The Japanese Kama - "Mow where your scythe can't go!"
This is my favorite "sickle" or kama. I actually prefer to use a Japanese kama for harvesting certain grains, over the European sickle. The short, comparatively straight blade of the kama, is much easier to control, in my opinion, than the western, hook-shaped sickles. Harvest grains or tall grass by grabbing a handful of stems and then cut a safe distance underneath with a pull stroke. It can also be used as a grass sickle and cut with a forward slicing motion, like a scythe blade. Light, sharp, dexterous, and versatile. I use it for harvesting anything from delicate lettuces, grains, to Angelica. Cutting weeds like lambs quarters and teasel. Good for trimming in tight spaces and edging around things that you just can't get with a scythe.
Available in two thicknesses: Light (2mm thick blade) and Medium (3mm). Both have handles with oval cross-sections for a better feel for which way the blade is pointing. The medium has a slight end knob helps you grip the handle better on a pull stroke through thicker weed stems. These kamas are also much easier to sharpen than a European sickle. They have a laminated steel blade hard high-carbon steel sandwiched between two layers of softer steel, for strength and sharpness, so do not peen them. Just sharpen with a whetstone. They are double beveled, so sharpen on both sides equally. They are very sharp right out of the box, and the sharpness lasts a long time. It can be resharpened with your scythe whetstones. The Arctic Fox works especially well. Seikouba makes wonderfully balanced, sharp, strong and durable kamas. I've been using mine since 2001.
2mm thick, 7 inch blade on a 13 inch oak handle. Total weight 6 oz. Good for young grass, younger weeds, and grains.- $45
3mm thick, 7 inch blade. 13 inch oak handle with end knob. Total weight 7 oz. Good for grains, grass to mature weeds.- $49
Available in two thicknesses: Light (2mm thick blade) and Medium (3mm). Both have handles with oval cross-sections for a better feel for which way the blade is pointing. The medium has a slight end knob helps you grip the handle better on a pull stroke through thicker weed stems. These kamas are also much easier to sharpen than a European sickle. They have a laminated steel blade hard high-carbon steel sandwiched between two layers of softer steel, for strength and sharpness, so do not peen them. Just sharpen with a whetstone. They are double beveled, so sharpen on both sides equally. They are very sharp right out of the box, and the sharpness lasts a long time. It can be resharpened with your scythe whetstones. The Arctic Fox works especially well. Seikouba makes wonderfully balanced, sharp, strong and durable kamas. I've been using mine since 2001.
2mm thick, 7 inch blade on a 13 inch oak handle. Total weight 6 oz. Good for young grass, younger weeds, and grains.- $45
3mm thick, 7 inch blade. 13 inch oak handle with end knob. Total weight 7 oz. Good for grains, grass to mature weeds.- $49
2mm Japanese Kama Sickle
2mm thick, 7 inch blade on a 13 inch oak handle. Total weight 6 oz. Good for young grass, younger weeds, and grains. $40 + $20 shipping
$
65.00
3mm Japanese Kama sickle
A Japanese kama with a 3mm thick. laminated steel blade. Super sharp and ready to mow! For cutting grains, grass and weeds, and for trimming in tight garden spaces. Mow where your scythe can't go. $54 + $20 shipping
$
70.00
Long-Handled Japanese Kama
This super-sharp Japanese kama has a 41 inch long oak handle. The laminated blade is 8.5 inches long and 2 inches wide.. It is great for reaching down into tight spots and hooking and cutting weeds, larger stemmed grasses, and brambles.. Great for Natural Farming as in the video below, or for managing Huegelkulture bette (beds). I use it for managing a native prairie planting on a very steep slope. Unlike the kamas above, the tang of the blade is angled to make mowing while upright a little easier. You can also slash with this sickle (if you have tool-sense, of course!). It cuts comfrey like it isn't even there. I do not recommend it for any plant woodier than blackberry brambles.
8.5 inch blade on a 41 inch white oak handle. Total length 45 inches. Total weight 18 ounces. $75
8.5 inch blade on a 41 inch white oak handle. Total length 45 inches. Total weight 18 ounces. $75
European Sickles
Falci Sickles
Made in Italy. Falci makes very high quality, forged, traditional European sickles. Designed for hooking and gathering standing grain stalks into a graspable handful, and then to reach down and cut off the stalks. Also useful for following a scythe with a grain cradle, and gathering the scythe cut stalks into a bundle to form a sheave. Also, when you pick up the sheave, if any of the stems are still attached to the ground, you can quickly reach down with the sickle and cut it free. Old stock sickles size 1 and 2.
Size 1 - $44 sharpened
Size 2 - $47 sharpened
Size 1 - $44 sharpened
Size 2 - $47 sharpened
Falci serrated sickles -$20
Falci long, half-wide, grain harvesting sickles. When I saw the video above, I immediately knew I had to get some of these sickles for us over here in America to try! Beautifully forged by Falci of Italy, these long sickles give you the precision of harvesting grains with a sickle, without having to bend down quite as much. You use a grass hook to gather up and align the stalks as you cut, to form a sheave. Available in sizes 4 ( 23" x 10"), 6 (25" x 11"), & 7 (28" x 12"). $70, $75, $80.
I have Angelo hand rakes($20) that work best with the size 6 sickle.
I have Angelo hand rakes($20) that work best with the size 6 sickle.
