Would you say that it's impractical to use a scythe as a weapon in a fight?

Question

Apart from it being cool, I wonder if it does work. Would it be practical? What would be the advantages and disadvantages in a battle with one person or more people?
I'm just wondering. It's not like I'd actually use it. But imagine an unusual circumstance when somebody would have to.
and don't worry about guns. Let's suppose there would be no guns, but other weapons might be used by the opponents like swords, axes, spears, knives, etc.

Answer 1

If you are talking about a European scythe It would be possible to use but not the most practical weapon at your disposal. The way the blade is positioned against the direction of movement of the implement makes that it's not possible to get a real powerful strike out of one of these things. Plus it's really not the most practical thing to handle it's a pretty bulky thing that has no balance whatsoever. These are two qualities most desired in a striking weapon. That being said in the olden days many a farmer got serious leg injuries from using the thing because the sheer weight of the blade it can cause some damage.

However there are various other variations across the world (e.g. kama) that did find their way into the farmers arsenal in history

Answer 2

For impracticality, there are 3 or 4 general issues that have to be dealt with.



Training.



Range.



Purpose



Availability.



An unfamiliar implement or a tool you are not proficient in using, will automatically hamstring you. For any implement, longer range is better. The longer the range, the more cushion for lack of skill or bad luck. If your purpose is to use a blade to exsanguinate a foe or use a sharp point combined with a good range to overcome those with shorter weapons, then if the implement you are using fits the bill then it will be of use.



Then there's availability. None of these matter if you don't have it available on hand. If the scythe is 10 feet away and the opponent is 3 feet away, there's a problem. It's not just a matter of something existing or not. You have to be able to access it to use it. And that includes time as well.



Range is not a matter of skill. Thus a person with a crossbow, even if he is a bad shooter, can kill a knight that has trained for decades with the sword. That is why range is a different criteria than skill/training.



For a farmer using a scythe, the advantages would naturally be his familiarity with the shape, weight, and balance of it plus the fact that it offers additional range than a shorter melee implement.



A farmer would not know what to do with a sword even if he had one. A spear is much easier to handle and use for beginners. A group of spear users can prevent a sword user from getting in range through teamwork. This then uses numbers to offset skill. A spear would be preferable over a scythe, especially for group training. But availability must be considered as well.



EDIT: The chains were so they could weigh down, immobilize, and lock down the sword or sword arm and close in for the kill. That's what the Japanese chain and blades were for, swinging on those centers. It is not a farmer's tool but something specifically designed.

Answer 3

A scythe can be used as a weapon, in a similar fashion as a halberd, spear, or bo staff. It would have a reach and maneuverability advantage due to the length an the multiple ways to hold it. The actual effectiveness, like all weapons, would depend more on the user rather than the weapon itself. This would also apply to other weapons. I would think that a scythe as we envision now may have been a weapon during the middle ages used by somewhat trained surfs protecting their homes or by monks tilling fields in the country side that needed to protect themselves as monasteries were prime targets of raiders, especially the vikings. The Japanese version of the scythe was actually a favorite weapon of many poorer rouges and bandits, it was called the kusari gama.

Answer 4

Hi there



Japanese history begs to differ. There are quite a few weapons used on the battlefield that were scythe orientated. The Kusarikarma and the shogee to name a few. These weapons also had chains attached to them to allow the user to keep a distance from someone with a sword or polearm. So they were used and quite effectively.



Best wishes



idai

Answer 5

the okinawa have been using the scythe or rokushaku-kama for centuries, althought its one of the more rarer weapons of kobudo the more common one being the 12" version called the kama.

a weapon is only as good as the person wielding it, and is no more then an extention of your body

the advantages and disadvantages depends upon the style your using, the rokushaku-kama is more or a long range two handed weapon, although it has more power then a single handed weapon it loses some of its mobility, that a single handed weapon would have

Answer 6

teh scythe was one of the weapons described in Mair's book about peasant combat so yes it is an effective weapon provided the user knows what he/she(usually he but no doubt a few she's tried their hand at it)



it is a polearm meaning it has range it has hooking and cutting abilities as well as crushing abilities against a skilled opponent it would not be an ideal weapon of this there is no doubt but it would have great power and would be a scary thing to face for most fighters



for the farmer who finds himself under attack there would be no choice in the matter but to turn the tool of harvest to a tool of defense( a common idea for the poorer classes of many countries)

Answer 7

By scythe I am assuming you are talking about the large 2 handed farming tool.



Advantages

Power generated from its large circular motion



Disadvantages

Slow

Awkard

Not efficient in the least

Limited range compared to most 2 handed polearms

Ineffective close range



Impractical compared to sword, axe, spear, mace, etc



added - most these references people are making are to sickle weapons. there is a difference between a scythe and a sickle

Answer 8

Generally it would be impractical because of its awkwardness. BUT! It would give you a long range and you could block things like swords with it. Also, you could swing the scythe 360 degrees and it would kill everything it your path.

Answer 9

Depends on how you use it.

Even a tooth pick is a practical weapon.

Answer 10

it would seem very awkward to me, i would use a gladius, aka roman short sword. light for one hand, and better than a long sword because you can deal more blows

Answer 11

Apparently, if you will going to use it, a woman like you will be suspected as the sister of Hades.



LOL.





Good luck





..............

Answer 12

interesting question...

but, i would say it'd be practical.