scythe
Enable an AI agent to recognise a scythe, assess its cutting condition and suitability, and determine what use, adjustment or maintenance is appropriate.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise a scythe, assess its cutting condition and suitability, and determine what use, adjustment or maintenance is appropriate.
A hand tool for mowing grass, grain or brush, consisting of a long curved blade fixed at an angle to a long handle, the snath, usually with one or two grips, and swung in a sweeping cut by an operator using both hands.
It can be Cut suitable standing vegetation through a controlled manual mowing sweep.; Adjust grips or blade alignment where the particular assembly permits adjustment.; Detach or replace a blade when attachment compatibility and instructions are established.; Maintain the cutting edge using a method verified for the particular blade.; Inspect the blade, snath, grips and attachment to decide whether use should proceed or stop.; Fit an appropriate edge cover and secure the scythe for carrying or storage..
Distinguishing features
A working scythe has a blade mounted near one end of a long handle, with a configuration intended for sweeping cuts through standing vegetation.
Distinguish it from a sickle by the long-handle, normally two-handed operating arrangement rather than a short handle held close to the curved blade.
Distinguish it from a brush hook by evidence that its blade and mounting support a mowing sweep rather than primarily a chopping stroke.
Distinguish it from a powered mower by the absence of a powered cutting drive: the operator's swing moves the cutting edge through vegetation.
Treat a detached scythe blade as a component rather than a complete scythe; record an incomplete assembly explicitly.
Scope
+ Identification of the complete scythe and its blade, long handle or snath, grips and attachment
+ Blade geometry, cutting-edge condition and documented maintenance requirements
+ Blade attachment security and alignment relative to the snath
+ Fit to an intended operator and cutting task
+ Readiness for mowing, adjustment, maintenance, carrying and storage
- Sickles, grass hooks, brush hooks and other separately registered hand tools
- Powered mowing machines and their cutting assemblies
- Vegetation identity, ecology and land-management objectives
- The operator's health, training and personal protective equipment
- Sharpening stones, peening equipment and other maintenance tools as independent objects
- Symbolic depictions and nonfunctional scythe-shaped props
Characteristics
- Assembly completeness
- complete | incomplete | disassembled | unknown; identify missing components Separates a usable tool from a blade or partial assembly.
- Blade cutting length
- mm; state endpoints and whether measured along the edge or as a chord Helps assess cutting reach and compare candidate blades without confusing measurement conventions.
- Blade profile
- observed curvature, width profile, tip form and reinforcing features Supports identification and investigation of the vegetation and cutting conditions the blade suits.
- Blade construction and maintenance guidance
- identified blade linked to markings, maker documentation or verified maintenance assessment An edge treatment suitable for one blade must not be assumed suitable for another.
- Snath length
- mm; record measurement path and endpoints Contributes to operator fit and the position of the blade during a mowing sweep.
- Grip configuration
- grip count, positions, orientation and available adjustment Determines how the operator can hold and control the scythe.
- Blade mounting geometry
- degrees and mm relative to explicitly recorded reference planes Makes blade alignment and ground clearance assessable rather than relying on an unexplained description of fit.
- Blade attachment security
- secure | movement detected | damaged | unassessed; include inspection evidence Movement at the attachment can change blade alignment and prevent controlled use.
- Cutting-edge condition
- record sharpness assessment, rolling, chips, cracks and corrosion by location; unknown permitted Distinguishes routine edge maintenance from defects requiring repair or withdrawal.
- Operator and task fit
- scythe configuration linked to an intended operator, vegetation, terrain and assessment evidence Readiness depends on the intended use rather than being an unconditional property of the tool.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 11 findings · 21 questions.
Scythe identity and assembly Establish whether the object is a complete manual scythe and identify its working components.
A curved blade alone does not establish scythe identity or readiness.
Tool recognition
Recognise the functional arrangement that separates a scythe from neighbouring cutting tools.
Manual mowing configuration
Record evidence that the blade and long handle form a tool intended for sweeping cuts through vegetation.
- What features of the blade, handle and grips identify this object as a manually swung scythe? definition
- What evidence distinguishes it from a sickle, brush hook or nonfunctional replica? boundary
Component identification
Identify the installed blade, snath, grips and attachment as an assembly.
