Neat; I used them as a child; not for hay but to control the meadow and other such areas. Woodchucks immigrated from all over the world to explore our place. My dad taught my brother and me how to sharpen them. Most folks try to swing them too hard. We also used sickles for tighter areas. Weed whackers; yeah, that was us with no strings attached.
In the song, John Barleycorn (Must Die) they used scythes.
RE: Bought an antique scythe!