Scythes

[IamQ]

Most people know that scythes are not real weapons, and if you tried using it as one, you would ultimatly fail. But in fiction, Scythes can be the most badass things around.

 

[akibawall95]

I think it is because Death carries one but does he even use it as a weapon. The protagonist from Dante's Inferno used one; still he got that from Death.

 

[Jonny The Kay]

Cuz it looks badass

 

[WanderingFool]

Im guessing its just the idea of sweeping arcs and cutting people in half with a single swipe, but people dont realize that its insanly easy to dodge and counter a scythe, or any large two handed weapon for that matter.

 

[Agayek]

I agree, though. It doesn't seem like a very effective weapon. It's like... a large axe, but with a smaller area to hit people with.

A Scythe is a very poor weapon. It is severely limited in avenues of attack, you can only cause wounds by running the inside of the blade along your target or by using the point. They're also large and unwieldy. All of the disadvantages of a spear, but none of the advantages.

That said, hand-scythes (shown below) are pretty good close combat weapons. They're basically a scimitar with a reversed blade. They're still not the best, but they are far from useless.

As for the OP's question, the reason scythes are depicted as amazing weapons is entirely because of the pervasive nature of the Grim Reaper in Western society. Scythes have long been associated with Death in very high numbers, particularly during the Plague. It's a cultural fear that isn't going to go away any time soon.

 

[fgdfgdgd]

Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

It's all fiction and what-not so you can make scythes awesome weapons.
Do you think a gunblade (FFVIII) makes any sense what so ever?

No, and as we all know, gunblades are stupid. They are however partially grounded in reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonet

actually gun blades were real, bayonets were a reimagining of them, the idea behind a gun blade was a pistol in the sword handle so you could fire off a shot before you hit the front lines in battle.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

Death harvests the dead, duh.
People can take it for a weapon if they wish to... It's still used for harvesting. :/

As are axes used in chopping wood, knifes to do various tasks...
In basis, as long as something is sharp; it's automatically a weapon.

... Yes, that included pens. They are highly effective if sharpened.

 

[Bruin]

Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

It's Odin that's being portrayed.

He was originally the god of death as well as the Allfather. One of his names was "Grim". This became synonymous with death. Odin's image on Midgard was often an old man in robes as well. The scythe was a tool used to harvest; harvest souls in Grim's case.

 

[HerrBobo]

The Falx was pretty badass. The Romans had to redesign their helmets to combat it.

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

...you know that most weapons are based off of farming tools right?

off the top of my head lets look at japan. Only a Samurai was allowed to carry a sword so farmers had to use farming tools to defend themselves against bandits, invaders, or just dick samurai. eventually the tools were stream lined to be better used as weapons. Scythes are uncoventuanl but effective in the hands of someone who knows what there doing. If you want to talk about lame looking weapons the japaness had a weapon shaped like an egg but it was filled with a blinding powder and if you were hit by that you were screwed.

 

[Jake the Snake]

Sythes can be used as weapons, don't discriminate. Kamas

Spoiler: See here

were once farming tools, but are now used as martial art weapons.

 

[dream_nexus]

Not sure if this was mentioned but, in Growlancer 2 the main character uses a scythe as his main weapon.

Unfortunately he's probably a -10 on the manliness scale.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/cjiwakura/wein.jpg

 

[snowman6251]

There are weirder and less efficient looking weapons.



This is popular in Samurai and Ninja movies but I can't tell why. Seems highly impractical as a weapon.

 

[kuyo]

it always reminds me of WW1 eastern front where the Russians were never properly equipped, so they had to fight with farm tools and hope to scavenge from corpses. Poor bastards didn't stand a chance.

 

[zatzie zombie num666]

Anyone who says you cannot be badass while wielding a scythe clearly never played Soul Calibur III.

so true i hate the fucker with the scythe (i mean wen im fighting him)

 

[AWDMANOUT]

Imagery. The scythe has connotations with Death. Thus a person using a scythe has connotations with death. It's a cheap way of making a character look dangerous and gothy.

Uh. Well, yeah.
<spoiler=Example>http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/33596-bigthumbnail.jpg

 

[the wako kid]

Because the scythe was used as a tool for reaping hay. The Grim reaper used it for reaping souls. It has connotations to harvesting, that's why they associate Death, I.E The harvester of souls,with it. It all makes perfect sense when you think about it. Also, a sharpened Scythe will cut you in half with one swing. They are fairly suited for battle.

No. No they won't. They'll cut hay in half with a single swing. The shape of a scythe means swinging it 'at' someone is impossible, you'd need to move it past them then pull it towards you, no where near enough momentum to go through bone.

it could be a practical combat weapon if you hooked it arond them and then pushed your boot iinto thier gut,using the scythe to support yourself,using a motion similar to a sparta kick,it could be a very messy and intimidating way to kill someone.

 

[the wako kid]

Why do people act like scythes are weapons as opposed to harvesting tools?

At your most badass while holding a scythe you look like a rather annoyed farmer who could not find a shotgun or pitchfork.

Me I personally blame those guys who decided to personify death as a skeleton in robes with a scythe.

It's Odin that's being portrayed.

He was originally the god of death as well as the Allfather. One of his names was "Grim". This became synonymous with death. Odin's image on Midgard was often an old man in robes as well. The scythe was a tool used to harvest; harvest souls in Grim's case.

I knew odin was the god of poetry wisdom and death,but not about the scythe.cool...

 

[the wako kid]

Edit: I'm pretty sure the "war scythe" is the INVENTION of the glaive.

Incorrect, but thanks for playing.
The War Scythe and a Glaive are similar but unrelated weapons. If anything, a War Scythe is a reverse-edged Fauchard. The war scythe was wielded more as a halberd, for chopping not piercing as the strength of the blade is on the cutting edge, not the point. Glaives on the other hand were treated mostly as a spear, used for stabbing, but with the option to slice if needed. In addition, the War Scythe is a polish adaptation whereas Glaives are French... Therefore, unrelated designs.

As to OP's question why scythes are treated as a weapon instead of a tool, it's simple. Can you kill someone with a scythe? Yes. So it's a weapon.

can you kill someone with a loaf of bread?yes.so it must be a weapon.can you kill so meone with your sink?yes,it must be a weapon.Wow dude,just wow.scythes are only scary becaues they are associated with death and because ryo hayabusa can use one to skullfuck you to death.a basic farming scythe is not a weapon.

 

[masseyguy911]

Well, Scythes are farming tools. You could make it into a decent weapon if you made it out of better materials, and sharpened the blade up, but then again the average scythe a farmer would use I can't see that being a weapon. As for war scythe, I've heard of them and really they seamed to only be used when a soldier couldn't get his hand on a halberd or glaive.