Historic Tools of North Castle

Sickle (2)

There are two tools at Smith’s Tavern that are sickles.

A sickle is a handheld agricultural tool with a curved blade typically used for harvesting, or reaping, grain crops or cutting succulent forage for feeding livestock (either freshly cut or dried as hay).  The inside of the blade’s curve was usually sharp, so that the user can either draw or swing it against the base of the crop, catching the stems in the curve and slicing them at the same time. When held in a bunch, the sickle action is typically towards the user, but when used free the sickle is usually swung the opposite way.

Reference:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle

Catalog Items:

Item T88

Location:Panel 13
Length: 45 cm
Width: 3 cm
Height: 3 cm
Weight: 284 g

Has a short wooden handle and semicircular/curved blade. Has “Village Blacksmith  Watertown, WI” etched on the blade.

Item None

Location:Panel 17
Length: 46 cm
Width: 3 cm
Height: 3 cm
Weight: 200 g

Has a short wooden handle and a semicircular/curved blade. No markings.