Some 'aggressive' tool for ID

fernando · 22nd January 2018, 01:56 PM

Thank you so much, Gentlemen.
Rick, you took 22 minutes to empty my dream in that this device had a more thrilling purpose ... serrated edge, spear point and all

.
So' hay knife' were the key words; i went browsing with them and found tons of information on these things ... as if they were not an American invention, despite some misinformed sources pretending that they have a British origin.
I take it that this specific specimen also came from America. So far and after an exhaustive search i didn't even know how to translate their name to my lingo, let alone their apparent no use in my neck of the woods.
However among the various variants published out there this very (hopefuly old) one has a particular difference ... or two: The front grip stem does not result from a bifurcation split from the blade main arm but is cut in sharp angles. Also and more atypical is that such front grip arm bends towards the opposite direction from all the ones i have seen so far; could it be that this is a left hander option ?.
Don't you guys pay much attention, i am just letting go my disillusion steam.

.

Pukka Bundook · 22nd January 2018, 02:13 PM

Fernando,

In England we used a "Hay Spade" rather than a hay -knife.
A hay -spade had a more or less spade shaped working end, (the shape of a spade in cards (ace of Spades)) with a shaft off-set so one didn't cut off ones feet in use. It had a long "t" shaped handle on the top.
I used one quite a lot back home, but not for cutting hay-stacks!
Cutting packed manure in calf sheds, to cutting through the thick beds of reed roots growing in water courses, then dragging them to shore with a cromb, or bent -tined fork. all fun and tiring!

fernando · 22nd January 2018, 03:35 PM

Thank you Richard,
I am not a member of the farming species, but i can imagine your fun in performing such exercises. Still in this case i ignore if there are equivalent tools over here.
But, speaking of (translating) names, i find the term 'spade' (pá) closer to the implement you describe, whereas calling 'knife' (faca) a three feet long thing ... go figure

.

Rick · 22nd January 2018, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you so much, Gentlemen.
Rick, you took 22 minutes to empty my dream in that this device had a more thrilling purpose ... serrated edge, spear point and all

.
So' hay knife' were the key words; i went browsing with them and found tons of information on these things ... as if they were not an American invention, despite some misinformed sources pretending that they have a British origin.

Yankee Ingenuity Fernando.

I grew up on a farm that dated back to 1690.
There were lots of strange implements.

fernando · 23rd January 2018, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

... I grew up on a farm that dated back to 1690...

Surely a place with a significant history

.

Rick · 23rd January 2018, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Surely a place with a significant history

.

A little snip of history:

On April 19, 1775, 66 Dover Minutemen marched to fight along Battle Road under the command of Captain Ebenezer Battelle.

Elias Haven had been at work harrowing a field on the Chickering farm (still operating at 56 Haven Street) that morning. According to tradition he left his harrow in the field to answer the call to arms, and "was [later] shot down while standing beside his brother-in-law,
Aaron Whiting, at a corner of the Arlington meeting-house and is buried near the spot."

He was the only Dedham man killed that day. The harrow he abandoned is now in the Fisher Barn.

kronckew · 23rd January 2018, 06:48 PM

Musta been a harrowing experience for Elias...

fernando · 24th January 2018, 11:31 AM

I wonder whether they keep hay knives at Fisher Barn, or only earlier tools.
During Elias Haven days such implement was yet to be invented.
However the local minutemen training camp still existed in 1910.

.

kronckew · 24th January 2018, 11:55 AM

For completeness, Not Dover, De, NH, Pa, NJ, Or Dover, UK but
Dover, MA, USA - barn was re-erected & tools moved back to it.

Rick · 25th January 2018, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

I wonder whether they keep hay knives at Fisher Barn, or only earlier tools.
During Elias Haven days such implement was yet to be invented.
However the local minutemen training camp still existed in 1910.

I have two immense hand turned wood cider press screws from the mill at Chickering Farm in my basement here on the Cape. There was a harrow at the farm made entirely of wood, teeth and all.
The place was a time capsule.

I never visited the Fisher Barn.

22nd January 2018, 01:56 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you so much, Gentlemen. Rick, you took 22 minutes to empty my dream in that this device had a more thrilling purpose ... serrated edge, spear point and all . So' hay knife' were the key words; i went browsing with them and found tons of information on these things ... as if they were not an American invention, despite some misinformed sources pretending that they have a British origin. I take it that this specific specimen also came from America. So far and after an exhaustive search i didn't even know how to translate their name to my lingo, let alone their apparent no use in my neck of the woods. However among the various variants published out there this very (hopefuly old) one has a particular difference ... or two: The front grip stem does not result from a bifurcation split from the blade main arm but is cut in sharp angles. Also and more atypical is that such front grip arm bends towards the opposite direction from all the ones i have seen so far; could it be that this is a left hander option ?. Don't you guys pay much attention, i am just letting go my disillusion steam. . Attached Images

24th January 2018, 11:31 AM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I wonder whether they keep hay knives at Fisher Barn, or only earlier tools. During Elias Haven days such implement was yet to be invented. However the local minutemen training camp still existed in 1910. . Attached Images

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22nd January 2018, 02:13 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Fernando, In England we used a "Hay Spade" rather than a hay -knife. A hay -spade had a more or less spade shaped working end, (the shape of a spade in cards (ace of Spades)) with a shaft off-set so one didn't cut off ones feet in use. It had a long "t" shaped handle on the top. I used one quite a lot back home, but not for cutting hay-stacks! Cutting packed manure in calf sheds, to cutting through the thick beds of reed roots growing in water courses, then dragging them to shore with a cromb, or bent -tined fork. all fun and tiring!

22nd January 2018, 03:35 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Richard, I am not a member of the farming species, but i can imagine your fun in performing such exercises. Still in this case i ignore if there are equivalent tools over here. But, speaking of (translating) names, i find the term 'spade' (pá) closer to the implement you describe, whereas calling 'knife' (faca) a three feet long thing ... go figure .

23rd January 2018, 06:48 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	Musta been a harrowing experience for Elias...

24th January 2018, 11:55 AM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	For completeness, Not Dover, De, NH, Pa, NJ, Or Dover, UK but Dover, MA, USA - barn was re-erected & tools moved back to it.