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This scythe is constructed with several very valuable improvements. In the first place, the blade may be set at any required angle with the ground ; secondly, the position of the blade with respect to the handle or snath may be altered and fixed in any position desired ; and thirdly, the blade will fold and lie in a line with or be protected by the handle, for portability. Fig. 1 ofthe annexed engravings represents the scythe complete and folded. A is the snath ; B B are the handles mounted thereon ; C is the blade, which has a portion ofthe heel, D, turned up at or about right angles to the blade ; in the end of the turned-up portion, D, an eye is formed. The several parts are better seen in Figs. 2 and 3, which are different and detached views of the jointed parts. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of a scythe blade with the parts for fixing it to the snath attached thereto ; Fig. 2 is a view of the same looking towards the heel of the scythe from behind. In this view the snath is represented by dotted lines, A. F is a quadrant-shaped piece of metal, which has a similarly shaped slot, G, formed i11 it. H is, a portion of the quadrant piece; it is formed on and projects down-words from the quadrant, at right angles, or nearly so. In the projection, H, a hole is formed and: tapped; a screw, I, is passed through the hole or eye in the heel part, D, of the scythe blade, and then screwed into the tapped hole in the proj ection, H, thus firmly securing these parts together. J is a pin or pivot formed on the quadrant piece, F. This pivot projects upwards and is inserted in a hole or eye in the plate, L. Through the slot, G, a screw, M, is passed, and is then screwed into a tapped hole formed in the plate, L. The plate, L, is placed in a recess formed in the butt of the snath, and is firmly and permanently secured thereto by bolts, screws and nuts, 0 0, which bolts are passed through holes in the plate, L, and through corresponding holes in the snath, A. To set the blade, C, in a proper position relative to the snath, A, and to the surface of the ground, the screws, I, and M, are unscrewed, the blade is then at liberty to be moved into the position required, when the screws, I and M, aro tightened, and thus the snath and blade are secured as they hav been set. Either the screws, I or M, may be made use of separately to set the blade, the screw, I, being made use of when a vertical movement is required, and the screw, M, for a horizontal, as represented by the dotted line, Q, in Fig. 3. When the scythe is not required for use, both the screws, I, and M, are unscrewed until the blade, C, is capable of receiving a vertical movement on the screw, , and likewise the blade, C, and quadrant, F, a horizontal movement on the pivot, J. The blade, C, is then made to approach the snath, A; the screw, M, thus traverses in the slot, G, until the blade and snath assume the position shown in Fig. 1, when it is more easily and safely carried from one place to another, and also more readily stowed away. We transcribe the above from the London Mechanics Magazine.
