what is this thing we found at the top of a beach??

[bikedaft]

seems to be stone, not metal. looks machined. not magnetic, but affects compass slightly (alters by 10deg only, moving compass from middle to end)

both ends tapered, one end looks shortened/broken

near a railway? (in a culvert under a road and railway) anything to do with that?

puzzled... thanks

 

[NorthUp]

Sharpening stone for a scythe?

 

[kolster]

Looks like a scythe sharpening stone.

 

[kolster]

You beat me by a few seconds NorthUp, perhaps used by railway workers cutting the grass?

 

[bikedaft]

thanks!

never seen one before. how long ago did they stop using scythes to cut the grass?

that would fit - the machining seems fairly rough, ie with slight flats going the length of the object, but maybe they have been caused by sharpening the scyth

 

[kolster]

I think they still do in some places, if you Google 'scythe sharpening stone' you'll find plenty of new ones for sale.

 

[sarabande]

scythes are extremely useful tools, especially if you have run out of 40:1 both at home and work.

I have an aluminium handled one, as my last one (a wooden one) over 80 years old, succumbed to an attack of woodworm. The blade on that was marvellous, holding the edge much longer than the present one. Which reminds me that I need to take the disc cutter to it, as I bashed the point last time, and that mucks up the action.

 

[pcatterall]

Carborundum stone for various blades especially scythes and sickles. probably some magnetised particles from the blades embedded in the stone

 

[charles_reed]

thanks!

never seen one before. how long ago did they stop using scythes to cut the grass?

that would fit - the machining seems fairly rough, ie with slight flats going the length of the object, but maybe they have been caused by sharpening the scyth

Carborundum sharpener for hedging hook as well as a scythe - a bit rough to use on one's favourite Leatherman, bu I've still got one at home (though much more worn than the one on the photograph

 

[bikedaft]

well that's a stroke of luck, cos i have a grim reaper outfit, and a scythe sharpener. now all i need is to find a scythe

 

[Greenheart]

I thought it was a coprolite.

I wonder what the ancients ate, in your parts?

 

[bikedaft]

I thought it was a coprolite.

I wonder what the ancients ate, in your parts?

It crossed my mind, but too well shaped to be anything other than a robot's...

 

[Greenheart]

Wow, they had robots up there in ancient times? Argyll must be a very advanced area.

 

[ffiill]

When I first arrived in the Great Glen there was a casual grass verge cutter who used a scythe circa 1999.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Could it be a rope work fiddle used to splice the ropes when building Stone Henge???

 

[Ric]

seems to be stone, not metal. looks machined. not magnetic, but affects compass slightly (alters by 10deg only, moving compass from middle to end)

both ends tapered, one end looks shortened/broken

near a railway? (in a culvert under a road and railway) anything to do with that?

puzzled... thanks

It's a stone-age sex-toy