and an English scythe?
An Austrian or European scythe has a lightweight forged blade on a curved ash snath with two small grips, and the blade is peened to a razor edge. An English or American scythe is heavier, with a single straight handle and a longer sickle-shaped blade. Austrian blades are lighter and more nimble for hay work; English blades cover more ground per swing and suit heavier vegetation.
Can I use a scythe to cut long grass?
Yes, and long grass is exactly what a scythe is for, provided the blade is sharp and you use several light overlapping passes rather than one heavy chop. Cut wet, green meadow grass in the cool part of the morning, when it is softest. Dry standing hay shatters the edge and throws debris, so sharpen more often and wear eye protection.
What is the average blade length of a scythe?
Across the ten tools in this roundup, blades run from 8 inches on the smaller Walensee and DACK grass whips to 20 inches on the Zenport curved scythe, with 12 and 14 inch options in between. Traditional European scythe blades run 60 to 70 cm. Beginners should start at the shorter end and step up once the rhythm feels natural.
Do farmers still use scythes?
Yes. On smallholdings and homesteads, scythes remain the standard tool for cutting hay where a tractor is impractical or unaffordable. A scythe costs almost nothing to run, makes no noise and needs no fuel, and it lays cut grass directly into a windrow ready for turning and baling. The limitation is labour: hand cutting is slow over large acreage.
Does Home Depot sell scythes?
Home Depot stocks a rotating selection of scythes, grass whips and string trimmers, but the specific models available change frequently and are usually the mass-market pattern rather than specialist European snath and blade sets. For a wider range of blades and replacement parts, check specialist scythe retailers and the vetted retailer list published by the Scythe Association.
The Best Scythes for Cutting Hay in 2026
The AMES 22-inch True Temper grass whip is our choice for the best scythes for cutting hay, because a double-edged blade and a 1.4 pound weight give you a full afternoon of swinging without fatigue, and its reviewer base is deep enough that we trust the consensus.
For bigger meadows, the AMES True Temper Deluxe covers more ground per pass and carries a 15-year warranty. The Walensee 41-inch handles wet cuttings best with its stainless blade, the BlumWay 60-inch solves back strain with a telescoping handle, and the BULLY TOOLS 12-gauge cutter takes on thistle and dense brush once you spend an hour on the edge.
Whatever you pick, buy a file and a whetstone in the same order and keep the edge keen. A blunt scythe is the only real failure in this whole category.