Installed component evidence
Record component identity, completeness and evidence of replacement or modification.
- Which blade, snath, grips and attachment parts are present, and which are missing? definition
- What markings, records or inspection evidence identify these components and any replacements or modifications? provenance
Blade and snath geometry Describe the cutting geometry and its relationship to the operator's hold.
A scythe's working configuration depends on the relationship between blade, snath and grips.
Blade form
Record blade dimensions and profile using explicit measurement conventions.
Cutting profile and reach
Describe the installed blade's length, width, curvature and tip without inferring an unsupported task classification.
- What are the blade's cutting length and width profile, and how were they measured? measurement
- What curvature, tip shape and reinforcing features are observable on this blade? definition
Mounted geometry
Relate blade position to snath shape and grip locations.
Blade alignment and grip layout
Record the current mounting geometry and available adjustments that affect the mowing sweep.
- Where are the grips positioned, and how is the blade oriented relative to the snath and a stated ground reference? measurement
- Which grip positions or blade angles can be adjusted, and what documented limits apply? action
Mowing suitability and fit Assess whether this configuration suits the intended vegetation, setting and operator.
Scythe identity alone does not establish that a particular blade and setup suit a mowing task.
Cutting task match
Connect blade capabilities to the vegetation and obstacles encountered.
Vegetation and terrain envelope
Record supported uses and constraints for the installed blade under the intended conditions.
- What documentation or observed performance supports using this blade on the intended vegetation? provenance
- Which stem characteristics, ground conditions or obstacles put the proposed task outside its established capability? boundary
Operator fit
Assess the relationship between the operator and the configured scythe.
Controlled sweep fit
Record whether grip placement and blade alignment permit controlled use for the intended operator.
- What fitting observations establish that the operator can hold the grips and control the blade's working position? measurement
- What permitted adjustment or component change is needed before this operator uses the scythe? action
Cutting condition and maintenance Assess the blade's edge and body and establish appropriate maintenance.
Poor cutting can arise from edge condition, blade damage or setup, and maintenance methods require blade-specific evidence.
Edge and blade inspection
Separate loss of cutting performance from damage affecting blade integrity.
Located blade defects
Record edge wear, rolling, chips, cracks, distortion and corrosion with their locations and assessment evidence.
- Where are edge defects, cracks, distortion or corrosion present, and what is their observed extent? measurement
- Which observations support routine maintenance, specialist assessment or withdrawal from use? boundary
Blade-specific edge care
Determine supported edge treatments and record their outcomes.
Verified maintenance method
Require evidence for honing, peening, grinding or other treatment rather than assuming one method fits every scythe blade.
- What source establishes which edge-maintenance methods are appropriate for this blade? provenance
- What treatment is warranted by its present condition, and what inspection will establish the result? action
Attachment integrity and handling Establish whether the scythe remains mechanically controlled during use and protected during movement or storage.
The exposed blade and its attachment to a long handle create specific readiness and handling requirements.
Load-path integrity
Inspect the blade attachment, snath and grips that transmit and control the mowing stroke.
Secure blade and handholds
Record looseness, cracking, deformation or incompatible parts affecting control of the blade.
- What inspection evidence establishes the condition and security of the blade attachment, snath and grips? measurement
- What tightening, repair or replacement is required before a controlled mowing stroke is possible? action
Operating and stowed states
Distinguish readiness to mow from readiness to carry or store the exposed cutting assembly.
State-dependent readiness
Record the conditions for moving between mowing, maintenance, carrying and storage.
- What blade coverage, attachment configuration and restraint are required for the intended carrying or storage arrangement? action
- What unresolved defect, missing protection or insufficient sweep clearance prevents the next proposed action? boundary
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- web_search
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of scythe this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does an existing Vercy world model already cover scythes and therefore provide the authoritative model for this registry entry?
- Does registry scope include cradle-equipped scythes, specialised variants and historical weapon adaptations, or do these belong to neighbouring entries?
- Which terminology and measurement conventions should define blade mounting angles across different scythe traditions?
- Which authoritative sources establish blade-specific maintenance methods and rejection criteria for damaged blades, attachments and snaths?
- What evidence and assessment procedure should establish operator fit and vegetation suitability without inventing universal thresholds?